Echium oil
Echium oil suppliers and sourcing guide
Echium oil is pressed or solvent-extracted from the seeds of Echium plantagineum, a borage-family plant grown as a specialty oilseed. It is notable for containing both stearidonic acid (SDA) and gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) alongside alpha-linolenic acid. Food and supplement grades are usually fully refined to remove pyrrolizidine alkaloids that occur in the plant, and brands buy it as a bulk oil for softgels or as a powder.
- Category
- Oils and fats
- Also known as
- Echium plantagineum seed oil · Purple viper's bugloss seed oil · Refined echium oil · Stearidonic acid (SDA) oil
- Facts checked
- November 2026
Forms and grades of echium oil
Suppliers sell different products under the same name. Specify the one you need.
Refined oil
Refined, bleached and deodorized oil sold against minimum SDA and GLA levels, the usual grade for softgels and food use.
Cold-pressed or virgin oil
Mechanically pressed and filtered oil, mainly used in cosmetics, with more color, odor and natural minor components.
Microencapsulated powder
Oil spray-dried onto a carrier such as starch or gum acacia for tablets, capsules and dry blends.
Blends
Echium oil blended with fish, algal or other seed oils to reach a target omega-3 and omega-6 profile.
What to check on the COA
Compare each result with your own specification when the lot arrives.
- Fatty acid profile
- Fatty acid composition by GC of the methyl esters (AOCS Ce 1-62 or an equivalent ISO method), reported as percent of total fatty acids; SDA, GLA and ALA are the figures buyers compare.
- Pyrrolizidine alkaloids
- Pyrrolizidine alkaloids by LC-MS/MS, reported against a low maximum; this is the main safety specification for Echium oils.
- Peroxide and anisidine values
- Peroxide value (AOCS Cd 8b-90) for primary oxidation and p-anisidine value for secondary oxidation, often combined as TOTOX; these show how fresh the oil is at release.
- Free fatty acids
- Free fatty acids or acid value by titration (AOCS Ca 5a-40 or Cd 3d-63), which rises with poor seed handling, hydrolysis and age.
- Heavy metals
- Lead, arsenic, cadmium and mercury by ICP-MS, reported against the supplier's specification or the limits of the target market.
Storage, lots and expiry
Storage and shelf life
Store sealed under nitrogen in the original drum or container, away from light and heat; many suppliers specify refrigeration once opened. Highly unsaturated oils oxidize quickly, so headspace and repeated opening matter. Shelf life is set by the supplier specification, and peroxide and anisidine values are retested on aged stock.
Lots and expiry dates
SDA and GLA vary with seed origin and harvest year, so record the actual fatty acid profile and pyrrolizidine alkaloid result from each lot COA. Rotate first-expiry, first-out and check oxidation values on any opened container.
Regulatory status
Facts from regulators and standards bodies, each linked to its source.
Health Canada's Natural Health Products Ingredients Database lists echium oil, from the seed of Echium plantagineum, as a medicinal ingredient prepared as a fixed oil.
Source: webprod.hc-sc.gc.ca (opens in a new tab)The same database lists Echium Plantagineum Seed Oil as a non-medicinal skin-conditioning agent for topical use only.
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.
Echium oil suppliers
Manufacturers and distributors whose own websites say they sell it.
We are checking echium oil 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 echium oil? Request a listingFrequently asked questions
What forms of echium oil can brands buy?
Common forms include refined oil, cold-pressed or virgin oil, microencapsulated powder and blends. Ask each supplier for the specification sheet of the exact grade they quote.
What should the COA for echium oil include?
Expect fatty acid profile, pyrrolizidine alkaloids, peroxide and anisidine values, free fatty acids and heavy metals, each with its method, specification and result for that lot.
How should echium oil be stored?
Store sealed under nitrogen in the original drum or container, away from light and heat; many suppliers specify refrigeration once opened. Highly unsaturated oils oxidize quickly, so headspace and repeated opening matter. Shelf life is set by the supplier specification, and peroxide and anisidine values are retested on aged stock.
What is the regulatory status of echium oil?
Health Canada's Natural Health Products Ingredients Database lists echium oil, from the seed of Echium plantagineum, as a medicinal ingredient prepared as a fixed oil. The same database lists Echium Plantagineum Seed Oil as a non-medicinal skin-conditioning agent for topical use only.
More oils and fats
- Fish Oilomega-3 fish oil · EPA/DHA concentrate
- MCT Oilmedium-chain triglycerides · caprylic/capric triglyceride
- Krill oilAntarctic krill oil · Euphausia superba oil
- Algal oil (DHA)Algal DHA oil · Schizochytrium oil
- Cod liver oilLecoris aselli oleum · Gadus morhua liver oil
- Salmon oilSalmo salar oil · Salmonidae oil
- Flaxseed oilLinseed oil · Flax oil
- Evening primrose oilOenothera biennis seed oil · EPO
- Borage oilBorago officinalis seed oil · Starflower oil
- Black seed oilNigella sativa seed oil · Black cumin seed oil
- Hemp seed oilCannabis sativa seed oil · Hempseed oil
- Pumpkin seed oilCucurbita pepo seed oil · Pepita oil
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