Tea Saponin

Tea Saponin Extract Powder — Natural Triterpenoid Saponin for Industrial & Botanical Applications

Tea saponin is a natural pentacyclic triterpenoid saponin chemical isolated from the seeds and seed meal of plants of the family Theaceae. It is obtained by a normal plant extraction procedure and appears in a light yellow to brownish yellow powder with 30% and 60% purity criteria confirmed by UV-Vis Spectrophotometry. As is characteristic of its natural surfactant properties, it readily dissolves in water and creates a stable foam. This botanical active ingredient is ISO9001, GMP, FDA, Kosher & Halal certified with MOQ as low as 1 kilogram. Herbcosher provides this botanical active ingredient with OEM/ODM assistance and fast delivery to customers in 30+ countries.

What Is Tea Saponin and How Is It Produced?

CAS No. 8047-15-2. The product is a triterpenoid saponin. It is mostly obtained from the spent meal of Camellia seeds after oil extraction, making it a very sustainable and plant-derived active chemical.

The production process consists of extraction, concentration and purification of the raw plant material. This results in a uniform, standardised powder which is confirmed by UV-Visible Spectrophotometry for the correctness of the active content.

Its molecular framework is made of a hydrophobic aglycone (sapogenin), a hydrophilic sugar chain and organic acids, which gives it a natural amphiphilic character, necessary for surfactant and emulsification functions.

Key Product Characteristics

The product offers several measurable physicochemical properties that make it relevant across multiple industrial applications:

• Surface tension is reduced to approximately 32.86 mN/m at 1% concentration
• Critical Micelle Concentration (CMC): ~0.5%, enabling effective emulsification at low use levels
• HLB value: ~16, indicating strong hydrophilicity and oil-in-water emulsification capability
• pH in aqueous solution: 5.0–6.0 (slightly acidic)
• Melting point: approximately 224°C

It is soluble in water, aqueous methanol, and ethanol, but insoluble in organic solvents such as acetone or benzene. These properties make it highly compatible with water-based formulations across diverse product categories.

Product Specifications

Application Areas

Aquaculture — Pond Preparation & Pest Control

Predatory fish and hazardous molluscs are major problems in prawn and crab production. The saponin chemicals in this extract react with the cell membranes rich in cholesterol and cause haemolysis of fish red blood cells and clearance of fish at doses of 10–15 ppm. At normal dosages, prawns and crabs are resistant because they employ hemocyanin rather than haemoglobin. Active ingredients dissolve spontaneously in 2-3 days thus refilling is safe.

It also helps prawns moulting with a slight hormone boost and works well in maritime conditions with high salinity.

Agricultural Adjuvant — Pesticide Performance Enhancement

Runoff is a key concern when spraying insecticides on waxy-leaf crops. This botanical surfactant decreases the contact angle of the spray solution, improves the wetting of the surface and promotes droplet adhesion to hydrophobic leaves. It also helps sustain actives in liquid formulations, decreasing sedimentation in delivery tanks. This is quite useful with glyphosate and biopesticide formulations.

Construction Materials — Air-Entraining Agent

A homogeneous microscopic pore structure is a key factor for thermal insulation and structural integrity in the manufacture of autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC). This extract is a high performance natural air-entraining agent. Its exceptional foam stability produces uniform air bubbles in the concrete matrix – no synthetic foaming agents are needed.

Botanical Nutrition and Functional Food

The 30% and 60% specs are for distinct formulation demands. The lower concentration is more suitable for food grade and nutraceutical blending and the greater purity for concentrated functional formulations. It can also be used in natural personal care product lines as a plant-based foaming or emulsifying agent.

Quality Control and Certifications

Every batch of Tea Saponin is tested using UV-Visible Spectrophotometry to verify active content before shipment. Herbcosher holds ISO9001, GMP, FDA, Kosher, and Halal certifications, ensuring the product meets regulatory standards across the US, EU, and global markets.

Third-party testing reports are available upon request for OEM and ODM orders, supporting your own product compliance and label claims.

Supply and Customization Advantages

Herbcosher maintains a 4,000–5,000 m² warehouse with sufficient stock of regular specifications. Bulk orders can be fulfilled within 15 working days, and expedited OEM customization is available with turnaround times of ≤15 working days.

Supported dosage forms include powder, liposome, and microcapsule formats. Packaging can be customized to your specification. Multiple trade terms are supported — EXW, FOB, CFR, CIF, DAP, and DDP — with T/T as the preferred payment method.

Logistics partners cover air freight, sea freight, and railway transportation, ensuring reliable global delivery to your destination.

FAQ

Q: Why does the product froth easily in water?

A: Its molecule has both hydrophobic and hydrophilic portions. This amphiphilic property lowers the surface tension of water, resulting in a stable foam at low concentrations.

Q: What is the difference between the 30% and 60% purity options?

A: The 30% grade is better appropriate for food, agricultural and general botanical compositions. The 60 % grade is preferred for concentrated functional goods, or when a higher active loading is desirable.

Q: Is it compatible with alkaline formulations?

A: Not advisable to mix with strong alkaline agents. It is active at pH between 5.0 and 6.0 and the saponin structure can be hydrolysed in strongly alkaline circumstances, which reduces the surfactant activity as well as the biological activity.

Q: Where should the product be stored?

A: Store in a cool, dry place away from moisture. Product is hygroscopic. May cake when exposed to high humidity. Shelf life 24 months under optimum storage conditions.

Q: Are aquaculture applications safe for prawns and crabs?

A: Yes. The haemolytic activity is directed toward the red blood cell structure of fish. Shrimp and crabs employ hemocyanin and don't have blood cell membranes that are high in cholesterol, therefore they aren’t impacted at normal use levels.

Q: What customisation is available for B2B buyers?

A: We provide full assistance for OEM and ODM services, including customised purity, dosage form and packaging. Minimum order of 1 kilogram. allows sample and high volume procurement.

Contact Us

Reach our team at info@herbcosher.com for Tea Saponin samples, pricing, or custom formulation support. We respond promptly.