Cistanche
Cistanche suppliers and sourcing guide
Cistanche is the fleshy stem of parasitic desert plants in the genus Cistanche, mainly Cistanche deserticola and Cistanche tubulosa, which grow on the roots of host shrubs in northwest China and Central Asia. The stems are harvested, sliced and dried, and are sold as slices, powder, or water or ethanol extracts standardized to phenylethanoid glycosides such as echinacoside and acteoside by HPLC. Much of today's supply is cultivated on planted host shrubs.
- Category
- Botanicals and mushrooms
- Also known as
- Cistanche deserticola · Cistanche tubulosa · rou cong rong · Herba Cistanches · desert broomrape
- Facts checked
- November 2026
Forms and grades of cistanche
Suppliers sell different products under the same name. Specify the one you need.
Dried slices
Sliced, dried stems used for decoctions and further extraction.
Powder
Milled dried stem at a stated mesh, not standardized.
Standardized extract
Extract sold with minimum echinacoside, acteoside or total phenylethanoid glycosides by a named HPLC method.
Species-specific grades
Cistanche deserticola and Cistanche tubulosa are sold separately and have different glycoside profiles, so the species belongs on the specification.
What to check on the COA
Compare each result with your own specification when the lot arrives.
- Identity
- HPTLC or HPLC fingerprint confirming the Cistanche species and ruling out other broomrapes and substitutes.
- Phenylethanoid glycoside assay (HPLC)
- Echinacoside and acteoside (verbascoside), or total phenylethanoid glycosides, by a named method.
- Heavy metals
- Lead, arsenic, cadmium and mercury by ICP-MS.
- Microbiology
- Total plate count, yeast and mold, E. coli and Salmonella.
- Residual solvents
- Ethanol and any other extraction solvent.
- Pesticide residues
- Multi-residue screen, particularly for cultivated material.
Storage, lots and expiry
Storage and shelf life
Keep slices, powder and extracts sealed in lined bags or drums in a cool, dry, dark area off the floor, since moisture and warmth invite mold and caking and light fades color and aroma. Reseal opened containers promptly. Shelf life or a retest date is set by the supplier's specification, and identity, moisture and microbiology are usually repeated before using aged stock.
Lots and expiry dates
Glycoside content differs by species, host plant and harvest, so record the species, origin and assay for every lot and do not treat Cistanche deserticola and Cistanche tubulosa lots as interchangeable.
Regulatory status
Facts from regulators and standards bodies, each linked to its source.
The EU Novel Food status Catalogue entry for Cistanche deserticola (POL-NF-00250) lists the whole plant as not yet authorised novel food.
Source: ec.europa.eu (opens in a new tab)The EU entry for Cistanche tubulosa (POL-NF-14866) lists all plant parts and their extracts as not yet authorised novel food.
Source: ec.europa.eu (opens in a new tab)Health Canada's Traditional Chinese Medicine Ingredients monograph lists Cistanche deserticola, Cistanche salsa and Cistanche tubulosa under the Chinese name rou cong rong and the pharmaceutical name Herba Cistanches.
Source: webprod.hc-sc.gc.ca (opens in a new tab)
This is general information, not regulatory advice. Status differs by country and by how the ingredient is used, so check the rules for your product and market.
Cistanche suppliers
Manufacturers and distributors whose own websites say they sell it.
We are checking cistanche suppliers now
Every listing is checked against the supplier’s own website before it goes live, so this list fills in over the coming weeks. The specs and COA checklist above are ready today.
Sell cistanche? Request a listingFrequently asked questions
What forms of cistanche can brands buy?
Common forms include dried slices, powder, standardized extract and species-specific grades. Ask each supplier for the specification sheet of the exact grade they quote.
What should the COA for cistanche include?
Expect identity, phenylethanoid glycoside assay (HPLC), heavy metals, microbiology, residual solvents and pesticide residues, each with its method, specification and result for that lot.
How should cistanche be stored?
Keep slices, powder and extracts sealed in lined bags or drums in a cool, dry, dark area off the floor, since moisture and warmth invite mold and caking and light fades color and aroma. Reseal opened containers promptly. Shelf life or a retest date is set by the supplier's specification, and identity, moisture and microbiology are usually repeated before using aged stock.
What is the regulatory status of cistanche?
The EU Novel Food status Catalogue entry for Cistanche deserticola (POL-NF-00250) lists the whole plant as not yet authorised novel food. The EU entry for Cistanche tubulosa (POL-NF-14866) lists all plant parts and their extracts as not yet authorised novel food. Health Canada's Traditional Chinese Medicine Ingredients monograph lists Cistanche deserticola, Cistanche salsa and Cistanche tubulosa under the Chinese name rou cong rong and the pharmaceutical name Herba Cistanches.
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