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Rosmarinic Acid: Detailed Description

What is Rosmarinic Acid?

Rosmarinic Acid appears in many everyday products, moving quietly from plant leaves straight into our medicine cabinets, food shelves, and skincare routines. You can find it in rosemary, basil, sage, mint, and quite a few members of the Lamiaceae family. This naturally occurring compound shows up as a white to yellowish crystalline powder or flakes, depending on how it’s processed. Its raw form gives off a faint, herbal aroma that hints at its botanical roots. Many in the chemical and food industries recognize it by its molecular formula: C18H16O8. Its unique arrangement—consisting of two phenolic rings bridged by an ester linkage—makes it distinct from other plant antioxidants.

Rosmarinic Acid at a Glance

Products containing Rosmarinic Acid draw strength from its well-studied antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties. In the right hands, this acid becomes a multipurpose material, pushed into liquids, powders, or solid pearls to suit the needs of different manufacturers. Whether packed into capsules as a raw powder, blended into food preservatives, or slid into creams and lotions, it keeps working to reduce oxidative stress wherever it lands. Folks working with its solutions choose between a light, water-clear liquid and a denser, syrupy mix, both with consistent potency. In pure form, it locks into sharp-edged crystals, easy to measure, store, and dose.

Physical and Chemical Properties

Rosmarinic Acid holds a molecular weight of 360.32 g/mol. The density sits close to 1.6 g/cm³, which falls in range with most other medium-sized plant phenolics. Its melting point lives between 171 and 175°C, so a solid stays stable in most climates unless direct heat gets involved. With weak acidity (pKa around 2.5-3.5) and moderate water solubility, it slips easily into hydrophilic environments—think lab solutions or food-grade extracts—yet it stays dissolved in organic solvents as well. In comparison to many other common plant-derived raw materials, it resists breaking down in moderate sunlight, which adds shelf stability. Its natural state shows a fine crystalline powder or sometimes uniform pearls, keeping color most often pale yellow, though bright white batches exist.

Molecular Structure and Specific Character

What sets Rosmarinic Acid apart comes down to structure. Its formula blends caffeic acid and 3,4-dihydroxyphenyllactic acid through an ester bond. This arrangement delivers double the antioxidant punch, protecting plant tissue in nature and bringing health benefits to other applications. It binds with free radicals more readily than most simple phenols and retains effectiveness across a range of temperatures and pH values. Chemists often value the clear, strong IR and NMR spectra, which help guarantee purity batch after batch.

HS Code and Industrial Specifications

On shipping manifests and customs forms, Rosmarinic Acid often falls under the HS Code 29182900, which covers other carboxylic acids and derivatives. This simplifies international trade and gives buyers a quick reference about the category and duties involved. Typical industrial lots arrive with 98% or higher assay, ensuring manufacturers skip complicated purification steps. Specifications include loss on drying under 2%, heavy metal content under 10ppm, and controlled particle size distribution for powders or pearls. Labs measure absorbance and color to catch any off-type batches, since color shifts may point out impurities or early degradation.

Forms and Storage

Most Rosmarinic Acid lands in facilities as a fine crystal, powder, or in rarer cases, a liquid concentrate. Each form handles slightly different material needs: powders for blending into finished capsules, crystals offered up in chemical labs for research, liquid for cosmetic manufacturers who want quick dispersion. Pearls, small round beads, sometimes replace crystalline powder where dust-free handling helps quality control. Storage stays simple—airtight containers tucked away from light and heat maximize shelf life. Its solid form travels safely, avoiding moisture and caustic materials that trigger breakdown. If the solution gets made up, it usually goes into dark glass or high-quality plastics, kept cool until use.

Safety, Hazards, and Environmental Impact

Rosmarinic Acid, handled by countless workers in different sectors, comes labeled as non-toxic in usual consumer concentrations. Swallowing or skin contact causes little irritation under typical use. Still, industry takes safety seriously. Fine powder irritates airways and eyes, so protective masks and gloves come standard for bulk operations. Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) point out hazards in manufacturing environments, such as dust inhalation or contact with strong oxidizers. Disposal follows guidelines for benign organics—incinerate or dilute and flush in approved systems, rather than tossing run-off into natural streams. In the case of spillage, sweeping or vacuuming dry crystals keeps residue out of sensitive electronics or water supplies. Factories focused on green practices appreciate that Rosmarinic Acid, unlike some synthetic antioxidants, breaks down within weeks in the environment, leaving little persistent residue.

Raw Material Sourcing and Quality

Securing high-quality Rosmarinic Acid starts in fields lined with rosemary, spearmint, or lemon balm. These plants get harvested, extracted with ethanol or water, filtered, and concentrated. Gaining consistency takes good farming practices—minimal pesticide use, stable climates, careful timing at harvest. Extractors pay attention to solvent residues and natural molecule profiles, filtering out unwanted plant glycosides or waxes. Most reputable suppliers share full traceability on each batch, logging data from field to drum. Trained eyes catch shifts in particle size or unusual scent, warning of possible contamination. This level of attention ranks critical, especially when the raw material supports food or pharma-grade end products.

Applications Across Industries

Food technologists reach for Rosmarinic Acid as a natural preservative, especially in processed meats, oils, and beverages prone to rancidity or color loss. Cosmetic chemists prefer it for skin creams and lotions geared toward calming inflammation or knocking back bacteria without harsh side effects. Pharmaceutical researchers look to this compound for anti-allergy, antiviral, or cognitive enhancement projects. Environmental labs study its breakdown pathways and safety, contributing research that shapes regulatory requirements. On every level, end-users expect raw material characterized by purity, stable physical state, and well-documented safety.

Facts Speak Louder Than Claims

Clinically, Rosmarinic Acid shows measurable impact on oxidative markers, reducing inflammation in both cell cultures and controlled patient studies. Trials have demonstrated slowed lipid oxidation in stored foods, extended shelf life for infused oils, and reduced skin irritation in sensitive groups. Research keeps mapping out new uses, from protecting neurons to blocking viral attachment. Growing interest in plant-based, biodegradable additives only sharpens focus on this material. Regulatory bodies—FDA, EFSA, and many national organizations—recognize Rosmarinic Acid as generally regarded as safe (GRAS), upholding its record in foods and cosmetics, so long as the synthetic impurities and residual solvents remain in check.

Current Issues and Solutions

Supply chain challenges impact pricing and quality for buyers of Rosmarinic Acid. Droughts or crop disease can lower yields, while rising demand creates bottlenecks among trusted vendors. Solutions include diversifying crop sources, expanding extraction from less common high-rosmarinic plants, and investing in semi-synthetic processes that mimic nature without pesticide risk. Oversight agencies encourage robust batch testing and published data, which catches bad actors mixing in unlisted fillers or pushing product past its expiry. Ongoing partnerships between growers, processors, and manufacturers help balance price and purity. As a result, finished goods reach kitchens, clinics, and labs with predictable function and minimal environmental impact.