Rosemary Leaf Extract

Our Rosemary Leaf Extract is derived from premium rosemary cultivated in the inland regions of China. We employ advanced organic solvent extraction techniques to ensure high purity and the complete retention of active compounds. Rich in natural antioxidants such as rosmarinic acid and carnosic acid, our extract exhibits exceptional antioxidant and preservative properties, effectively extending the shelf life of food, cosmetics, and health supplements. We offer a variety of specifications and forms, including powder, liquid, oil-soluble, and water-soluble options, to cater to diverse customer needs. Our product undergoes rigorous quality testing, adheres to international standards, and is accompanied by detailed product specifications and technical support. We are committed to providing our clients with high-quality, stable rosemary extract, empowering your products to achieve greater competitiveness in the market.

Rosmarinus officinalis leaves contain a rich phytochemical matrix. The compounds most relevant to commercial applications fall into three structural classes.

Phenolic Acids

• Rosmarinic Acid

The primary water-soluble active compound in rosemary leaf extract. Rosmarinic acid is an ester of caffeic acid and 3,4-dihydroxyphenyllactic acid - a structure that confers potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial activity. It is found in multiple Lamiaceae family plants but reaches particularly high concentrations in rosemary.

• Caffeic Acid

A structural component of rosmarinic acid and a minor free phenolic acid in rosemary extract. Contributes to overall antioxidant capacity.

Phenolic Diterpenes

• Carnosic Acid

The primary oil-soluble active compound and the most potent antioxidant in rosemary extract for lipid-based systems. Carnosic acid functions as a chain-breaking antioxidant in lipid oxidation - it interrupts the free radical chain reaction that causes rancidity in fats and oils. Its oil solubility makes it uniquely effective in food matrices where water-soluble antioxidants cannot penetrate.

• Carnosol

The primary oxidation product of carnosic acid and a potent antioxidant in its own right. Carnosol shows anti-inflammatory activity through NF-κB inhibition and has demonstrated antiproliferative effects in multiple cancer cell lines in preclinical research. In commercial rosemary extracts, carnosol content is often reported alongside carnosic acid as part of a combined diterpene specification.

Triterpene Acids

• Ursolic Acid

A pentacyclic triterpene present in rosemary leaves at meaningful concentrations. Ursolic acid has accumulated one of the most extensive preclinical research profiles of any plant triterpene, with documented activity across anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, anti-obesity, and muscle preservation pathways. It is increasingly used as a standalone supplement ingredient - its presence in rosemary extract adds formulation value for products targeting metabolic health or sports performance.

• Oleanolic Acid

A structural isomer of ursolic acid with complementary hepatoprotective and anti-inflammatory activity. Present at lower concentrations than ursolic acid in most rosemary extracts.

Active Compound Summary

Rosemary Leaf Extract  exhibits the following notable characteristics, making it highly regarded and widely applicable across various industries:

1. Natural Origin and Safety

Natural Extraction: Rosemary extract is a naturally derived product extracted from the rosemary plant, free from chemically synthesized additives or preservatives.
High Safety Profile: As a natural ingredient, rosemary extract is considered safe within reasonable usage parameters, aligning with consumer demand for natural and organic products.

2. Potent Antioxidant Capacity

Effective Antioxidant: Rosemary extract is rich in various antioxidant compounds, including Rosmarinic Acid, Carnosic Acid, and Carnosol. These components effectively neutralize free radicals and reduce oxidative stress, exhibiting antioxidant capabilities superior to traditional antioxidants like Vitamin E and BHA.
Heat Stability: Rosemary extract maintains stable antioxidant properties under high temperatures (200°C-240°C), making it particularly suitable for baked and fried foods.

3. Antimicrobial and Preservative Properties

Natural Antimicrobial Activity: Rosemary extract possesses broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, inhibiting the growth of various bacteria, molds, and yeasts, thereby reducing microbial contamination in food and cosmetics.
Preservative Effect: As a natural preservative, rosemary extract can extend product shelf life and reduce the use of chemical preservatives, meeting consumer preferences for natural preservation.

