Plants and extracts
Plant species, the parts used as raw materials and ways of preparing extracts. Understand the differences between a powder, an extract and an isolated substance when reading product information.
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This category connects plants used in supplements, food and personal care with the terms describing their processing. It explains botanical names, the origin of raw materials and the significance of the part used: leaves, roots, rhizomes, fruits or seeds. Alongside plants, you will find entries on extracts, extraction solvents and DER ratios. These help distinguish the actual amount of extract from the declared equivalent of the starting plant material. Traditional use provides context; it does not establish the effect of any finished product. Fragrance notes and accords belong under Fragrances, while vitamins, minerals and isolated compounds remain under Ingredients. This distinction makes it easier to read about a plant without confusing it with every substance it contains. Search continues to cover all categories, and moving an entry does not change its extended article address.
Found: 64 of 64 terms
Alfalfa
A plant named Medicago sativa, commonly called alfalfa. Products may use leaves or other plant parts. The label should identify the part used and the extract form.
Extended description →Aloe
The name of the plants from which raw materials used in cosmetics and other products are obtained. It is worth checking the type and form of the ingredient on the label, for example juice or leaf extract. Recipes with aloe may vary significantly in composition and purpose. The term aloe vera does not mean that the preparation consists only of aloe or that it is suitable for all skin types.
American ginseng
Panax quinquefolius is the species called American ginseng. It is not the same plant as Panax ginseng or Eleutherococcus senticosus. Preserve the species distinction when comparing formulas.
Extended description →Aqueous extract
An extract prepared using water as the extraction solvent. The method influences which compounds enter the extract. Aqueous describes its preparation, not necessarily the liquid form of the finished supplement or its entire composition.
Arnica
A plant named Arnica montana. In a cosmetic INCI list, Arnica Montana identifies a botanical material; the formula specifies its extract form and intended use.
Aronia
A name for plants whose berries are used as food and extract materials. Product descriptions may name Aronia melanocarpa. Juice, fruit powder and extract are different material forms.
Extended description →Artichoke
A plant known as a vegetable, whose name also appears in the descriptions of extracts. The edible part of the artichoke and the leaf used to prepare the raw material are not the same. In the description of the supplement, it is worth checking the part of the plant, the type of extract and its amount in a serving.
Extended description →Ashwagandha
The plant is also known as hella somnifera, with the botanical name Withania somnifera. Various preparations from its parts, primarily the root, are used in supplements. They are not equivalent in terms of composition and standardization. Ashwagandha appears in articles about stress and sleep, but research results depend on the specific extract; natural origin does not mean the absence of contraindications.
Extended description →Bay laurel
The name of a plant associated with the bay leaf, used as a spice. In the descriptions of raw materials, a distinction should be made between leaves, extract and oil, because they are different forms of the material. The mere appearance of the plant name does not determine the concentration or method of use of the finished product.
Beetroot
A plant named Beta vulgaris. Red beetroot is a food material also used to produce extracts. A root extract is not the same as a serving of fresh beetroot or juice.
Extended description →Black pepper
Raw material from Piper nigrum fruit, which is a spice and a source of compounds such as piperine. Pepper extract is not the same as pure piperine. Its declared amount requires checking the extract weight and the percentage of standardization.
Extended description →Botanical raw material equivalent
The converted amount of plant material corresponding to the specified amount of extract, according to the given coefficient. It is not the physical mass of the extract contained in the capsule. When assessing a product, it is worth distinguishing between these two values and standardization.
Extended description →Buckwheat
A plant used as a food material. Ingredient information should distinguish seeds, other plant parts, powders and extracts. The name buckwheat does not describe the complete product formula.
Burdock
The name of a plant whose root or other parts may be exchanged as a plant raw material. The word "burdock" itself does not specify the method of processing or the amount of the extract. More complete information should indicate the species, part of the plant and content in the product.
Capsicum annuum
Capsicum annuum is a botanical species name. Extracts may be standardised to capsaicin. Cayenne is a commercial material description; compare the declared species and standardisation as well.
Extended description →Cinnamon
The name of the spice is also used to describe the warm spicy note in perfumes. In combination with vanilla or tonka, it can emphasize the sweet reception of the composition. The information about the cinnamon note is not an instruction to apply the spice or oil directly to the skin.
Common barberry
Berberis vulgaris is the botanical name of common barberry. A plant, a particular plant part, an extract and isolated berberine are distinct ingredients, not interchangeable quantities.
Cumin
A spice plant named Cuminum cyminum. Cumin and caraway are different plants. Check the botanical name and ingredient form when comparing formulas.
Extended description →Damiana
The name of the plant raw material appearing in the descriptions of preparations related to libido and intimate life. The trade name does not in itself describe the composition of the extract. It is worth checking the botanical name, part of the plant, method of processing and quantity in the daily portion.
