Bulk Rosemary Extract Supplier — Carnosic Acid 10% & 60%, Rosmarinic Acid 10% / 50% / 98% HPLC, B2B Wholesale
Valeherb supplies rosemary extract bulk wholesale — Salvia rosmarinus (syn. Rosmarinus officinalis) leaf extract — in two standardized product lines: carnosic acid at 10% and 60% by HPLC and rosmarinic acid at 10%, 50%, and 98% by HPLC. These are two distinct bioactive fractions from the same plant, with different chemistry, different mechanisms, and different formulation applications. Understanding which you need is the most important procurement decision for this ingredient.
On this page: why rosemary is the commercial source of carnosic acid, available grades, the key differences between carnosic acid and rosmarinic acid, research background, formulation applications, sourcing criteria, and regulatory guidance.
Why Is It Called “Carnosic Acid” If It Comes from Rosemary?
This is one of the first questions buyers ask — and the answer reveals something useful about the ingredient itself. Carnosic acid was first isolated and identified in Salvia officinalis (common sage) in 1964, which is how it got its name — from Salvia, the genus of sage. But a year later, researchers found that carnosic acid occurs at substantially higher concentrations in rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis, now reclassified as Salvia rosmarinus) — approximately 1.5–3% of dry leaf weight in wild rosemary, and up to 4–10% in commercial high-yield cultivars developed specifically for extraction.[1]
In common sage (S. officinalis), carnosic acid is present but at much lower levels — typically 0.2–0.8% dry weight. Rosmarinic acid, by contrast, is the dominant polyphenol in sage. Published HPLC analysis comparing the two species directly confirms this inversion: rosemary is the superior source of carnosic acid, while sage yields proportionally more rosmarinic acid.[1]
This is why commercial carnosic acid extract — including the EU-authorised food antioxidant E392 — is produced from rosemary, not from sage, despite the naming. Other plants in the Lamiaceae family (Spanish sage S. lavandulaefolia, oregano Origanum spp.) also contain carnosic acid, but none at commercially viable concentrations compared to rosemary.
Carnosic Acid vs Rosmarinic Acid: The Key Difference
Both compounds come from the same plant but serve very different roles in formulation. Carnosic acid is lipid-soluble — it partitions into the fat phase, making it the active antioxidant in food preservation (E392) and oil-phase cosmetics, and the compound studied for Nrf2/HO-1 pathway activation in neuroprotective supplement research.[2] Rosmarinic acid is water-soluble — it distributes in aqueous environments, making it the active compound for supplement capsules, functional beverages, and water-phase cosmetics, with a published evidence base centred on NF-κB inhibition and direct ROS scavenging.[3]
For a detailed breakdown of mechanisms, stability, bioavailability, and which to specify for each application type, see Carnosic Acid vs Rosmarinic Acid: A Formulator’s Guide.
Available Grades and Specifications
| Product | Grade | Assay | Solubility | Typical Application |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carnosic Acid Extract | Standard | 10% HPLC | Lipid-soluble | Food antioxidant (E392), entry-level supplements, oil-phase cosmetics |
| Carnosic Acid Extract | High-Potency | 60% HPLC | Lipid-soluble | Premium antioxidant supplements, concentrated food preservation, cosmeceutical actives |
| Rosmarinic Acid Extract | Standard | 10% HPLC | Water-soluble | Herbal supplement blends, functional food fortification, entry-level aqueous cosmetics |
| Rosmarinic Acid Extract | Mid-Potency | 50% HPLC | Water-soluble | Anti-inflammatory and immune-support capsules, skin-care actives |
| Rosmarinic Acid Extract | Purified | 98% HPLC | Water-soluble | Pharmaceutical-adjacent applications, precision cosmetic formulations |
MOQ, lead time, and current pricing available on inquiry. Custom standardization levels and dual-compound specifications available on request.
Research Background
Provided as scientific context for formulators, not as claims for any Valeherb product.