4. Diverse Bioactive Properties

Anti-inflammatory Effects: The active compounds in rosemary extract can suppress inflammatory responses, reduce the production of inflammatory factors, and help alleviate chronic inflammation.
Neuroprotective Effects: Studies suggest that rosemary extract may improve cognitive function, enhance memory and attention, and offer potential benefits in preventing neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's disease.
Digestive Support: Rosemary extract can stimulate bile secretion, aid in fat digestion, and promote gastrointestinal health.
Skin Care Benefits: Rosemary extract exhibits anti-aging, skin-whitening, and skin-repairing properties, reducing wrinkles and hyperpigmentation, alleviating skin inflammation, and enhancing skin elasticity.

5. Excellent Solubility and Compatibility

Solubility: Rosemary extract is available in both water-soluble and oil-soluble forms, catering to diverse formulation requirements.
Compatibility: Rosemary extract demonstrates excellent compatibility with most food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical ingredients, without compromising other product characteristics.
 

🥩 Food Preservation & Manufacturing

Rosemary Leaf Extract  is one of the most commercially established natural food antioxidants globally. It is approved as a food additive in the EU under E392 and carries GRAS status in the United States for use in fats, oils, and meat products.

Primary food preservation applications:

Regulatory note for food use: In the EU, rosemary extracts used as food antioxidants are regulated under Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 as E392. Maximum permitted levels vary by food category - confirm compliance for your specific application with your regulatory team.

💊 Nutraceuticals & Dietary Supplements

🧴 Cosmetics & Personal Care

Formulation Compatibility

Rosemary leaf extract pairs effectively with:

• Vitamin E (tocopherols) - Synergistic lipid antioxidant combination; widely used in food preservation
• Green tea extract (EGCG) - Complementary polyphenol antioxidant stack for supplements and cosmetics
• Turmeric extract (curcumin) - Anti-inflammatory synergy for joint health and cognitive formulas
• Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) - Aqueous antioxidant pairing for beverages and water-based cosmetics
• Ginkgo biloba extract - Cognitive health combination with complementary neuroprotective mechanisms
• Bacopa extract - Nootropic stack targeting memory, focus, and neuroprotection
• Zinc and selenium - Mineral antioxidant cofactors for comprehensive antioxidant supplement formulas

Storage: Keep in a cool, dry, and clean place, protect from moisture and direct light.
Bulk Package: 25kg/drum.
Lead Time: 7 days after your order.
Shelf Life: 2 years.
Remark: Customized specifications also can be achieved.

Factory Scale:
Shaanxi Jiuyuan Biotechnology Co., Ltd.'s factory covers an area of over 70,000 square meters.
It features 6 production workshops and 10 production lines, with an annual production capacity of over 6,000 tons.
The factory is equipped with a 1,000-square-meter Class 100,000 clean workshop and multiple sets of automated equipment.

Production Technology:
The company utilizes advanced production processes, adhering strictly to GMP operational standards to ensure product quality.
The factory is equipped with a modern testing and control center, capable of efficient purification, concentration, and other operations.
Research and Development Center:
Jiuyuan Biotechnology has an independent laboratory equipped with advanced scientific instruments, including liquid chromatographs, gas chromatographs, and ultraviolet detectors.
The company collaborates with numerous research institutions and boasts a highly qualified R&D team.
Industry Experience:
Established in 2012, the company specializes in the R&D, production, and sales of plant extracts, fruit and vegetable powders, and health food ingredients, accumulating extensive industry experience.
Quality Control:
The company has established a refined, specialized, and systematic quality management system, implementing strict control over all production stages to ensure the traceability of each batch of products.
International Certifications:
Jiuyuan Biotechnology has obtained numerous authoritative domestic and international certifications, including ISO9001 quality management system certification, ISO22000 food safety management system certification, USDA/EU organic certification, FSSC22000, HACCP certification, US FDA inspection certification, HALAL halal certification, and KOSHER kosher certification.

