What is Geranium, East Indian, Extract?
Geranium, East Indian, Extract (Cymbopogon martinii Stapf.) is a natural flavoring substance derived from palmarosa grass, a tropical plant native to India and other regions of South Asia. The extract is obtained through processing of the plant material and contains volatile aromatic compounds characteristic of the plant species. It should not be confused with true geranium (Pelargonium species), despite its common name. The CAS number 977091-47-6 identifies this specific substance in chemical databases.
Common Uses
This flavoring extract is used in the food and beverage industry to impart floral, herbaceous, and slightly rosy flavor characteristics to various products. Common applications include:
- Beverages (soft drinks, alcoholic drinks, flavored waters)
- Confectionery and desserts
- Baked goods
- Dairy products
- Flavored sauces and condiments
The compound is valued in the flavor industry for its ability to provide complexity and natural-origin sensory attributes to formulated foods. Its use is typically limited to small quantities, as is standard for flavoring agents in food manufacturing.
Safety Assessment
Geranium, East Indian, Extract has no reported adverse events in FDA databases and is not associated with any product recalls. However, the lack of reported incidents does not automatically indicate formal safety approval.
The chemical composition of palmarosa extract includes geraniol, linalool, and other terpenes commonly found in plant-derived flavoring agents that have established safety profiles. These components are individually recognized in various flavor ingredient databases as having acceptable use levels in food.
No significant toxicological concerns have been documented in scientific literature for this specific extract at typical use levels in food applications. The volatile nature of essential oil components means that concentrations in final food products are typically very low.
Regulatory Status
Importantly, Geranium, East Indian, Extract is not listed as a GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) substance by the FDA. This designation means the substance has not undergone the formal FDA GRAS notification process and therefore cannot be marketed with the claim that it is GRAS.
However, not being GRAS does not mean the ingredient is unsafe or prohibited. It indicates that a formal safety determination through FDA's GRAS notification program has not been completed or submitted. Some flavoring substances are used under FDA regulations through other pathways, including use in accordance with the Flavor and Extract Manufacturers' Association (FEMA) GRAS list, which operates under different criteria than FDA's formal GRAS program.
The regulatory status of this extract may vary by jurisdiction. In the European Union, botanical extracts used as flavorings are evaluated under the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) framework for flavoring agents.
Key Studies
Limited published scientific literature is available specifically on Geranium, East Indian, Extract as a food additive. The safety profile of this substance is largely informed by:
1. Knowledge of its botanical source (Cymbopogon martinii) and traditional use in regions where the plant is native
2. The established safety of its major chemical constituents (geraniol, linalool, and other common terpenes)
3. The general safety experience with essential oils and plant extracts in the flavor industry
4. Absence of toxicological findings in available databases
Manufacturers and food companies utilizing this ingredient are responsible for ensuring its safe use within appropriate levels. Consumers with sensitivities to plant-derived compounds or essential oils should be aware that this is a botanical extract.