Epimedium grandiflorum Morren · Family: Berberidaceae · Aerial-Part Extract
A prenylflavonoid-rich Epimedium aerial-part extract standardised to icariin NLT 10% by HPLC, with 20%, 40% and 60% total-icariins grades. Species-declared, HPLC-profiled supply for men's-wellness, sports-nutrition, bone-health and TCM-inspired formulators — in a category where a clean, verifiable chromatogram is a genuine commercial differentiator. CoA-backed export from India.
Standardised Grade
Epimedium spp. · Icariin 10–60%A species-declared, icariin-standardised extract for the most scrutinised category in botanicals
Horny goat weed is the trade name for the Epimedium genus (family Berberidaceae) — known in Traditional Chinese Medicine as yin yang huo and used there for centuries in tonic formulations. The commercial material is prepared from the aerial parts, principally the leaf, which carry a distinctive family of prenylated flavonol glycosides. The defining marker is icariin, accompanied by the epimedins A, B and C and baohuoside I. A standardised extract lets a formulator work from a defined, HPLC-verified icariin load instead of variable dried herb.
"Epimedium" is not one plant. The Chinese Pharmacopoeia recognises several source species — E. brevicornu, E. sagittatum, E. pubescens and E. koreanum, with E. grandiflorum prominent in Japanese and Korean material — and their flavonoid profiles genuinely differ: the ratio of icariin to the epimedins and baohuoside I is a species signature. SV Botanica declares the source species on the specification and CoA, because an undeclared species mix is the quiet variable behind most batch-to-batch profile drift in this botanical.
The extract is supplied in four grades: icariin 10%, 20% and 40%, each assayed as the single icariin peak by HPLC, and a 60% total-icariins grade assayed as the sum of the defined icariin-family flavonoids. Those are two different specification bases — a distinction some sellers blur — and we state the basis explicitly on every document. The finished powder is brown to greenish-brown, passing a 40–80 mesh, partially water-soluble.
The men's-vitality category this extract serves has a well-documented integrity problem at the finished-product end — undeclared synthetic PDE5-inhibitor spiking — which makes a supplier's clean, fully resolved HPLC profile and willingness to support third-party screening a real commercial asset, not a formality. We supply supplement brands, sports-nutrition formulators and TCM-inspired houses with a batch-specific Certificate of Analysis on every shipment.
The prenylflavonoid family that defines Epimedium
The principal prenylated flavonol glycoside of Epimedium and the industry-standard marker. Standardised here by HPLC as a single resolved peak.
Structurally related flavonol glycosides that co-occur with icariin in species-characteristic ratios, summed into a total-icariins figure on the 60% grade.
The deglycosylated relative of icariin — present natively and also formed by enzymatic processing. Its level is a useful processing and species signature.
The prenyl substituent shared across this family distinguishes Epimedium flavonoids from common plant flavonoids and underpins the genus's research interest.
Minor quaternary alkaloids typical of the Berberidaceae, present at low levels in aerial-part material.
The non-flavonoid bulk fraction of the leaf, carried through in lower-assay grades and largely removed in the 40% and 60% grades.
Why formulators specify an icariin-standardised, species-declared extract — the functional role of the specification
Icariin is the recognised marker of the Epimedium genus, and a declared percentage by HPLC gives formulators a consistent, verifiable active load across batches. Four grades — 10%, 20%, 40% icariin and 60% total icariins — let you match potency to format and dose.
Because icariin-family ratios differ between Epimedium species, the species is part of the specification, not a footnote. A declared species with a matching flavonoid profile is what keeps a reformulation-free supply as raw-material seasons change.
The men's-vitality segment is notorious for undeclared PDE5-inhibitor spiking in finished products. A fully resolved HPLC chromatogram, LC-MS/MS screening for sildenafil and its analogues on request, and buyer-nominated third-party testing give brands documented distance from that problem.
Horny goat weed is one of the most recognised botanicals in the men's-wellness aisle, giving brands a hero ingredient with centuries of documented traditional use in TCM and no consumer-education burden.
Icariin's research literature spans bone metabolism as well as vitality, which is why Epimedium appears in bone-health and 50+ men's formulations — a research rationale formulators can build around within their own market's claims framework.
A free-flowing 40–80 mesh powder with controlled moisture blends predictably in capsules, tablets and stick-packs, and the graded potency ladder keeps fill volumes manageable in crowded multi-ingredient stacks.
These are functional and physico-chemical properties of the actives; SV Botanica does not make medical or therapeutic claims for this ingredient.
