Turmeric extract is one of the most-traded botanical actives in the world — and one of the easiest to specify badly. The same “curcumin 95%” label can mean 95% total curcuminoids or, loosely, 95% pure curcumin; it can be assayed by HPLC or by UV; and it can be a clean plant extract or a dyed, synthetic or diluted imitation. Buying it well means knowing what the 95% actually measures, which method generated it, and what a complete Certificate of Analysis must prove.
What Turmeric Extract Is
Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is the golden rhizome at the centre of Ayurvedic and culinary tradition. The B2B ingredient is a concentrated extract of the rhizome standardised to its signature actives, the curcuminoids — a trio of related polyphenols: curcumin, demethoxycurcumin and bisdemethoxycurcumin. The most-traded grade is 95% total curcuminoids, the workhorse of the supplement, functional-food and nutricosmetic categories.
SV Botanica’s stock grade is a rhizome extract standardised to 95% total curcuminoids by HPLC, with granular, fine-powder, water-dispersible and certified-organic grades available.
Turmeric Powder vs Extract vs “Curcumin 95%”
These three terms describe very different materials, and conflating them is the most common sourcing error:
- Turmeric powder — the milled rhizome, typically 2–5% curcuminoids. A spice, not a standardised active.
- Turmeric oleoresin — a solvent extraction retaining the volatile oil and colour; curcuminoid content varies widely.
- Standardised extract (curcumin 95%) — the curcuminoid fraction concentrated to 95% total curcuminoids. This is the nutraceutical-grade material.
Buyer takeaway: “curcumin 95%” in trade almost always means 95% total curcuminoids (the three-compound complex), not 95% pure curcumin. Write “95% total curcuminoids by HPLC” on the purchase order so there is no ambiguity.
The Standardisation Number: HPLC vs UV
The headline 95% is only meaningful alongside the assay method. The same powder reports differently by each:
- HPLC — separates and quantifies each curcuminoid individually, giving a compound-specific number and a fingerprint of the natural ratio. This is what a defensible 95% claim should rest on.
- UV-Vis (spectrophotometric) — measures total colour absorbance and reads higher on the same material. A “95% by UV” is not equivalent to “95% by HPLC”.
We unpack this in detail in curcumin standardisation: HPLC vs UV — decide which method your label and destination market require before you compare quotes.
The Specification That Matters
The 95% figure is the headline, but a complete spec covers identity, physical, residual and contaminant parameters. The table reflects SV Botanica’s 95% grade; because this is a botanical, these are typical specifications — a batch-specific CoA ships with every order.
| Parameter | Specification | Method |
|---|---|---|
| Botanical / Part | Curcuma longa / Rhizome | — |
| Total curcuminoids | NLT 95.0% | HPLC |
| Identification | Positive (3-curcuminoid profile) | HPLC / TLC |
| Appearance | Bright yellow to orange fine powder | Organoleptic |
| Loss on drying | NMT 5.0% | IP |
| Particle size | NLT 95% through #40–80 mesh | Sieve |
| Residual solvents | Within ICH Q3C limits | GC |
| Heavy metals (Pb/As/Cd/Hg) | Total NMT 10 ppm; Pb ≤2 ppm | ICP-MS |
| Lead chromate / dyes | Absent | HPLC / screening |
| Total plate count | NMT 1,000 cfu/g | USP <2021> |
| Yeast & mould | NMT 100 cfu/g | USP <2021> |
| E. coli / Salmonella | Absent | USP <2022> |
For the chemistry behind the marker, see curcuminoids: actives & research.
What a Complete Certificate of Analysis Must Show
- Identity — botanical name (Curcuma longa), plant part (rhizome), and identification showing the three-curcuminoid profile.
- Assay and method stated unambiguously — total curcuminoid % and that it is by HPLC.
- Adulteration controls — explicit absence of lead chromate, metanil yellow and synthetic curcumin.
- Residual solvents — within ICH Q3C limits, with the extraction solvent named.
- Heavy metals by ICP-MS — lead in particular, given turmeric’s adulteration history.
- Microbiology and batch traceability — lot, manufacture/expiry dates, shelf life and storage.
Adulteration & Bioavailability: Two Things to Settle Early
Turmeric is among the most adulterated botanicals, historically with the lead-based pigment lead chromate and the textile dye metanil yellow, and increasingly with synthetic curcumin standing in for the plant complex. Your spec should name these explicitly — see turmeric adulteration & synthetic curcumin.
Separately, native curcumin 95% is poorly water-soluble and has low oral bioavailability, which is why so much of the category is built around delivery formats. Decide whether you need a plain 95% powder or a water-dispersible grade before you formulate — we cover the trade-offs in curcumin bioavailability & the supplement market.
Sourcing, MOQ and Lead Time
- Origin — high-curcumin Curcuma longa rhizome, extracted and assayed in India with export-ready documentation. See our sourcing & quality guide.
- Documentation per shipment — batch-specific CoA, MSDS, allergen and Non-GMO declarations, Country of Origin certificate and Phytosanitary Certificate.
- Typical terms — from 1 kg up; packed in HDPE drums with food-grade liners; samples for qualified buyers; standard lead time on the 95% grade.
Before market entry, confirm curcumin’s regulatory status and limits in your destination — covered in curcumin regulatory & compliance.
Sourcing Bulk Turmeric Curcumin 95%?
95% total curcuminoids · HPLC assayed · ICP-MS tested · synthetic-curcumin screened · batch-specific CoA · Samples for qualified buyers