Evening Primrose Extract GLA 10% | Gamma-Linolenic Acid – Baisfu

What the compound is

Evening primrose (Oenothera biennis) seed oil is one of the few commercial plant sources of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA, CAS 506-26-3), an omega-6 fatty acid that the body converts towards the prostaglandin E1 pathway. Baisifu supplies both the cold-pressed oil at 9–10 percent GLA and a dry extract powder standardised to 10 percent GLA for capsule, sachet and tablet applications, positioned in women’s hormonal-comfort, skin and premenstrual wellness formulations.

Botanical source and production

The seed is harvested in the temperate zones of northern China and Europe, cleaned and cold-pressed; the crude oil is winterised and, for the powder grade, adsorbed onto a carrier and standardised to a fixed GLA content. Because GLA is a polyunsaturated fatty acid, oxidation control defines quality: Baisifu specifies peroxide value and anisidine value on every lot, and ships the oil under nitrogen in opaque packaging. The Statement of Origin records the seed origin and the pressing date.

Identity and assay

The oil is assayed by gas chromatography for the full fatty-acid profile, with linoleic acid (typically 70–74 percent), GLA (9–10 percent) and oleic acid reported individually. The powder grade is assayed for GLA content and for the carrier ratio. A genuine evening primrose oil lot always shows the linoleic-dominant profile; a product standardised to GLA alone with an unusual fatty-acid distribution should be questioned, because it may be borage or blackcurrant oil sold under the wrong name.

Physical behaviour

The oil is a clear, pale yellow to golden liquid with a faint characteristic odour; the powder grade is an off-white to cream free-flowing powder with a slight fatty note. The oil is insoluble in water and miscible with most non-polar solvents, and it oxidises readily on exposure to light, heat and air, developing rancidity and a rising peroxide value. Store below 25 degrees Celsius, protected from light, ideally under nitrogen.

Applications

Evening primrose enters the following formulation workflows:

• softgel capsules for premenstrual and hormonal-comfort positioning
• women’s wellness blends with chasteberry, red clover isoflavones and vitamin E
• skin-health and mature-skin formulations (GLA as a structural lipid)
• dry-blend capsules and sachets using the 10 percent powder grade
• cosmetic emulsions for barrier-repair and dry-skin products

Formulation notes

For softgels, blend the oil with a tocopherol antioxidant and fill under nitrogen; keep the fill mass below 40 degrees Celsius. For capsules and tablets, the 10 percent powder grade avoids the oil-handling problem entirely and disperses evenly in a dry blend. Typical daily GLA intake in commercial products sits between 100 and 300 mg, which defines the oil-to-powder conversion in your formula. Do not co-formulate with pro-oxidant minerals such as iron salts in the same matrix without a barrier, because they accelerate rancidity.

Certificate of Analysis

Each lot ships with a COA recording:

• fatty-acid profile by GC (linoleic, GLA, oleic, palmitic, stearic)
• GLA content for the powder grade
• peroxide value and anisidine value
• acid value, unsaponifiable matter and moisture
• heavy metals (Pb, As, Cd, Hg) and microbial count
• residual solvents where an extracted grade is supplied

Regulatory and handling

Evening primrose oil and extract are supplied as raw materials for nutraceutical, functional-food and cosmetic formulation. They are not a drug and make no drug-level claim. Buyers are responsible for confirming the regulatory status and permitted claims of the finished product in the target market. Handle the oil with gloves; clean spills promptly because oxidised oil leaves a persistent residue.

Packaging and storage

Oil in food-grade HDPE drums or amber glass, 5 kg, 25 kg and 190 kg net, nitrogen-flushed; powder in double-sealed foil bags within fibreboard drums, 1 kg, 5 kg and 25 kg net. Store cool, dry and dark; the retest date is 18 months for the oil and 24 months for the powder grade when stored as recommended.

Questions

What is the GLA content of your oil?

The cold-pressed oil is standardised at 9–10 percent GLA, and the powder grade at 10 percent. Both are released against a full fatty-acid profile by GC, not a single-number claim.

Is evening primrose the same as borage oil?

No. Borage oil contains 20–24 percent GLA and a different fatty-acid distribution. The GC profile on the COA is what distinguishes the two, and it is worth checking if a price looks unusually low.

Which grade suits a two-piece capsule?

The 10 percent powder grade. It removes the oil-handling and leakage problems, disperses evenly in a dry blend, and gives a more predictable fill weight than an oil fill in a hard capsule.

Request a quotation

Send Baisfu the required grade (oil or powder), GLA content and quantity, and the sales desk will reply with a current price, the fatty-acid fingerprint, packing option and lead time, with pre-shipment samples from the quoted lot.