Manjistha extract (Rubia cordifolia)

Manjistha is the dried root and root-bark of Rubia cordifolia L. (Rubiaceae), the climbing madder of the Indian subcontinent and the Ayurvedic drug Manjishtha. Its commercial signature is a family of anthraquinone pigments — purpurin (1,2,4-trihydroxyanthraquinone, CAS 81-54-9), munjistin, alizarin (CAS 72-48-0), rubiadin and mollugin — which give the root its deep red colour and provide the analytical handles used to standardise the extract. Thovek supplies the material as a native ratio extract, most commonly 5:1 to 10:1, or standardised on tannins or on anthraquinone markers by HPLC or UV to the buyer's own specification. Only root and root-bark are used; aerial and stem material is excluded, which matters because the cosmetic INCI system treats Rubia Cordifolia Root Extract (CAS 91845-24-8, EINECS 295-195-4) and stem extract as separate ingredients. Two practical points shape how buyers work with it. First, this is a strongly pigmented extract: the powder runs reddish-brown to deep red-brown and will tint capsule shells, tablet coatings, emulsions and light-coloured bases, so formulators should build colour into the specification rather than treat it as a defect. Second, the anthraquinone class carries regulatory history. Root of the related European species Rubia tinctorum was withdrawn from food and medicinal use in parts of Europe over the genotoxic anthraquinone lucidin; R. cordifolia is a distinct species and is not the subject of that action, but buyers formulating for the EU should confirm the status of Rubia extracts in the destination market and may wish to write a lucidin limit into their specification. We will run the test on request. Every lot ships with a CoA covering identity by HPTLC against an authenticated botanical reference, assay by the agreed method, loss on drying, ash, heavy metals to API and AYUSH limits, microbiology, pesticide residues and residual solvents to ICH Q3C. The extract is plant-derived and carries no milk, egg, soy, fish, crustacean, gluten, sesame, peanut or tree-nut input in either the material or the process; it is suitable for vegan and vegetarian labelling and contains no bovine, porcine or marine material. Documentation available to regular buyers includes MSDS, allergen and GMO declarations, a nutritional and residual-solvent profile, stability data, and organic certification under NOP and EU regimes where the lot is certified.