Common Sourcing Pain Points - And How We Address Them

"We specified carnosic acid 20% but our incoming QC test came back at 12% - the supplier's COA was clearly wrong." Carnosic acid content discrepancies between supplier COAs and independent testing are a well-documented problem in the rosemary extract market. The most common cause is either UV-based testing (which overstates content) or degraded product that was tested at manufacture but has since oxidized. We standardize and verify carnosic acid by HPLC, report carnosic acid and carnosol separately, and provide third-party HPLC verification for every export batch.

"We need EU E392 compliance documentation for our food application but our supplier doesn't know what that is." EU Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 classifies rosemary extracts as food additive E392 with specific maximum use levels by food category. We provide EU E392 compliance documentation as part of our standard export documentation package for food-grade orders. Our technical team can also advise on maximum permitted levels for your specific food application.

"Our cosmetic formulation requires a water-dispersible antioxidant, but standard carnosic acid extract doesn't disperse in our aqueous phase." Carnosic acid is oil-soluble and will not disperse in aqueous cosmetic systems without modification. We offer a water-dispersible rosemary extract format using encapsulation technology for aqueous applications. Alternatively, our rosmarinic acid grades are inherently water-soluble and provide strong antioxidant activity in water-phase cosmetic formulations. Contact our technical team to discuss which approach fits your formulation.

"We've had rosemary extract cause off-flavors in our food product - a medicinal, camphor-like note." Off-flavor in food applications from rosemary extract typically comes from the volatile essential oil fraction - primarily camphor, 1,8-cineole, and borneol. Our deodorized rosemary extract grades have the volatile fraction removed, significantly reducing flavor impact while maintaining antioxidant activity. Contact us to discuss deodorized grade availability for your application.

"We need organic-certified rosemary extract for our clean-label food product." USDA Organic and EU Organic certified rosemary leaf extract is available with full chain-of-custody documentation and transaction certificates per shipment. Organic grades are available in both rosmarinic acid and carnosic acid standardized formats.

Q1: What is the difference between rosmarinic acid and carnosic acid grades, and how do I choose the right one?

Rosmarinic acid and carnosic acid are structurally and functionally distinct compounds that require different extraction methods and serve different applications. The choice depends entirely on your formulation system.

Choose rosmarinic acid if:

Your application is water-based (beverages, aqueous cosmetics, water-phase supplement formulations)

You're targeting anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, or antimicrobial activity in supplements

You need a clean-label antioxidant for dairy or beverage applications

Choose carnosic acid if:

Your application is oil-based or fat-containing (meat products, edible oils, oil-phase cosmetics, fat-containing snacks)

You need maximum lipid oxidation control for shelf-life extension

You're formulating softgels or oil-based delivery systems

For applications that span both phases - such as emulsified food products or complex cosmetic formulations - a combination of both grades, or a full-spectrum rosemary extract, may be appropriate. Our technical team can advise based on your specific formulation.

Q2: Is rosemary leaf extract approved as a food additive in the EU and US?

Yes, in both markets - but with different regulatory frameworks.

EU: Rosemary extracts are approved as food antioxidants under E392 in Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008. Maximum permitted levels vary by food category - for example, 150 mg/kg in processed meat, 200 mg/kg in fats and oils, and 100 mg/kg in certain baked goods. Compliance with category-specific limits is the manufacturer's responsibility.

US: Rosemary extract is classified as GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) by the FDA for use as an antioxidant in fats, oils, and meat products. Several GRAS notifications for specific rosemary extract preparations have been filed with FDA. Rosemary extract is also listed in 21 CFR 182.20 as a spice and natural flavoring with GRAS status.

We provide regulatory compliance documentation for both markets as part of our standard export documentation package.

Q3: How does rosemary extract compare to synthetic antioxidants like BHA and BHT for food preservation?

Rosemary extract - specifically carnosic acid and carnosol - competes effectively with BHA and BHT in lipid oxidation control, particularly in meat and oil applications. A 2010 study published in Food Chemistry (Georgantelis et al.) demonstrated that rosemary extract at 200–500 ppm provided comparable or superior oxidative stability to BHA/BHT in pork sausage models. The key advantages of rosemary extract over synthetic alternatives are clean-label positioning, consumer acceptance, and regulatory approval in markets where BHA and BHT face increasing restrictions. The limitation is cost - rosemary extract is more expensive per kilogram than synthetic antioxidants, though the effective use level is often comparable or lower.

