Commission Regulation (EU) No 231/2012

Contents

E 999 quillaia extract

Synonyms	Soapbark extract; Quillay bark extract; Panama bark extract; Quillai extract; Murillo bark extract; China bark extract
Definition	Quillaia extract is obtained by aqueous extraction of Quillaia saponaria Molina, or other Quillaia species, trees of the family Rosaceae. The extraction process is followed by clarification, filtration, ultrafiltration, concentration and pasteurisation. It contains a number of triterpenoid saponins consisting of glycosides of quillaic acid, polyphenols, carbohydrates, in particular polysaccharides and reducing sugars and, to a minor extent, proteins.
CAS number	68990-67-0
Einecs
Chemical name
Chemical formula
Molecular weight
Assay	Saponin content not less than 20 % on dried basis
Description	Quillaia extract in the powder form is light brown with a pink tinge. It is also available as an aqueous solution.
Identification
pH	Between 3,7 and 5,5 (4 % solution)
Purity
Water content	Not more than 6,0 % (Karl Fischer method) (powder form only)
Arsenic	Not more than 5 mg/kg saponins
Lead	Not more than 3 mg/kg saponins
Mercury	Not more than 0,5 mg/kg saponins
Cadmium	Not more than 0,5 mg/kg saponins
Calcium oxalate	Not more than 6 g/kg saponins
Microbiological criteria
Total aerobic count	Not more than 100 colonies per gram
Salmonella spp.	Absent in 25 g
Staphylococcus aureus	Absent in 1 g
Escherichia coli	Absent in 1 g
Yeast	Not more than 10 colonies per gram
Moulds	Not more than 10 colonies per gram