Extract Ratios and Marker Standardisation, Explained

What a 10:1 ratio or a marker percentage actually tells you about a botanical extract.

Botanical extracts are usually described in one of two ways: by extract ratio, or by standardisation to a marker compound. They answer different questions.

An extract ratio, such as 10:1, describes how much starting plant material was used to make a unit of extract. It says little about the content of any specific compound.

Marker standardisation states the content of a defined compound or group — for example withanolides in ashwagandha, or boswellic acids in boswellia — measured by a stated analytical method. It is generally more useful for consistency between batches.

When comparing quotations, make sure the ratio or marker, the analytical method and the plant part are the same. Otherwise the lower price may simply reflect a different material.