Q4: Can rosemary leaf extract be used in certified organic food products?

Yes - with the appropriate certified organic grade. Rosemary extract is permitted as a processing aid and antioxidant in certified organic food products under both USDA NOP and EU organic regulations, provided the extract itself is certified organic. We supply USDA Organic and EU Organic certified rosemary leaf extract with full chain-of-custody documentation. For organic food applications, confirm with your certifying body that rosemary extract is permitted in your specific product category and at your intended use level.

Q5: What is ursolic acid, and is it available as a separate specification in your rosemary extract?

Ursolic acid is a pentacyclic triterpene present in rosemary leaves alongside carnosic acid and rosmarinic acid. It has accumulated significant preclinical research interest for its effects on muscle protein synthesis (via IGF-1 and insulin signaling pathways), anti-inflammatory activity, and hepatoprotective effects. A 2011 study in Cell Metabolism (Kunkel et al.) identified ursolic acid as a compound capable of reducing muscle atrophy and increasing muscle mass in mouse models - a finding that generated substantial interest in sports nutrition applications. We can provide rosemary extract with specified ursolic acid content on request. Contact our technical team at info@jiuybiotech.com to discuss ursolic acid specifications and availability.

Q6: How stable is carnosic acid in finished food products during processing and storage?

Carnosic acid stability in finished products depends on processing temperature, oxygen exposure, and storage conditions. Key considerations:

Thermal processing - Carnosic acid converts to carnosol above 60°C. At typical food processing temperatures (100°C–180°C), significant conversion occurs. Carnosol retains antioxidant activity, so total diterpene antioxidant capacity is partially preserved, but carnosic acid content as measured by HPLC will be lower post-processing.

Oxygen exposure - Carnosic acid oxidizes under aerobic conditions. In fat-containing food systems, it preferentially reacts with lipid radicals rather than oxidizing freely - this is the mechanism of its antioxidant action.

Storage - Under recommended storage conditions (below 25°C, low humidity, away from light), carnosic acid in finished extract powder is stable for 24 months. In finished food products, stability depends on the food matrix, packaging, and storage conditions.

We provide accelerated stability data for our carnosic acid grades on request.

Q7: Is rosemary leaf extract safe for use in cosmetic formulations, and are there any regulatory restrictions?

Rosemary leaf extract and its components (rosmarinic acid, carnosic acid) are widely used in cosmetic formulations globally. In the EU, rosemary extract is listed in the CosIng database (European Commission's cosmetic ingredient database) and is permitted for use in cosmetic products. There are no specific concentration restrictions for rosemary extract in cosmetics under EU Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009, though formulators should conduct standard safety assessment as required for all cosmetic ingredients. In the US, rosemary extract is used in cosmetics under the FDA's general framework for cosmetic ingredients. Rosmarinic acid has shown mild photosensitizing potential in some in vitro studies - a consideration for leave-on sun-exposed formulations, though clinical significance at typical use levels is not established.

Q8: What is the minimum order quantity, and how quickly can you ship?

Sample orders start at 1 kg and ship within 3–5 business days of order confirmation, accompanied by a full COA, third-party test report, SDS, and allergen declaration. Bulk orders of 25 kg and above ship within 7–14 business days for in-stock grades. Custom specification orders or organic-certified grades may require additional lead time - our team will confirm at the time of order. We maintain standing inventory of our core rosemary extract grades (Rosmarinic Acid 10%, 20%; Carnosic Acid 10%, 20%) to support reliable supply for ongoing production needs.

Jiuyuan Biotech supplies Rosemary Leaf Extract to food manufacturers, supplement brands, and contract formulators across North America, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific region. Our technical team - not a generic sales inbox - handles every inquiry.

Email: info@jiuyuanbio.com

Website: www.jiuyuanbio.com

Request: Sample| Bulk Quote | CoA & Spec Sheet | Custom Carrier Ratio

Standard response time: within 1 business day. Please include your target application and annual volume estimate for the most relevant technical recommendation.