Fix the specification before you compare price. For bhringraj that means five things: the botanical species, the plant part, the grade and assay, cosmetic versus supplement grade, and the safety panel. Nail those and two quotes become genuinely comparable.
Bhringraj (Eclipta prostrata, synonym Eclipta alba) is a high-demand hair-care and holistic botanical from India, and “bhringraj extract” is offered across a wide range of species, grades and assays. This guide sets out the parameters a B2B buyer should pin down on the specification before comparing price.
1. Fix the Botanical & Plant Part
True bhringraj is Eclipta prostrata, whole plant / aerial parts, a herb with small white flowers and a yellow centre. The common adulterant is “peela bhringraj” — Wedelia chinensis (also written Sphagneticola calendulacea) — which has yellow flowers and belongs to a different genus. Folk naming of “three bhringrajs” (white, yellow, blue) makes confusion easy, so the specification must name the species and require identity confirmation. Guard identity by TLC / HPTLC. For origin and authentication in depth, read the bhringraj sourcing guide.
2. Ratio vs Standardised (Wedelolactone HPLC)
Bhringraj comes in two families of grade. A native 10:1 ratio extract is a full-spectrum concentrate with no guaranteed active percentage; a wedelolactone-standardised grade is enriched to a defined marker level measured by HPLC. Because wedelolactone occurs at low natural levels, the HPLC percentage is the real differentiator between suppliers. Always require the method next to the figure — see our HPLC vs UV standardisation guide.
| Grade | Typical assay | Common use |
|---|---|---|
| Native 10:1 (full-spectrum) | Ratio, not standardised | Traditional-style hair oils, holistic blends |
| Standardised 1% | 1% wedelolactone (HPLC) | Cosmetic & supplement formulas |
| Standardised 2.5% | 2.5% wedelolactone (HPLC) | Higher-potency, dose-controlled |
| Enriched (on request) | >2.5% wedelolactone (HPLC) | Tight-spec / actives-led products |
3. Cosmetic-Grade vs Supplement-Grade
Match the grade to the finished-product category. A cosmetic-grade extract for hair oils, serums and shampoos is declared by its INCI name (Eclipta Prostrata Extract) and specified for cosmetic use. A supplement-grade extract for capsules, tablets and gummies is specified for oral use under frameworks such as DSHEA (US) or FSSAI (India). The specifications, permitted uses and documentation differ — confirm which you need before ordering, and see the regulatory compliance guide.
4. Lock the Safety Panel
Beyond potency, the specification should carry the safety parameters that gate clearance and shelf life:
- Ethylene oxide (ETO) — tested on request for the EU; the key import trigger for Indian botanicals.
- Heavy metals (ICP-MS) — Pb NMT 3 ppm, As NMT 1 ppm, Cd NMT 1 ppm, Hg NMT 0.1 ppm.
- Pesticide residues — to destination MRLs.
- Microbiology — TPC NMT 10,000 cfu/g, yeast & mould NMT 1,000 cfu/g, E. coli & Salmonella absent.
- Loss on drying NMT 5%; particle size 98% pass 80 mesh.
Buyer tip: a wedelolactone figure means little without a clean safety panel behind it. Require actual ICP-MS metal values and a stated ETO position — not a blanket “complies.”
5. Read the CoA Against the Spec
A batch Certificate of Analysis should reference a named specification, report actual results with methods, and match the declared grade. Confirm the wedelolactone figure carries its HPLC method and reference standard, that the species is named as Eclipta prostrata (not just “bhringraj”), and that a botanical identity test is present to rule out Wedelia substitution. Watch for a marker quoted without a method, or heavy-metal / microbial lines shown as “complies” without values.
To specify the finished material, see the Bhringraj Extract product page.
Specify Bhringraj Extract With Confidence
Eclipta prostrata · 10:1 or wedelolactone by HPLC · cosmetic or supplement grade · ICP-MS metals · batch CoA