Devil's claw
Devil's claw suppliers and sourcing guide
Devil's claw is the dried secondary root tuber of Harpagophytum procumbens or Harpagophytum zeyheri, plants of the Kalahari region of Namibia, Botswana and South Africa. Most material is wild harvested, sliced and sun dried, then sold as cut root, powder, or water or hydroalcoholic extracts standardized to harpagoside by HPLC.
- Category
- Botanicals and mushrooms
- Also known as
- Harpagophytum procumbens · Harpagophytum zeyheri · grapple plant · devils claw root
- Facts checked
- November 2026
Forms and grades of devil's claw
Suppliers sell different products under the same name. Specify the one you need.
Cut and dried root
Sliced, sun-dried secondary tubers for tea and extraction.
Root powder
Milled secondary tubers, usually not standardized.
Standardized extract
Water or ethanol extract standardized to harpagoside (often 1.5% to 5%) by HPLC.
Organic or certified wild harvest
Root from certified organic or certified sustainable wild-collection programs, with documents tied to the lot.
What to check on the COA
Compare each result with your own specification when the lot arrives.
- Identity (HPTLC)
- Fingerprint against a reference; the COA should state whether material is H. procumbens, H. zeyheri or a mix.
- Harpagoside assay (HPLC)
- Harpagoside content by a named HPLC method.
- Heavy metals
- Lead, arsenic, cadmium and mercury, usually by ICP-MS, checked against the buyer's limits and Prop 65 exposure targets where relevant.
- Microbiology
- Total plate count, yeast and mold, E. coli and Salmonella. Raw herb powders carry more microbial load than extracts and may be steam treated, which should be stated on the COA.
- Residual solvents
- For extracts made with ethanol or other solvents, residual solvent levels against USP <467> or the buyer's spec.
- Loss on drying
- Moisture, ash and foreign matter, since sun-dried roots can carry sand and soil.
Storage, lots and expiry
Storage and shelf life
Keep dried herb and powdered extracts sealed in lined drums or bags, away from heat, light and humidity. Dry extracts are hygroscopic and cake once exposed to air, so reseal opened containers promptly. Suppliers assign a shelf life or retest date, and the marker assay is usually repeated at retest before material is used past it.
Lots and expiry dates
Harpagoside content and species mix vary with harvest area and season, so check each lot against the spec. Record the supplier lot, species, harvest region and any wild-collection permits or certificates provided.
Regulatory status
Facts from regulators and standards bodies, each linked to its source.
Health Canada's Devil's Claw natural health product monograph lists Harpagophytum procumbens and Harpagophytum zeyheri, using dried secondary root tubers.
Source: webprod.hc-sc.gc.ca (opens in a new tab)The EU Novel Food status Catalogue entry for Harpagophytum procumbens (POL-NF-00393) concerns only the root and lists it as not novel in food supplements.
Source: ec.europa.eu (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.
Devil's claw suppliers
Manufacturers and distributors whose own websites say they sell it.
We are checking devil's claw 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 devil's claw? Request a listingFrequently asked questions
What forms of devil's claw can brands buy?
Common forms include cut and dried root, root powder, standardized extract and organic or certified wild harvest. Ask each supplier for the specification sheet of the exact grade they quote.
What should the COA for devil's claw include?
Expect identity (HPTLC), harpagoside assay (HPLC), heavy metals, microbiology, residual solvents and loss on drying, each with its method, specification and result for that lot.
How should devil's claw be stored?
Keep dried herb and powdered extracts sealed in lined drums or bags, away from heat, light and humidity. Dry extracts are hygroscopic and cake once exposed to air, so reseal opened containers promptly. Suppliers assign a shelf life or retest date, and the marker assay is usually repeated at retest before material is used past it.
What is the regulatory status of devil's claw?
Health Canada's Devil's Claw natural health product monograph lists Harpagophytum procumbens and Harpagophytum zeyheri, using dried secondary root tubers. The EU Novel Food status Catalogue entry for Harpagophytum procumbens (POL-NF-00393) concerns only the root and lists it as not novel in food supplements.
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