Cascara Sagrada Bark Powder

Single-ingredient cascara sagrada bark reference formula with 450 mg per serving, developed as a capsule, with a powder option.

Cascara Sagrada Bark Powder is a reference formula for brands building a single-ingredient botanical product at a default amount of 450 mg of cascara sagrada per serving. Cascara sagrada is the only active, so the development work centers on the bark raw material, the anthracene glycoside content that defines its activity, and the capsule or powder system that carries it.

Capsule is the lead format because 450 mg of bark powder fits one standard capsule, with a powder version at 500 mg for brands that sell a drink mix. Cascara sagrada belongs to the group of stimulant, anthraquinone-containing botanicals, so strength, labeling and target market receive more review than for a plain herb.

Ingredient Composition

IngredientPer ServingRaw Material FormAlternative Form (same amount of active)
Cascara Sagrada450 mg (default amount)Cascara sagrada bark powder; specification 450 mg per serving, bark identity, anthracene glycoside content and particle size set with the supplierA bark extract powder with a stated anthracene glycoside content, which is a different raw material with its own input weight

Amounts are stated as mg of cascara sagrada bark powder, not of any marker compound. A bark powder and an extract at the same label weight carry different amounts of anthracene glycosides, so the form and the assay are part of the specification.

Intended Benefits & Formula Rationale

This formula is designed for products positioned around digestive regularity nutrition. Cascara sagrada is included as the single active so that the bark grade, the amount and the excipient system can be set without interaction with other actives.

Intended Benefit DirectionKey IngredientsFormulation Rationale
Digestive regularity nutritionCascara SagradaA review of bisacodyl, sodium picosulfate and senna describes stimulant laxatives as well-established first- or second-line treatments for constipation [1]; cascara sagrada belongs to the same stimulant group but is not itself covered by that review. Evidence: Referenced
Long-term use researchCascara SagradaA systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies reported that a history of anthraquinone laxative use compared with other or no laxatives was associated with colorectal cancer at a non-significant level (odds ratio 1.41, 95% CI 0.94–2.11), and concluded that the trend calls for further high-quality studies [2]. Evidence: Mixed

Amount, claims and target market are brand decisions reviewed for each sales market, and long-term use language is reviewed with particular care.

Available Formats

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

FormatUnitPer ServingPack SizeOther Ingredients (typical)Suitability
Capsule1 capsule450 mg60 or 100 capsulesRice flour, flow agent, vegetable capsule shellLead format; bark powder in a standard fill
Powder1 stick pack500 mg30 stick packsDiluent, sweetener, flavorDrink mix; the bitter taste needs masking

Raw Material Input & Fill (Design Estimate)

Design estimates. The input is the labeled bark weight at an assumed 100% of the powder as purchased, so each unit uses the bark weight shown below; the real input follows the certificate of analysis.

FormatRaw Material Input per UnitDesign FillBalance for ExcipientsVerification Before Scale-Up
Capsule450 mg bark powder500 mg per capsule50 mgPowder density, weight variation of the fill, flow properties, moisture
Powder500 mg bark powder3000 mg per stick2500 mgDispersion in water, bitterness masking, moisture pickup

Tablet and liquid versions are separate projects, because a fibrous bark powder needs its own compression work and a liquid extract uses milliliter units.

Formulation Considerations

Bark identity and active content. The specification names the species, the plant part and the anthracene glycoside content with its assay method, because the activity of a bark powder depends on that content and varies between lots.
Bitter, fibrous powder. Cascara bark powder is bitter, dark and fibrous. Capsules cover the taste, while powders need a strong sweetener and flavor system and a moisture-barrier pack.
Liver safety signal. A case report describes cholestatic hepatitis with portal hypertension associated with cascara sagrada, attributed to its anthracene glycoside or another constituent [3], so warnings, label wording and target market are reviewed before development starts.
Evidence and tier. The review in [1] covers other stimulant laxatives, and the meta-analysis in [2] covers the anthraquinone class as a whole. The dose limit and the label wording are confirmed market by market, prior to product development.

Customization Options

Brands adjust the bark amount, the form, the format and the add-ons.

ParameterRangeNote
Cascara sagrada per serving270, 450, 500 or 1000 mgBrand-set examples; capsule count or stick weight moves with the amount
FormBark powder or bark extract powderChanges the input weight and the specification
FormatCapsule or powderTablet and liquid are separate projects
Pack size30 to 100 unitsSet by the brand
Add-onsPsyllium, gingerAnother botanical raises the fill weight and may need a larger capsule

The pilot run confirms powder density and fill weight, bitterness masking in the powder version, and the anthracene glycoside assay of the first units against the specification.

Flavor Options

FormatSuggested FlavorsWhy
PowderCocoa, cinnamon-apple, orangeDark and spiced profiles cover the bitterness of the bark

Technical Status & Data Sources

ItemStatusDetails
Reference formulaNIH DSLDThe ingredient and amount come from a labeled product in the NIH DSLD (450 mg on the label of CF002537; example DSLD labels 17149, 21065, 25873). The label names the ingredient as cascara sagrada; a bark powder is set as the form.
SpecificationSet in formulationCascara sagrada bark powder, 450 mg per serving; species, anthracene glycoside content and method, moisture, pesticide and heavy-metal limits 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] Whorwell P, Lange R, Scarpignato C. Review article: do stimulant laxatives damage the gut? A critical analysis of current knowledge. Ther Adv Gastroenterol. 2024;17:17562848241249664. DOI · PubMed<br>[2] Lombardi N, Crescioli G, Maggini V, et al. Anthraquinone laxatives use and colorectal cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies. Phytother Res. 2022;36(3):1093-1102. DOI · PubMed<br>[3] Nadir A, Reddy D, Van Thiel DH. Cascara sagrada-induced intrahepatic cholestasis causing portal hypertension: case report and review of herbal hepatotoxicity. Am J Gastroenterol. 2000;95(12):3634-3637. DOI · PubMed

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