Definition:

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herbgreey®Okra extract Health Benefits:

herbgreey®Okra extract is a natural plant extract obtained from the bioactive-rich parts of plants belonging to the Okra genus through physical and chemical extraction, purification, and drying processes. It typically takes the form of a brownish-yellow, water-soluble powder or a pale yellow, refined powder that combines biological activity with functional food properties. Rich in mucopolysaccharides and flavonoids, okra extract is a popular natural ingredient in the food, health supplement, functional beverage and cosmetics sectors. Its prebiotic properties also make it a common ingredient in feed additives. The key advantages of okra extract include natural water solubility, mild active ingredients and strong compatibility with other formulations. Its production process is also well-suited to the requirements of industrial-scale, food-grade mass production.

Particularities of herbgreey®Okra extract:

Product Specifications:

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Product quality standards:

● Food grade, In-house

▶ Gut health

herbgreey®Okra extract Applications:

The most fundamental and characteristic benefits of herbgreey®Okra extract are regulating the gut microbiome and maintaining gut health. These benefits are primarily achieved through the prebiotic properties of okra polysaccharides, which is why it is so widely used in health supplements and specialised dietary foods. Okra polysaccharides are water-soluble heteropolysaccharides that cannot be broken down by human digestive enzymes. Reaching the large intestine intact, they serve as a dedicated nutrient source for beneficial gut bacteria such as Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus and Bacteroides. This promotes the proliferation of these beneficial bacteria while inhibiting the growth of harmful bacteria such as E. coli and Salmonella. This regulates the balance of the gut microbiota. At the same time, fermentation of these polysaccharides produces short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), which lower the intestinal pH. This further optimises the intestinal microenvironment and enhances intestinal barrier function.

■ Source

Okra's scientific name is Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench (family: Malvaceae; genus: Abelmoschus). It is a close relative of the yellow hibiscus (Hibiscus abelmoschus), which belongs to the same family. In the industry, okra extracts are primarily produced from coffee hibiscus, while yellow hibiscus extracts constitute a separate product category-the two should not be confused. Okra is a warm-climate crop native to tropical and subtropical regions. In China, the main production areas are Shandong, Henan, Guangdong and Hainan. Due to their suitable climate (with an average annual temperature of over 20°C and ample sunlight), these regions are key supply sources for industrial extraction, as the mucopolysaccharide content in the tender okra pods grown there is significantly higher than in other regions.The key source for extraction is the tender, immature fruit, where the active compounds are most concentrated. During the rapid growth phase, parenchyma cells in the fruit flesh secrete large amounts of mucopolysaccharides whilst simultaneously accumulating flavonoids and phenolic acids. In mature pods, however, the tissue becomes fibrous and lignified, the mucopolysaccharide content drops by more than 50% and impurity levels increase, rendering them unsuitable for industrial extraction.

herbgreey®Okra extract is available in the following specification and contents:

☑  herbgreey®Okra extract powder 10:1/20:1/30:1/50:1

herbgreey®Okra extract has emerged as a natural, multifunctional ingredient across four core sectors: food and beverages, health supplements, cosmetics, and feed additives. This is thanks to the water-solubility, prebiotic properties, thickening and film-forming capabilities of okra polysaccharides, as well as the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of flavonoids. Its niche applications also extend to pharmaceutical intermediates and biomaterials. Extracts with different specifications (ratio/active ingredient content) and grades (food/health supplement/cosmetic) are available for various applications. Within each sector, they are frequently used as functional ingredients or formulation adjuvants, offering strong compatibility and high process adaptability.

herbgreey®Okra extract is used most frequently in the food and beverage sector, accounting for over 60% of applications. In this sector, it provides functional benefits such as prebiotic properties and support for blood sugar control, as well as processing benefits such as thickening, emulsification and stabilisation. It is odourless and highly water-soluble, and can be directly incorporated into various formulations. Mainstream specifications in this sector include a 10:1 concentration and a food-grade polysaccharide content of 10-30%, with low addition levels (0.5-5%) and manageable costs. In snack foods and baked goods, okra extract is commonly blended with flour, gelling agents (such as gelatine or carrageenan) and plant proteins. This supplements water-soluble dietary fibre, improves the elasticity and chewiness of jellies and soft sweets, and partially replaces gelling agents. In baked goods, okra extract enhances water retention, preventing a dry, hard texture. In plant-based meat alternatives, it improves emulsification and water retention, thereby enhancing texture.

