Black Walnut

Black walnut reference formula with an example 1,000 mg per serving, developed as a capsule, a powder or a liquid, with the final amount set by the brand.

Black Walnut is a reference formula for brands building a single-ingredient black walnut product, with the botanical material declared by weight. The example serving carries 1,000 mg of black walnut powder, and the brand sets the final amount, the plant part and the material specification for its market.

A capsule is the lead format because 19 of the 31 reference labels are capsules, usually at 400 to 500 mg per capsule, with a powder and a liquid as the other formats. The development work centers on which part of the tree is used (hull, leaf or nut), the phenolic marker content, and the staining and moisture behavior of a dark hull material.

Ingredient Composition

IngredientPer ServingRaw Material FormAlternative Form (same amount of active)
Black Walnut1000 mg (example amount)Juglans nigra hull or leaf powder or extract; specification 1,000 mg per serving, with plant part, total phenolic content and particle size set with the supplierAn extract of a different ratio at an adjusted weight

The amount is the weight of the material as declared on the label, so the plant part and the phenolic content are part of the specification and are not inferred from the weight. The label names the ingredient as black walnut powder; the plant part is set in the specification.

Intended Benefits & Formula Rationale

This formula is designed for products positioned around traditional botanical use and antioxidant nutrition. Black walnut is included as the single active so that the plant part, the phenolic content and the format can be set around one ingredient.

Intended Benefit DirectionKey IngredientsFormulation Rationale
Traditional botanicalBlack WalnutIncluded as a botanical whose husk contains phenolic compounds with antioxidant and antimicrobial properties [1]. Evidence: Product positioning
Antioxidant potential of the huskBlack WalnutIn a laboratory study, black walnut husks extracted with supercritical carbon dioxide and 20 wt-% ethanol at 68 degrees C gave a ferric reducing antioxidant potential of 0.054 mmol Trolox equivalent per gram for undried husks and 0.027 for dried husks, and the result correlated with total phenolic content; this is an in vitro measurement of an extract and not a human study [1]. Evidence: Referenced (in vitro)

Development starts from the example amount, and the brand fixes the final amount and the format for its market.

Available Formats

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

FormatUnitPer ServingPack SizeOther Ingredients (typical)Suitability
Capsule2 capsules1000 mg black walnut120 or 180 capsulesCapsule shell, flow agentLead format; 500 mg per capsule
Powder1 scoop1000 mg black walnut30 servings per tubNatural flavor, sweetener, flow agentCarries the example amount; mixes into drinks
Liquid5 mL1000 mg black walnut150 mL bottlePurified water, glycerin, preservative systemMeasured liquid dose

Raw Material Input & Fill (Design Estimate)

Design estimates. The material is assumed at 100% of the declared weight and a bulk density of 0.45 g/mL, so a size 00 capsule holds about 450 to 500 mg with a small flow agent allowance.

FormatRaw Material Input per UnitDesign FillBalance for ExcipientsVerification Before Scale-Up
Capsule500 mg material per capsuleAbout 510 mg in a size 00 capsuleAbout 10 mg flow agentBulk density and flow, fill weight variation, phenolic assay, moisture
Powder1000 mg material per scoopAbout 3 g scoopAbout 2 g flavor, sweetener and flow agentBlend uniformity, moisture, staining, taste, dissolution
Liquid1000 mg material per 5 mL150 mL bottle (30 servings)Water, glycerin and preservative system to volumeSolubility at strength, assay, color stability, microbial stability

Tablet and gummy versions are separate projects, because a gram-level botanical needs its own compression or gummy base study.

Formulation Considerations

Plant part. Hull, leaf and nut of black walnut are different materials with different compositions. The part is written into the specification and the label, and the evidence cited here concerns the husk [1].
Phenolic content. The material is specified by a total phenolic or marker assay, so that 1,000 mg describes a defined material and a less concentrated material is adjusted in weight.
Staining and moisture. A dark hull powder stains equipment and packaging and takes up water. Cleaning, a desiccant and a moisture limit are specified, and the capsule shell color is checked after storage.
Evidence and claims. The cited result is an in vitro measurement on an extract [1], so claims on a finished product are reviewed for each sales market before a product is developed.

Customization Options

Brands adjust the amount, the plant part and the format.

ParameterRangeNote
Material per serving80 to 1000 mg across the reference labelsThe phenolic assay decides the weight needed
Plant partHull, leaf or otherSets the composition and the labeling
FormatCapsule, powder or liquidTablet and gummy are separate projects
Add-onsWormwood, cloveEach add-on changes the blend and needs its own market review

The pilot run confirms the capsule fill weight and flow, the staining and moisture of the powder, and the phenolic assay of the first fills.

Flavor Options

FormatSuggested FlavorsWhy
PowderUnflavored, vanillaNeutral notes suit a bitter material
LiquidMint, citrusFresh notes cover the bitterness

Technical Status & Data Sources

ItemStatusDetails
Reference formulaNIH DSLDThe ingredient and amount come from a labeled product in the NIH DSLD (1000 mg on the label of CF032322; example DSLD labels 282020, 282335, 282788). The label names the ingredient as black walnut powder.
SpecificationSet in formulationJuglans nigra material of the chosen plant part, 1,000 mg per serving; total phenolic content and method, particle size, 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] Wenzel J, Storer Samaniego C, Wang L, et al. Antioxidant potential of Juglans nigra, black walnut, husks extracted using supercritical carbon dioxide with an ethanol modifier. Food Sci Nutr. 2017;5(2):223-232. DOI · PubMed

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