What is Chrysanthemum Extract?
Chrysanthemum extract (CAS Number: 223748-32-1) is a natural flavoring substance derived from chrysanthemum flowers (genus Chrysanthemum). The extract contains volatile compounds and other phytochemicals that contribute floral, slightly sweet, and herbal flavor characteristics. It is obtained through various extraction methods including solvent extraction, water infusion, or steam distillation, depending on the intended application and desired flavor profile.
Common Uses
Chrysanthemum extract is primarily used in the food and beverage industry as a flavoring agent. Common applications include:
- Herbal and specialty teas
- Flavored beverages and drinks
- Confectionery and candies
- Baked goods
- Desserts and puddings
- Asian cuisine preparations
The extract is particularly popular in traditional Asian beverages, where chrysanthemum tea has been consumed for centuries. In modern food manufacturing, it provides an economical way to incorporate floral notes without using whole flowers.
Safety Assessment
Chrysanthemum extract has a long history of use in traditional beverages, particularly in Asian cultures, where chrysanthemum tea is a established traditional drink. The extract itself has generated no reported adverse events in FDA records and has not been subject to any FDA recalls.
As a natural botanical extract, chrysanthemum contains various compounds including flavonoids, polyphenols, and volatile oils. These components have been studied in traditional medicine contexts, though food-use studies are limited. The low toxicity profile of chrysanthemum flowers, combined with the absence of adverse event reports in regulatory databases, suggests a generally safe profile at typical food flavoring concentrations.
Persons with allergies to plants in the Asteraceae family (which includes chrysanthemum, ragweed, and related species) should be aware of potential cross-reactivity, though such reactions are rare with properly processed extracts used in food applications at low concentrations.
Regulatory Status
Chrysanthemum extract is not on the FDA's GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) list. However, the absence of GRAS status does not indicate safety concerns; rather, it reflects that no formal petition or self-affirmed notification has been submitted to the FDA. Many natural flavor ingredients function in food without GRAS status, operating under the color additives or natural flavor provisions of FDA regulations.
The extract can be legally used in foods under FDA regulations for natural flavoring substances, provided it complies with food safety requirements and does not exceed levels that would be unsafe. Some regional and international regulatory bodies may have specific approvals or restrictions.
Manufacturers using chrysanthemum extract must ensure their products meet FDA food safety standards, including compliance with the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) requirements for facilities and processes.
Key Studies
While comprehensive clinical studies specifically on chrysanthemum extract as a food additive are limited in peer-reviewed literature, the traditional use of chrysanthemum flowers in beverages provides practical safety data. Published research on chrysanthemum flowers generally supports their safety profile and documents their traditional use in Asian medicine and cuisine.
The absence of adverse event reports and recalls in FDA databases over decades of use in food products provides empirical evidence supporting safety at current food use levels. However, comprehensive toxicological studies evaluating the extract at food-relevant concentrations would provide additional scientific support.