Four commercial grades — three standardised on the single icariin peak, one on total icariins. The basis is stated on every document.
| Grade | Standardisation | Form | Best For | Solubility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Horny Goat Weed Extract 10% Standard | Icariin NLT 10% (HPLC) | Brown to greenish-brown fine powder, 40–80 mesh | Mainstream men's-wellness capsules & tablets, tonic blends | Partially water-soluble |
| Horny Goat Weed Extract 20% Mid-potency | Icariin NLT 20% (HPLC) | Brown to greenish-brown fine powder | Multi-ingredient vitality & sports stacks where fill volume is contested | Partially water-soluble |
| Horny Goat Weed Extract 40% High-potency | Icariin NLT 40% (HPLC) | Light brown fine powder | Low-dose formats, softgels, concentrated stacks | Partially water-soluble |
| Epimedium Extract Icariins 60% Total-icariins | Total icariins NLT 60% (HPLC, sum of defined flavonoids) | Light brown to yellowish-brown fine powder | Premium concentrated formats specified on the total-flavonoid basis | Sparingly water-soluble |
The 10% icariin grade is our CoA-backed flagship, assayed as the single icariin peak by HPLC with identity confirmed by TLC. Note the basis difference: the 10–40% grades declare icariin; the 60% grade declares total icariins — the HPLC sum of icariin, epimedins A/B/C and baohuoside I — and the two are not interchangeable claims. Source species is declared per batch. Alternative standardisations, custom mesh and packaging can be quoted against buyer specification and order volume. Every batch is released against a batch-specific Certificate of Analysis.
Horny Goat Weed Extract is bought in five forms. The standardised extract is the stocked item; granulated and dispersible grades are produced on request and raw botanical forms are sourced against a confirmed order.
| Form | What it is | Specification basis | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standardised extract powder | Epimedium spp. aerial parts extract, dried and milled | NLT 10% icariin (HPLC) | Stocked |
| Granulated (direct-compression) | Extract granulated for tablet lines | Same marker, declared on the granule | On request |
| Water-dispersible / soluble | Extract in a dispersible matrix for beverages, gummies and sachets | Marker declared on the matrix basis; carrier named | On request |
| Whole-herb powder (non-extracted) | Dried Epimedium spp. aerial parts, milled to mesh | Botanical identity by TLC; heavy metals and microbial panel | On enquiry, subject to lot; phytosanitary certificate usually required |
| Cut herb (tea-bag cut) | Dried herb, tea-bag cut or cut & sifted | Identity, moisture, foreign matter | On enquiry; for teas and in-house extraction |
A marker percentage without its assay method is not a specification; ask for the method and the plant part on every quotation. Read Horny Goat Weed Extract: A Complete Buyer's Guide, Icariin, Total Icariins and How Epimedium Extract Is Standardised and Horny Goat Weed Adulteration, Spiking and How Authenticity Is Proven before comparing offers.
Full product specification for Horny Goat Weed Extract 10% icariin. Values are specification limits, not batch results; a batch-specific CoA is issued per shipment.
| Parameter | Specification / Limit | Method |
|---|---|---|
| Botanical Source | Epimedium grandiflorum Morren (source species declared per batch) | — |
| Plant Family | Berberidaceae | — |
| Part Used | Leaf (aerial parts) | — |
| Country of Origin | India | — |
| Appearance | Fine powder | Organoleptic |
| Colour | Brown to greenish-brown* | Organoleptic |
| Odour | Characteristic, herbaceous | Organoleptic |
| Taste | Characteristic, slightly bitter | Organoleptic |
| Identification | Corresponds to icariin — positive | By TLC |
| Loss on Drying (at 105°C, % w/w) | NMT 5.0 | IP-2014 |
| pH (1% w/v solution) | 4 – 7 | IP-2014 |
| Bulk Density (g/ml) | NLT 0.35 | IP-2014 |
| Particle Size (#40–80 mesh, % w/w) | NLT 95 | Sieve |
| Total Ash (% w/w) | NMT 8 | IP-2014 |
| Acid Insoluble Ash (% w/w) | NMT 2 | IP-2014 |
| Icariin (% w/w, dry basis) | NLT 10.0 | By HPLC |
| Epimedins A+B+C & Baohuoside I (% w/w) | Reported per batch | By HPLC |
| Residual Solvent (Ethanol, ppm) | NMT 5,000 | By GC |
| Heavy Metals — Total (ppm) | NMT 10 | ICP-MS |
| Lead (ppm) | NMT 1.0 | ICP-MS |
| Arsenic (ppm) | NMT 1.0 | ICP-MS |
| Cadmium (ppm) | NMT 0.3 | ICP-MS |
| Mercury (ppm) | NMT 0.1 | ICP-MS |
| Pesticide Residues | Complies (EU MRL, on request) | GC-MS / LC-MS/MS |
| Ethylene Oxide (ETO) | Not treated — declaration provided | LC-MS/MS (on request) |
| Aflatoxins B1 / Total (ppb) | NMT 2 / NMT 4 | HPLC-FLD |
| PDE5-Inhibitor Screen (sildenafil & analogues) | Not detected (on request) | LC-MS/MS |
| Total Plate Count (cfu/g) | NMT 1,000 | USP <2021> |
| Yeast & Moulds / Fungi (cfu/g) | NMT 100 | USP <2021> |
| Escherichia coli | Absent | USP <2022> |
| Salmonella sp. | Absent | USP <2022> |
| Staphylococcus aureus | Absent | USP <2022> |
| Cultivation | Cultivated & wild-collected — declared per batch | Declaration |
| Kosher / Halal | Certified (on request) | Certification |
| Shelf Life | 36 months from date of manufacture, in original packed condition | — |
| Storage | Cool, dry place away from light and moisture, in tightly sealed containers | — |
*The product is of herbal origin; slight colour variation may occur due to geographical and seasonal variation in the raw material. Icariin is standardised by HPLC and identity is confirmed by TLC; the epimedin and baohuoside I profile is reported per batch on request, and the source species is declared on the CoA. A current Certificate of Analysis and MSDS are issued with every batch. EU pesticide MRL, ethylene oxide and PDE5-inhibitor screening reports are available on request.
