Latin Names, Plant Parts and Extract Ratios on Labels
How to read the plant name, plant part, extract type and extract ratio (such as 10:1) on an herbal supplement label, and why they matter for safety and for comparing studies.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
Why these details matter
A study of one plant part or extract does not transfer to another. A label that names the plant, the part and the kind of extract gives a pharmacist something concrete to check. This page explains what US sources say about those label details, and where they say nothing.
Scientific (Latin) names
A scientific name has two words, genus and species, for example Hypericum perforatum. The GBIF species database returns Hypericum perforatum L. as an accepted species name. [1] Our herb pages give the scientific name on first use for this reason; see for example St. John's wort.
Proper evidence not found on whether US law requires a scientific name on a supplement label. We read FDA's Dietary Supplement Labeling Guide chapters on nutrition labeling, ingredient labeling and claims, and FDA's questions and answers. The guide's index lists "Latin names" under the nutrition labeling chapter, but we did not find a rule about them in the text we read. [2] Ingredients with no Daily Value must be listed by their common or usual names. [3] So a label may carry only a common name. A reader can check a name in a plant database such as GBIF, and ask a pharmacist when a name is unfamiliar.
Plant parts
FDA's guide states that the part of the plant from which a dietary ingredient is derived must be included in the Supplement Facts panel. [3] Research and safety information is reported for specific plant parts, so do not assume that information for one part applies to another. See reading supplement labels.
Extracts: what the label may say
| Label wording | What the sources say | Caution |
|---|---|---|
| Liquid extract | FDA: liquid extracts are listed by the volume or weight of the total extract and the condition of the starting material. [3] | The label may also name the solvent. [3] |
| Dried extract | FDA: for extracts from which the solvent has been removed, the weights of the dried extracts are listed. [3] | The weight is of the extract, not the starting plant. |
| Dry extract (definition) | A review defines dry extracts as solid articles obtained by evaporation of the solvent used in their production. [4] | The composition of extracts from the same plant may vary significantly with the solvent, temperature, duration and drying. [4] |
| Extract ratio, such as 10:1 | The plant-drug-to-extract ratio is the amount of starting plant used to make an amount of native extract, not counting carriers. [4] | See below. |
| Standardized, verified, certified | NCCIH: these words do not necessarily guarantee quality or consistency. [5] | A claim, not a test result. |
Reading an extract ratio
The same review gives an example: a ratio of 10:1 means approximately 10 g of dried raw material were required to produce 1 g of native extract. [4] But the authors say plant-to-extract ratios can be misleading when their meaning is not clearly understood. [4] They add that the most common misconception is that a higher ratio represents a stronger, and therefore better, extract. [4] Ratios also do not fully describe an extract, because raw material quality, solvent, and extraction duration and temperature also shape it. [4] Marker compound levels may not vary in step with other compounds of greater importance to therapeutic activity. [4]
The practical point: a ratio on a label is one fact about how a product was made. It does not tell you how strong, safe or effective it is. For more on markers and standardization, see standardized herbal extracts.
What this means for safety
- Comparing to research. A trial of one extract (named plant, part, solvent, ratio) supports claims about that extract only.
- Medicines. Interactions are documented for specific plants and preparations. Bring the full label to the pharmacist. See how interactions work.
- Mix-ups and substitution. Wrong-plant products are a quality problem; see adulteration, substitution and mislabeling.
- Foraging. We do not give plant-identification instructions. If you think someone ate a wrong plant, call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 (US), or 911 for an emergency.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Latin name guarantee I am getting the right plant?
No source we read says so. NCCIH states that what is on the label may not be what is in the product. [5]
Is a higher extract ratio better?
The review authors call that the most common misconception. [4]
Why does the label name the plant part?
FDA's guide requires the plant part to be included in the Supplement Facts panel. [3]
Does "standardized" mean it is safe?
No. NCCIH says such words do not necessarily guarantee quality or consistency. [5]
Where can I check a plant name?
Plant databases such as GBIF list accepted scientific names. [1] A pharmacist can help with unfamiliar names.
References
- GBIF species match for Hypericum perforatum (GBIF Backbone Taxonomy API). GBIF species match for Hypericum perforatum (GBIF Backbone Taxonomy API). Read 2026-10-22.
- FDA, Dietary Supplement Labeling Guide: introduction (April 2005). FDA, Dietary Supplement Labeling Guide: introduction (April 2005). Read 2026-10-22.
- FDA, Dietary Supplement Labeling Guide: Chapter IV. Nutrition Labeling (April 2005). FDA, Dietary Supplement Labeling Guide: Chapter IV. Nutrition Labeling (April 2005). Read 2026-10-22.
- Understanding plant to extract ratios in botanical extracts, Front Pharmacol 2022 (doi 10.3389/fphar.2022.981978). Understanding plant to extract ratios in botanical extracts, Front Pharmacol 2022 (doi 10.3389/fphar.2022.981978). Read 2026-10-22.
- NCCIH, Using Dietary Supplements Wisely. NCCIH, Using Dietary Supplements Wisely. Read 2026-10-22.