Carnosic Acid — Nrf2/Keap1 Antioxidant Mechanism
Rashedinia et al. (2023, Molecular Neurobiology) reviewed the neuroprotective mechanisms of carnosic acid, documenting its activation of the Keap1/Nrf2 transcriptional pathway. Under oxidative stress, carnosic acid converts to an electrophilic form that releases Nrf2 from the Keap1 complex, triggering upregulation of antioxidant enzymes including HO-1, NQO1, and glutathione S-transferase. This redox-activated mechanism — selectively active in stressed cells — is the basis for its studied neuroprotective and cytoprotective activity across published preclinical models.[2]
Rosmarinic Acid — Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant Activity
Luo et al. (2020, Frontiers in Pharmacology) reviewed rosmarinic acid’s anti-inflammatory effects across multiple in vitro and in vivo models, documenting inhibition of NF-κB signaling, suppression of COX-2 and iNOS expression, and reduction of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6) alongside direct ROS-scavenging antioxidant activity.[3]
Formulation Applications
- Food antioxidant and preservation (carnosic acid, E392): 10% grade for EU-authorised natural antioxidant use in fats, oils, meat products, and functional foods. For a full guide to E392 maximum levels by food category and formulation tips, see Rosemary Extract as a Food Preservative: E392 Guide
- Antioxidant and neuroprotective supplements (carnosic acid): 60% grade at 100–300 mg per serving in premium antioxidant and brain-health formulas. Lipid-based softgel formats improve bioavailability. For supplement-specific guidance including grade selection and bioavailability considerations, see Carnosic Acid Supplements: What the Research Actually Says
- Anti-inflammatory and immune-support supplements (rosmarinic acid): 50% grade at 200–500 mg per serving. Pairs with quercetin, boswellia, and curcumin in multi-mechanism inflammatory-pathway formulas
- Cosmeceutical actives: Carnosic acid (60%) in oil-phase antioxidant serums; rosmarinic acid (50% or 98%) in water-phase brightening and anti-aging formulations. INCI: Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract
- Functional food and beverage (rosmarinic acid): 10% or 50% water-soluble grade for antioxidant fortification in functional drinks and food products
Sourcing Criteria
| Criterion | What to Require |
|---|---|
| Compound Specification | Specify carnosic acid OR rosmarinic acid as the standardized marker — not “rosemary extract” alone. HPLC-verified content per batch for both. Colorimetric total polyphenol figures are not a substitute for individual compound HPLC data |
| Carnosol on COA | For carnosic acid grades, request carnosol reported separately. Some carnosol alongside carnosic acid is normal (natural oxidation product). Disproportionately high carnosol indicates storage degradation of the carnosic acid fraction |
| Extraction Solvent | CO₂ or ethanol for carnosic acid (lipophilic); aqueous or ethanol for rosmarinic acid. Confirm solvent residue levels on COA. CO₂ extraction preferred for food-grade carnosic acid (E392 applications) |
| EU E392 Documentation | For EU food applications, request EU food additive compliance documentation confirming maximum permitted levels for your product category under EU Regulation 1333/2008 |
| Third-Party COA | Active compound (HPLC), heavy metals (USP <232>), pesticide residues, microbial limits (USP <2021>), moisture — per batch from accredited laboratory |
Regulatory Guidance
- EU (food): Rosemary extract standardized to carnosic acid is authorised as food antioxidant E392 under EU Regulation 1333/2008. Maximum levels vary by food category — confirm with regulatory counsel
- US (DSHEA): Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory support structure/function claims supportable with published research — self-substantiation and FDA disclaimer required. FDA-registered facility (21 CFR Part 111)
- Cosmetics: INCI name Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract. Listed in EU Cosing database. Confirm safety assessment under EU Cosmetics Regulation 1223/2009
- China: Rosemary extract (迷迭香提取物) is approved as a food antioxidant under GB 2760. Export documentation available
