Bulk Echinacea Purpurea Extract Supplier — Cichoric Acid 1–4%, Aerial Parts, B2B Wholesale
Valeherb supplies Echinacea purpurea extract — aerial parts (herb), standardized to cichoric acid from 1% to 4% by HPLC — with custom specifications available for immune-support supplement, functional beverage, and herbal-blend formulation. Echinacea purpurea is the most extensively researched of the Echinacea species, and cichoric acid is its characteristic aerial-part marker compound. For B2B buyers, species and plant part are the decisions that determine which marker compound is present and which research applies — so this page covers one clearly defined material: E. purpurea aerial, cichoric-acid-standardized.
Why Species and Plant Part Define the Specification
There are three commercially significant Echinacea species (E. purpurea, E. angustifolia, E. pallida), and they differ in marker compounds, plant part, and applicable research — they are not interchangeable. Valeherb’s product line is E. purpurea aerial parts standardized to cichoric acid; the note below explains why that distinction matters at the procurement stage. Buyers weighing one species or plant part against another before they specify can work through the full comparison in our guide to choosing between Echinacea species and plant parts.
Active Compounds in E. purpurea Aerial Extract
| Compound Class | Role in E. purpurea | Activity Studied in Research | Marker / Target |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cichoric Acid | Characteristic aerial-part marker (caffeic acid derivative) | Studied for antioxidant activity and effects on phagocyte/immune-cell function in laboratory models[1] | Standardization marker — 1–4% by HPLC |
| Alkamides (Alkylamides) | Present in aerial parts and root | Studied for cytokine-pathway activity (e.g., CB2 receptor and TNF-α signalling) in cell models[2] | Background constituent |
| Polysaccharides | Aerial-part constituent | Studied for macrophage- and complement-related immune activity in laboratory models | Background constituent |
Available Grades and Specifications
We supply E. purpurea aerial-part extract standardized to cichoric acid by HPLC. Custom targets within the 1–4% range, and liquid/water-soluble formats, available on request:
| Grade | Species / Part | Marker Content | Typical Application Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1% Cichoric Acid | E. purpurea aerial (herb) | 1% cichoric acid by HPLC | Herbal blends, functional teas, entry-level immune-support products |
| 2% Cichoric Acid | E. purpurea aerial (herb) | 2% cichoric acid by HPLC | Mainstream immune-support capsules and tablets |
| 3% Cichoric Acid | E. purpurea aerial (herb) | 3% cichoric acid by HPLC | Standardized immune-support formulations |
| 4% Cichoric Acid | E. purpurea aerial (herb) | 4% cichoric acid by HPLC | High-standardization immune-support formulations; EMA/Ph. Eur.-referenced products |
Published Research
Common-Cold Research (Cochrane Review)
The most-cited synthesis is a Cochrane systematic review by Karsch-Völk et al. (2014) covering 24 randomized controlled trials of varied Echinacea species, parts, and preparations. Its overall conclusion was cautious: Echinacea products were not shown to provide a clear benefit for treating colds, though a weak benefit from some products could not be excluded; prevention trials showed only positive-but-non-significant trends of questionable clinical relevance. The reviewers stressed that the large differences between preparations made strong conclusions difficult.[3] This heterogeneity is exactly why species, part, and marker specification matter, and why product-specific substantiation cannot be inferred from the category as a whole.
Immune-Marker Research (E. purpurea)
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (Lee et al., 2024) gave 80 healthy Korean adults 200 mg/day of an E. purpurea 60% ethanolic extract or placebo for 8 weeks. The extract group showed significant increases in NK-cell cytotoxic activity and in serum IL-2, IFN-γ, and TNF-α versus placebo; however, there were no significant changes in respiratory-symptom scores (WURSS-21) or in a fatigue scale.[1] In other words, the trial showed movement in immune markers but did not demonstrate a symptom-level benefit. Separately, Echinacea alkamides have been studied for cytokine-pathway activity via the CB2 receptor in cell models.[2]
Application Categories
- Immune-support supplements: E. purpurea aerial cichoric-acid extract in capsule/tablet formats, at formulation-reference amounts (commonly 300–500 mg per serving), often combined with vitamin C, zinc, or elderberry in seasonal immune-support formulations.
- Functional beverages and shots: water-soluble or liquid E. purpurea aerial extract for RTD formats; naturally slightly bitter profile pairs with elderberry, ginger, or citrus systems.
- Herbal blends and teas: lower-percentage aerial material for multi-botanical immune or seasonal-wellness blends.
Sourcing Criteria: What to Require from Any Supplier
| Criterion | What to Require |
|---|---|
| Species + Part Specification | Latin name AND plant part on the COA. Generic “echinacea extract” is incomplete — for cichoric-acid-standardized material, the correct specification is E. purpurea, aerial parts |
| Marker Compound by HPLC | Cichoric acid by HPLC per batch for E. purpurea aerial. Total phenolics by colorimetric method is insufficient for a species-specific marker claim |
| Cultivation vs. Wild-Harvested | Cultivated material preferred for supply security and consistency; request sourcing documentation |
| Third-Party COA | Cichoric acid (HPLC), heavy metals (USP <232>), pesticide residues, microbial limits (USP <2021>), moisture — per production batch |
| Pharmacopoeial Compliance | A European Pharmacopoeia (Ph. Eur.) monograph exists for E. purpurea herb — request compliance documentation for EU supply chains |
| Certifications | Non-GMO, Kosher/Halal for relevant markets. FDA-registered facility for US supplement supply chains |
Regulatory Background
- US (DSHEA): immune-support structure/function claims (e.g., “supports healthy immune function during seasonal challenges”) must be substantiated by the marketer and carry the FDA disclaimer. Cold, flu, and other upper-respiratory disease treatment or prevention claims are prohibited without drug approval.
- EU (EMA/HMPC): E. purpurea herb has an EMA herbal monograph; well-established-use status applies specifically to the pressed-juice preparation of the fresh flowering herb, with traditional-use status for other preparations. Confirm which preparation and claim basis applies to your finished product.[4]
- Germany (Commission E): E. purpurea herb is positively assessed for supportive use in recurrent respiratory and urinary infections — a foundational phytomedicine monograph that preceded the EMA assessments.
- Canada (NHPs): E. purpurea has a Health Canada NHP monograph; permitted immune-related claims are defined within it.
References
[1] Lee SK, Lee DR, Kim HL, Choi BK, Kwon KB. (2024). A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study on immune improvement effects of ethanolic extract of Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench in Korean adults. Phytotherapy Research, 38(7), 3645–3659. doi:10.1002/ptr.8224
[2] Gertsch J, Schoop R, Kuenzle U, Suter A. (2004). Echinacea alkylamides modulate TNF-α gene expression via cannabinoid receptor CB2 and multiple signal transduction pathways. FEBS Letters, 577(3), 563–569. doi:10.1016/j.febslet.2004.10.064
[3] Karsch-Völk M, Barrett B, Kiefer D, Bauer R, Ardjomand-Woelkart K, Linde K. (2014). Echinacea for preventing and treating the common cold. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2014(2), CD000530. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD000530.pub3
[4] European Medicines Agency / HMPC. (2015). Assessment report on Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench, herba. EMA/HMPC/557979/2013. ema.europa.eu