Extended description →DER
Acronym for drug extract ratio, i.e. the ratio of the amount of plant raw material to the obtained extract. The 10:1 notation refers to the proportions used in production, not to the ten times stronger effect when consumed. Information about the type of extract, raw material and solvent is also needed for interpretation. DER is not the same as percentage standardization for a specific compound.
Extended description →Dry extract
An extract form obtained after removal of much of the extraction solvent, usually appearing as a powder. It is not automatically equivalent to ground plant material. Dry does not specify standardisation, the plant part or the amount of a selected compound per serving.
Extraction solvent
A substance or mixture used to extract ingredients from a raw material, for example water or a mixture of water and ethanol. The choice of solvent affects the extract profile. It does not automatically mean that the finished preparation contains it in the same amount.
Extended description →Fennel
Fennel is Foeniculum vulgare. An ingredient may refer to its fruits or an extract made from them. It should not be automatically confused with dill.
Extended description →Fenugreek
A plant called Trigonella foenum-graecum, whose seeds are used in cooking and as a raw material for plant preparations. The extract is different from ground seeds. Part of the plant, standardization and serving size help differentiate products.
Extended description →Garcinia cambogia
A botanical ingredient name used in supplements. Check whether the label refers to fruit, a particular fruit part or an extract, and whether standardisation is stated. The name alone does not specify an extract’s concentration.
Extended description →Ginger
Zingiber officinale plant, the rhizome of which is used as a spice and raw material for extracts. The rhizome should not be confused with the root in a strict botanical description. The nature of the extract depends, among other things, on processing and standardization.
Extended description →Ginkgo biloba
A tree known as Ginkgo biloba, whose leaves are the source of extracts used in various preparations. Raw materials differ in the method of production and the content of determined compounds. The term ginkgo on the label does not describe all the parameters of the extract. When combining supplements with medications, it is the warnings and interactions that are important, not the plant origin of the ingredient itself.
Extended description →Ginseng
The name is used primarily for plants of the Panax genus, the root of which is the raw material of many supplements. It is worth checking the full botanical name on the label, because the term ginseng is also used for other plants. Extracts may differ in standardization and compound content. All preparations with this word in their name should not be treated as identical in terms of action.
Extended description →Goldenrod
A name covering plants of the Solidago genus, found in descriptions of herbal raw materials. Common goldenrod and Canadian goldenrod are different species, so they should not be identified based solely on their similar name. When choosing a product, the Latin name and identification of the plant part help.
Gotu kola
A plant named Centella asiatica, also known as gotu kola. It appears in both supplement and cosmetic ingredient lists. Check the extract form and any standardisation on the label.
Green tea
A raw material obtained from tea leaves, found both as an infusion and as an ingredient of extracts. A serving of drink and an extract capsule are not equivalent amounts. In the description of the extract, it is worth reading its weight and the declared content of the indicated compounds separately.
Extended description →Guarana
Paullinia cupana is a plant whose seeds naturally contain caffeine. The amount of guarana extract is not automatically the amount of caffeine; caffeine content depends on the material specification and standardisation.
Extended description →Highbush blueberry
Vaccinium corymbosum is the botanical name of highbush blueberry. Products may use berries, berry powder or an extract; the particular form matters when comparing ingredients.
Hops
A plant associated with cones, i.e. female inflorescences, and the raw materials obtained from them. When describing an extract, the part of the plant used and the amount in a serving are important. The presence of the name hops does not mean that the product is an alcoholic beverage or has the same composition as beer.
Extended description →Japanese knotweed
A botanical material appearing in extract descriptions. Check the botanical name, plant part and any standardisation on the label. Extract weight is not automatically the amount of resveratrol.
Jerusalem artichoke
The common name of the tuberous sunflower, a plant that produces edible underground tubers. In product descriptions, it may appear as a raw material or a processed ingredient. Jerusalem artichoke and isolated inulin are different terms - the amount of one cannot automatically be taken as the amount of the other.
Kola nut
A material from plants of the genus Cola; product descriptions may name Cola nitida. It can supply caffeine, but extract weight does not automatically specify caffeine content.
Extended description →Korean ginseng
Panax ginseng is the species known as Korean or Asian ginseng. Its extracts may declare a ginsenoside content. It should not be substituted with Siberian ginseng, which belongs to a different genus.
Extended description →KSM-66®
The trade name of a specific ashwagandha root extract found on supplement labels. It is not the botanical name of the plant or a general term for all extracts. Comparison requires checking the authentic specifications, extract amounts and standardization provided by the manufacturer.
Liquorice
Glycyrrhiza glabra is the botanical name of liquorice. Extracts may state their glycyrrhizic acid content. Extract weight and the amount of that compound should be read separately on the label.
Extended description →Lovage
Levisticum officinale is the botanical name of lovage. It is used as a seasoning and a material for extracts. Ingredient information should specify the plant part and material form.
Extended description →Maca
A plant native to the Andean region, usually described as Lepidium meyenii. Supplements contain powdered raw material and extracts that differ in their preparation method and concentration. Maca is found in offers related to vitality and sexuality. However, the name of the plant does not confirm the specific effect of the finished preparation nor does it allow the transfer of properties between different recipes.
