On a herbal label, “standardised to 5%” can indicate a specified proportion of a named constituent or group of constituents. A constituent used for measurement is often called a marker. Find the marker name and the amount of extract that the percentage applies to before comparing packs.
Turn the percentage into a quantity
If a fictional label says a serving contains 200 mg of extract standardised to 5% of marker X, and the 5% applies to that whole 200 mg, the declared marker amount is 10 mg. Another label could use the same 5% but supply 100 mg of extract per serving. On the same basis, that would be 5 mg. If the basis is unclear, ask the manufacturer which material was measured.
| Field to copy | What it tells you |
|---|---|
| Plant species and part | Which starting material is described |
| Extract amount per serving | What the percentage may apply to |
| Marker name and percentage | Which constituent is measured |
| Batch result, when available | What was recorded for that tested sample |
Read the claim separately
A marker can help describe or check a preparation. Some markers are chosen for analytical measurement and their amount alone does not establish a clinical effect. When someone cites research, check whether the study used the same extract, plant part and measured constituents. Use the research claim walkthrough to compare the product description with the paper.
A 10:1 ratio answers a different question from a marker percentage. The powder and extract guide sets out the other details worth recording side by side.