From declared species to standardised extract — authenticated, screened, documented
Raw Material & Authentication: The extract is prepared from the aerial parts of declared Epimedium species. Because "epimedium" spans several pharmacopoeial species whose flavonoid ratios differ — and because undeclared species mixing is the most common quiet defect in this botanical — icariin identity is confirmed by TLC and the full icariin-family profile is assayed by HPLC on every batch before it is accepted, with the source species stated on the CoA.
Manufacturing & Testing: Horny Goat Weed Extract is manufactured at certified facilities in India. Each batch runs through a full QC battery — icariin by HPLC, loss on drying, pH, bulk density, ash and acid-insoluble ash, mesh, residual solvent by GC, heavy metals by ICP-MS, aflatoxins, pesticide residue screening and a complete USP microbiological panel — before release. Because the men's-vitality category carries a documented history of synthetic PDE5-inhibitor spiking at the finished-product end, LC-MS/MS screening for sildenafil and its analogues is available on request, and the resolved HPLC chromatogram is supplied with the CoA for buyers who want to see the profile, not just the number.
Documentation: Every shipment is supplied against a batch-specific Certificate of Analysis with an MSDS. Halal, Kosher and Organic certification are available. Country of Origin and export documentation are provided on request. For EU-bound material we supply a non-ETO declaration and EU MRL screening — see our guides on EU pesticide MRL compliance and EU import requirements for botanical extracts.
What backs every batch of Horny Goat Weed extract
Key information for global product registration and labelling
Used as a botanical active in supplement and functional-food formats, the extract is supplied to a defined icariin specification with full analytical documentation. Epimedium has centuries of documented traditional use in Chinese medicine and an established presence in Western food supplements; buyers remain responsible for determining suitability and for compliance with the food-supplement regulations of their market, including claims discipline — this is a category regulators watch closely because of finished-product spiking by bad actors, which makes clean documentation commercially valuable. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Epimedium grandiflorum extract is a recognised cosmetic ingredient with an INCI listing, used in scalp, hair-vitality and energising body-care formats. As an active input it should be used within the buyer's finished-product safety assessment; SV Botanica supplies the material specification and CoA to support that dossier.
Supplied from India by SV Botanica — FSSAI Central Licence holder and an APEDA-registered exporter. The material is processed and quality-released at certified Indian facilities with NABL-accredited laboratory testing, and shipped against a batch-specific Certificate of Analysis with export documentation available on request. For unusually concentrated flavonoid fractions destined for the EU, buyers should confirm the novel-food position of their finished format before committing — we flag this proactively for EU-bound enquiries.
Deep-dive articles on horny goat weed extract for formulators, buyers, and brand owners
How to specify Epimedium extract by icariin content and species, what a CoA must show, and the traps in a scrutinised category.
TechnicalWhat icariin versus total icariins means, why species drives the flavonoid profile, and how HPLC assay actually works.
QualitySpecies substitution, total-flavonoid spec games and the category's spiking problem — and the testing that proves a clean extract.
ApplicationsMen's-vitality, sports, bone-health and TCM-inspired formats — which grade fits each, and the claims discipline the category demands.
ProcurementA scored checklist for qualifying an Epimedium extract supplier before you place a bulk order.
MarketWhere demand for Epimedium extract is growing, how the category's integrity problem shapes it, and what that means for sourcing.
Frequently co-formulated with Horny Goat Weed Extract in men's-vitality & performance blends
Technical and commercial questions answered by our ingredients team
Icariin-standardised, species-declared, lab-tested supply of Epimedium aerial-part extract. Icariin 10–60% by HPLC. Samples available for qualified buyers.
Supplied as a bulk ingredient for further manufacture. Buyers are responsible for compliance with the regulations of their destination market. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
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