How to source cistanche extract (echinacoside and acteoside)
What we establish before quoting a cistanche order. Cistanche enquiries usually arrive with a competitor's label quoting a single echinacoside percentage. Before quoting we ask whether the label states echinacoside alone or the echinacoside-plus-acteoside pair, because our standard assay is the pair, echinacoside at 20% or more with acteoside at 5% or more, and a single-marker quotation cannot be compared against it. We then ask our manufacturing partner for the most recent lot COA rather than relying on the specification sheet, because the sheet states limits while the COA states results, and on a marginal lot those are two different documents. Supply is from cultivated desert stands, so we can also confirm annual availability before a buyer commits a formula.
Cistanche (Cistanche deserticola) is a desert plant with a tonic reputation in Chinese herbal tradition strong enough to have earned it the trade name “desert ginseng”. As an ingredient it arrives as an extract of the succulent stem, standardised to two phenylethanoid glycosides, echinacoside and acteoside, and it is bought mainly into vitality, anti-fatigue and healthy-aging formulas. This guide covers how to buy cistanche extract: the grades, the documentation, and what a first order looks like.
What cistanche extract is
The extract is produced from the succulent stem of Cistanche deserticola Y.C.Ma by water or ethanol-water extraction, and is supplied as a brown fine powder at 80 mesh. The positioning is warm-tonic without stimulants, which is what puts it into anti-fatigue and vitality formulas rather than pre-workout products. Supply comes from cultivated desert stands, which is what makes the documentation traceable and the annual supply stable. Note that the material is supplied as a raw ingredient for manufacturing; it is not intended for personal use or direct retail sale.
The grades: echinacoside and acteoside
The standard assay is echinacoside at 20% or more with acteoside at 5% or more, both verified by HPLC. Single-marker echinacoside grades at 10%, 20% and 50% are available on request. When comparing cistanche extract suppliers, settle the marker basis before the price, because a quotation against one basis tells you nothing about the other. Choose deliberately:
- The standard pair (echinacoside ≥ 20%, acteoside ≥ 5%) is the right basis when your label states the pair, or your quality file needs an enforceable potency number per lot.
- A single-marker echinacoside grade suits a label that quantifies echinacoside alone. It is not interchangeable with the pair, and a quotation against one basis tells you nothing about the other.
Alternative assays, mesh sizes and carrier systems can be produced on request; tell us the target specification and we will confirm feasibility and lead time within one business day.
What the typical COA shows
Indicative values for a standard lot, against the written specification:
| Test | Result | Reads against |
|---|---|---|
| Echinacoside (HPLC) | 21.8% | Specification of ≥ 20% |
| Acteoside (HPLC) | 5.6% | Specification of ≥ 5% |
| Lead (Pb) | < 1 ppm | Heavy-metal line for the U.S. and EU markets |
| Total plate count | < 1,000 cfu/g | Microbial load on a manufacturing ingredient |
| E. coli / Salmonella | Negative | Pathogen screen |
The sheet states limits; the COA states results. Ask for the cistanche extract specification sheet and a COA from the most recent lot with your quotation, not just a price, and treat any lot where the assay lands close to the limit as a conversation rather than a formality.
Where it is formulated
- Dietary supplements. Anti-fatigue and vitality formulas, men’s health compositions, and healthy-aging nootropic stacks, usually as one marker-controlled ingredient in a multi-botanical blend.
- Food and beverage. Tonic beverage powders and traditional herbal drink mixes, where the extract is dosed as one standardised ingredient in the blend rather than as the bulk of the formula.
Ordering: MOQ, samples, packing and lead time
MOQ is 1 kg, and OEM service is available under your own label and specification. Samples are supplied in an evaluation quantity agreed by item value, with courier at cost. Standard packing is a 25 kg fibre drum with a double polyethylene liner, with 1 kg and 5 kg foil bags for samples and pilot runs. Shelf life is 24 months unopened, stored cool and dry. In-stock items are ready in about 2 days; bulk production of standard grades takes 3 to 5 working days after deposit. From Xi’an, consolidation to Shenzhen takes about 3 days, then air freight about 6 days to major U.S. and EU airports, with sea freight at 18 to 25 days.
Ask for the specification sheet, a recent lot COA and a sample in the first email. On a standardised extract, the COA is the document that proves the grade.
Frequently asked questions
What is cistanche extract standardised to?
The standard assay is echinacoside at 20% or more with acteoside at 5% or more, both by HPLC, from the succulent stem of Cistanche deserticola. Single-marker echinacoside grades at 10%, 20% and 50% are available on request.
What does a typical COA show?
Indicative values for a standard lot: echinacoside 21.8% and acteoside 5.6% by HPLC, lead below 1 ppm, total plate count below 1,000 cfu/g, and E. coli and Salmonella negative. The actual COA for your batch is issued with the shipment.
What is the MOQ, sample policy and lead time?
MOQ is 1 kg and OEM service is available under your label and specification. Samples are supplied in an evaluation quantity agreed by item value, with courier at cost. In-stock items are ready in about 2 days, bulk production takes 3 to 5 working days after deposit, and transit is about 3 days Xi'an to Shenzhen plus about 6 days by air, or 18 to 25 days by sea.
Related: Cistanche Extract — full specification, grades and documentation.