Extended description →Marshmallow
A plant named Althaea officinalis. Ingredient lists should identify the plant part, such as the root, and any extract form. The plant name is distinct from the confectionery called marshmallow.
Native extract
An extract considered without excipients added after extraction. The distinction matters when reading extract mass and the drug–extract ratio. It does not automatically mean dry constituents: liquid and soft extracts may include retained solvent in their declared mass.
Oats
A cereal plant whose grain and other parts may constitute various raw materials. In the product description, it is important whether it is a grain, herb or extract. The name of the plant does not replace the declaration regarding gluten or information about possible contamination with other cereals.
Extended description →Plant extract
Preparation obtained from a specific part of the plant in the process of isolating its components. It may come from root, leaves, fruit or other raw materials. Two extracts of the same plant do not have to have the same composition: the part of the plant, the solvent and the method of preparation are important. Therefore, the weight of the extract alone is not sufficient to compare the properties of two supplements.
Plant part used in an extract
Information identifying whether an extract was prepared from a root, leaf, fruit, seed or another plant part. Different parts of the same species can have different compositions. A plant name alone is therefore insufficient to establish equivalence between two extracts.
Pomegranate
Fruit of the Punica imprezaum plant, used for food and as a source of plant raw materials. The juice, peel, seeds and extracts have different compositions. The name of the pomegranate on the label itself does not specify the content of polyphenols or the amount of a specific substance.
Pumpkin
The name of the plant from which, among other things, the pulp and seeds are used. Supplements may contain seeds, oil or extract, and each of these forms has a different description and method of declaring quantities. Information about one raw material should not be transferred to all pumpkin preparations.
Extended description →Purple coneflower
Echinacea purpurea is the botanical name of purple coneflower. Formulas may use different plant parts and extracts. The genus name Echinacea does not always identify the same species.
Extended description →Red clover
Trifolium pratense is the botanical name of red clover. Supplements may contain extracts, sometimes with a stated isoflavone content. Extract weight and isoflavone quantity are different measurements.
Extended description →Saffron
A plant named Crocus sativus. The spice, a powder and a botanical extract are different material forms. Supplement labels should specify the plant part and declared extract quantity.
Extended description →Sage
A plant named Salvia officinalis. Formulas may contain leaves, leaf extracts or other preparations. A leaf extract should not be treated as the same ingredient as an essential oil.
Extended description →Sarsaparilla
A name for botanical materials from the genus Smilax. Product formulas may specify Smilax officinalis root. Check the exact species and extract form in the individual product’s ingredient list.
Extended description →Saw palmetto
The name of the Serenoa repens plant, from whose fruit extracts are prepared, among others. Individual preparations may differ significantly in their ingredient profiles. The uses described for a specific extract do not automatically apply to every product bearing that plant's name.
Extended description →Schisandra
The name of a plant usually found in descriptions of Schisandra fruit or extracts. It is not another name for lemon or vitamin C. When comparing preparations, it is worth checking the botanical name, the form of the raw material and any declaration of standardization.
Extended description →Siberian ginseng
The commercial name for Eleutherococcus senticosus. This is a different plant from Panax ginseng. Eleuthero extracts may declare eleutheroside content, which should not be confused with ginsenoside content.
Extended description →St John’s wort
A plant named Hypericum perforatum. Labels should specify the plant part and material form, such as an extract. Its presence in a cosmetic does not imply the same use as in an oral preparation.
Stinging nettle
Urtica dioica plant, whose leaves and root are separate raw materials. When describing preparations, pay attention to the part of the plant used. The equivalence of root extract, leaf infusion and other forms cannot be assumed.
Extended description →Tribulus terrestris
A plant with the botanical name Tribulus terrestris, found in supplements related to vitality and sexual performance. Different parts of the plant and extracts with different characteristics are used. The presence of mace is not in itself evidence of increasing testosterone or treating erection problems. The exact specification of the raw material and the entire product is important.
Extended description →Turmeric
A plant known as Curcuma longa, whose rhizome is used as a spice and raw material for extracts. It contains a group of compounds called curcuminoids, which include curcumin. Rhizome powder, extract and isolated curcumin have different characteristics. When comparing supplements, you need to check which form the given weight applies to and whether the manufacturer specifies standardization.
Extended description →Walnut
The name of a tree and its fruit, also found in descriptions of plant raw materials. Edible seed, leaf and other parts of the plant are not interchangeable names for the ingredient. What matters is the exact wording on the label; if you have a nut allergy, you should also check allergen labels.
White mulberry
A plant named Morus alba. Supplement descriptions may refer to leaf materials and extracts. Leaves, fruits and extracts are not interchangeable ingredient names.
Yarrow
A plant named Achillea millefolium. Distinguish the herb, flowers and extracts obtained from a specified plant part. Different material forms are not automatically equivalent.
Extended description →