​​​​​​​herbgreey®Okra extract is a valuable ingredient in the health supplement sector, primarily used for functional health support. This sector involves the precise targeting of active ingredients using extracts that are suitable for health supplements and medical foods. Products adhere to a 'polysaccharide+flavonoid' dual-high-specification standard and are often used as core functional ingredients. Mainstream dosage forms include powders, capsules and tablet sweets, with a limited number extending into oral liquids. Gut health supplements are typically single-ingredient powders or capsules, or are formulated in combination with probiotics, fructooligosaccharides, inulin and other prebiotics. Blood sugar and blood lipid management supplements are usually formulated as capsules or tablets in combination with extracts such as bitter melon, mulberry leaf and red yeast rice. Antioxidant and anti-ageing supplements are often made into tablets or oral liquids and combined with ingredients such as vitamin C, astaxanthin and anthocyanins.

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herbgreey®Okra extract is primarily used in cosmetics for its moisturising, film-forming and reparative properties, which are derived from okra polysaccharides. It also contains flavonoids, which have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Formulated as a high-purity extract suitable for cosmetic use, it is non-irritating and highly gentle, making it suitable for all skin types. It is mainly used in skincare products, with limited applications in haircare products.

■ Active ingredients

herbgreey®Okra extract is a natural, multi-component mixture, with okra polysaccharides and flavonoids as its core active ingredients. These two components account for 60-90% of the extract's total dry weight and are supplemented by other functional components, such as mucoproteins, phenolic acids, and minerals. Okra polysaccharides are the primary active component, accounting for 10-60% of standard extracts' dry weight; this content can be increased to over 80% through purification of refined extracts. Okra polysaccharides form the core component of okra mucilage, are classified as water-soluble heteropolysaccharides and determine the functionality of the extract. Okra polysaccharides exhibit excellent water solubility (≥90%) and possess good thickening and emulsifying properties. They can also be utilised by probiotics in the gut, demonstrating prebiotic properties. Flavonoids are the second core active component, accounting for 0.5-5% of the dry weight of standard extracts and 5-10% of that of refined extracts. Predominantly consisting of flavanols, they are the substances primarily responsible for the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of okra extracts. Their effects result from the synergistic action of multiple components, rather than from a single monomer.

Okra polysaccharides and mucoproteins form a viscous gel layer within the gut when dissolved in water, coating the surface of the intestinal mucosa. This slows down the digestion and absorption of carbohydrates, such as glucose and starch, thereby preventing a sharp increase in blood glucose levels after eating. Okra polysaccharides can also inhibit the activity of α-amylase and α-glucosidase in the gut, reducing the rate at which starch breaks down into glucose. The fermentation of okra polysaccharides by gut microbiota produces short-chain fatty acids that can improve insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism.

▶ Blood sugar regulation

The synergistic action of flavonoids and phenolic acids (such as chlorogenic acid and caffeic acid) is the key to the antioxidant properties of okra extract. Flavonoids such as isoquercetin and quercetin are potent free radical scavengers that can effectively neutralise reactive oxygen species (such as DPPH, ABTS and superoxide anions) within the body. This reduces the oxidative damage caused by free radicals to cellular DNA, proteins and lipids. At the same time, flavonoids inhibit the release of inflammatory cytokines (such as TNF-α and IL-6), thereby alleviating chronic low-grade inflammation. This is a major contributing factor to obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

▶ Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory

■ Extraction process characteristics

The industrial production process for okra extracts is guided by the core principles of safety, efficiency, and suitability for food-grade applications. The predominant industrial process worldwide is the aqueous extraction method (accounting for over 90% of production). This method is cost-effective, leaves no organic solvent residues, and complies with food ingredient production standards.

To produce high-purity okra polysaccharide extracts, the basic process is typically supplemented with enzymatic hydrolysis, ultrasonication or microwave-assisted extraction to increase the yield, and membrane separation or macroporous resin purification to enhance the purity. The water extraction and ethanol precipitation method is the most mature industrialised process. The final product is a brownish-yellow, water-soluble powder containing 10-40% polysaccharides and 0.5-3% flavonoids. It is suitable for use in functional beverages, general health supplements and food thickeners. The core process comprises the following stages: raw material pretreatment; aqueous extraction (the core extraction stage); filtration to remove impurities; concentration; alcohol precipitation; precipitation collection and de-alcoholisation; and finally, drying and grinding to obtain the finished okra extract.

Furthermore, to meet the demand for premium ingredients in health supplements and cosmetics, high-purity okra extract can be produced using a combination of enzymatic hydrolysis, ultrasonication and microwave-assisted extraction to enhance polysaccharide extraction rates, as well as membrane separation and macroporous resin purification to remove impurities and increase the content of active ingredients. The final product is a pale yellow, water-soluble powder containing 60-90% polysaccharides and 3-10% flavonoids.

☑  herbgreey®Okra extract powder 10%/20%/30%/40%/50%/60% (Okra polysaccharides)

General Information: