Echinacea
Echinacea is a genus of North American coneflowers; the trade uses mainly Echinacea purpurea (aerial parts and root) and Echinacea angustifolia (root), with some E. pallida root. It is sold as dried, cut or powdered herb and root, as pressed juice of the fresh aerial parts, and as water-alcohol extracts. Species and plant part change the marker profile, so they belong on the specification.
Suppliers sell different products under the same name. Specify the one you need.
Dried, milled aerial parts or root of E. purpurea, mostly cultivated. Usually sold unstandardized or on cichoric acid.
Dried root, partly wild-harvested and higher priced; characterized by echinacoside and alkamides.
Juice of fresh E. purpurea aerial parts, sold liquid or spray-dried onto a carrier.
Hydroalcoholic extract dried to a powder with a stated percentage of phenolics (such as cichoric acid) or alkamides by HPLC.
Herb, root or extract from certified organic farms, with the certificate tied to the lot.
Compare each result with your own specification when the lot arrives.
Keep dried herb, root and extracts sealed, cool and dark. Alkamides and cichoric acid break down with heat, light and oxygen, so limit headspace and time open. Suppliers set shelf life or a retest date, and markers are re-assayed at retest.
Species, plant part and marker content vary between lots, especially for wild-harvested root. Record species, part and supplier lot at receiving, and check each COA against your spec.
Facts from regulators and standards bodies, each linked to its source.
Health Canada's natural health product monograph for Echinacea purpurea lists the herb top and root as source material, including dried material and juice.
Source: webprod.hc-sc.gc.ca (opens in a new tab)Health Canada's monograph for Echinacea angustifolia lists the dried root and rhizome as source material.
Source: webprod.hc-sc.gc.ca (opens in a new tab)The EU Novel Food status Catalogue (entry POL-NF-00320) covers the herbs and roots of Echinacea purpurea and lists them 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.
Manufacturers and distributors whose own websites say they sell it.
Distributor · Sacramento, CA
Starwest Botanicals is a Sacramento company that mills and sells bulk organic herbs, spices, teas and botanical powders by the pound and in 25 lb bags, with wholesale accounts for businesses.
Suppliers are in alphabetical order and none pays to appear. Each claim is checked against the supplier’s own website on the date shown. Ask for the specification sheet and a recent COA before you order, and confirm details with the supplier.
Common forms include e. purpurea herb or root powder, e. angustifolia root, pressed juice, standardized extract and organic. Ask each supplier for the specification sheet of the exact grade they quote.
Expect identity and species (HPTLC), marker assay (HPLC), heavy metals, microbiology, pesticide residues and residual solvents and moisture, each with its method, specification and result for that lot.
Keep dried herb, root and extracts sealed, cool and dark. Alkamides and cichoric acid break down with heat, light and oxygen, so limit headspace and time open. Suppliers set shelf life or a retest date, and markers are re-assayed at retest.
Health Canada's natural health product monograph for Echinacea purpurea lists the herb top and root as source material, including dried material and juice. Health Canada's monograph for Echinacea angustifolia lists the dried root and rhizome as source material. The EU Novel Food status Catalogue (entry POL-NF-00320) covers the herbs and roots of Echinacea purpurea and lists them as not novel in food supplements.
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