Black Cohosh Root Extract

Black cohosh root reference formula with an example 80 mg of extract per serving, developed as a powder, a capsule or a liquid, with the final amount set by the brand.

Black Cohosh Root is a reference formula for brands building a single-ingredient black cohosh product, with the root extract declared by weight. The example serving carries 80 mg of black cohosh root extract, and the brand sets the final amount, the extract specification and the format for its market.

A liquid is the format with the most reference labels, with capsules and powders close behind, and the example amount comes from a powder label. The development work centers on the extract definition, the marker compounds that the extract is specified to carry, and the market position of a botanical used in women’s wellness products.

Ingredient Composition

IngredientPer ServingRaw Material FormAlternative Form (same amount of active)
Black Cohosh Root80 mg (example amount)Black cohosh (Actaea racemosa) root and rhizome extract; specification 80 mg extract per serving, with triterpene glycoside content, extraction ratio and plant part set with the supplierBlack cohosh root powder at a higher weight, or an extract of a different marker content at an adjusted weight

The amount is the weight of the extract as declared on the label, so the marker content and the extraction ratio are part of the specification and are not inferred from the weight. The label names the ingredient as black cohosh root extract; the root and rhizome are set as the plant part.

Intended Benefits & Formula Rationale

This formula is designed for products positioned around women’s midlife wellness and traditional botanical use. Black cohosh root extract is included as the single active so that the marker content, the dose and the format can be set around one ingredient.

Intended Benefit DirectionKey IngredientsFormulation Rationale
Traditional botanical for midlife wellnessBlack Cohosh RootIncluded as a root extract with a long history of use in women’s wellness products. Evidence: Product positioning
Menopausal symptomsBlack Cohosh RootAn updated meta-analysis of randomized trials (22 articles, 2,310 menopausal women) found that black cohosh extracts, alone or combined with other ingredients, were associated with significant improvements in overall menopausal symptoms (Hedges g of 0.575, 95% CI 0.283 to 0.867) [1]. Evidence: Referenced

Final extract amount and format are open for the brand to set; the example amount only anchors the first trials.

Available Formats

The reference formula is built for a powder, a capsule and a liquid version; counts per serving are design choices that the brand can adjust.

FormatUnitPer ServingPack SizeOther Ingredients (typical)Suitability
Powder1 stick pack80 mg black cohosh root extract30 stick packsCarrier, natural flavorCarries the example amount; mixes into drinks
Capsule1 capsule80 mg black cohosh root extract60 or 90 capsulesCapsule shell, diluent, flow agentCommon capsule format among the reference labels
Liquid1 mL80 mg black cohosh root extract30 mL dropper bottlePurified water, glycerin, preservative systemDrops for brands that want a measured dose

Raw Material Input & Fill (Design Estimate)

Design estimates. The extract is assumed at 100% of the declared weight and a bulk density of 0.5 g/mL, so an 80 mg dose is blended into a diluent to reach a handleable fill.

FormatRaw Material Input per UnitDesign FillBalance for ExcipientsVerification Before Scale-Up
Powder80 mg extract per stick2 g stick packAbout 1.9 g carrier and flavorBlend uniformity, moisture, taste, dissolution, marker assay
Capsule80 mg extract per capsuleAbout 250 mg in a size 2 capsuleAbout 170 mg diluent and flow agentContent uniformity, fill weight variation, marker assay
Liquid80 mg extract per mL30 mL bottle (30 servings)Water, glycerin and preservative system to volumeSolubility at strength, assay, microbial stability

Tablet and gummy versions are separate projects, because a milligram-level extract needs its own uniformity study in those formats.

Formulation Considerations

Species and part. Black cohosh must be identified at species level, because other cohosh species are different raw materials. The species, the root and rhizome part and the identity test are written into the specification.
Marker content. The extract is specified by a triterpene glycoside or other marker assay, so that 80 mg describes a defined extract and a less concentrated extract is adjusted in weight.
Content uniformity. At 80 mg, the extract is a small share of a 250 mg capsule or a 2 g stick. A premix and geometric blending step are specified and uniformity is tested across the run.
Evidence and claims. The cited meta-analysis pools extracts alone and combined with other ingredients [1], so claims on a finished product are reviewed for each sales market before a product is developed. Safety information on liver effects is reviewed for each market before the label is written.

Customization Options

Brands adjust the extract amount, the marker specification and the format.

ParameterRangeNote
Extract per serving16 to 1927 mg across the reference labelsThe marker assay decides the weight needed
Marker specificationSet with the supplierSets the strength and the cost
FormatPowder, capsule or liquidTablet and gummy are separate projects
Flavor systemUnflavored, berry, citrusUsed to cover the bitterness in the powder and liquid
Add-onsSoy isoflavones, vitamin B6Each add-on changes the fill weight and the label

The pilot run confirms the content uniformity, the capsule fill weight, the powder dissolution and taste, and the marker assay of the first fills.

Flavor Options

FormatSuggested FlavorsWhy
PowderBerry, citrus, unflavoredFruit notes cover the root bitterness
LiquidBerry, citrusFruit notes cover the root bitterness

Technical Status & Data Sources

ItemStatusDetails
Reference formulaNIH DSLDThe ingredient and amount come from a labeled product in the NIH DSLD (80 mg on the label of CF048429; example DSLD labels 330429, 330430). The label names the ingredient as black cohosh root extract.
SpecificationSet in formulationActaea racemosa root and rhizome extract, 80 mg per serving; species identity, marker content and method, loss on drying, heavy metal and microbial limits and methods are fixed with the supplier. Unit size, fill weight and stability are set in formulation.
Data sourceNIH DSLDDSLD v9.4.0, downloaded 2026-01-10: 50,824 reference formulas merged from on-market labels with complete ingredient amounts. Counts show how labels are distributed.
Market reviewPer marketDose limits, labeling and claims are reviewed for each sales market before a finished product is developed.
ReferencesSources[1] Sadahiro R, Matsuoka LN, Zeng BS, et al. Black cohosh extracts in women with menopausal symptoms: an updated pairwise meta-analysis. Menopause. 2023;30(7):766-773. DOI · PubMed

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