Taxifolin, also known as dihydroquercetin, belongs to the subclass flavanonols in the flavonoids, which in turn is a class of polyphenols. It is extracted from plants such as Siberian larch and milk thistle. Chemically it is a 3,5,7,3',4'-pentahydroxyflavanone with molecular formula C15H12O7 and a monoisotopic mass of 304.07 Da, featuring two stereocenters at C2 and C3 that give rise to enantiomeric and diastereomeric forms. The molecule displays characteristic UV absorbance in the near-UV region and is amenable to quantification by reversed phase HPLC with UV or MS detection. Physicochemical properties include low aqueous solubility and good solubility in polar organic solvents such as ethanol and DMSO, thermal stability under dry conditions, and sensitivity to prolonged exposure to strong bases, oxidants, and light. In botanical extracts taxifolin contributes to radical scavenging activity and chelation of transition metals, and its performance in formulations depends on purity, particle size, and carrier matrix.
Typical analytical specifications for concentrated taxifolin preparations report assay by HPLC typically in the range of 95 to 99 percent, with total impurities usually limited to 2.0 percent or less; individual unspecified impurities are commonly restricted to 0.5 percent or lower by area percent on the chromatogram. Related flavonoid compounds that may be present as trace to low levels include quercetin and its glycosides, dihydrokaempferol, isorhamnetin derivatives, and small amounts of polymeric tannins originating from the source plant; these related compounds collectively often account for 0.1 to 1.5 percent of the batch depending on extraction and purification. Typical ancillary specification limits for commercial material are residual solvent levels below ICH thresholds (for ethanol well below 5000 ppm), heavy metals within pharmacopeial limits (for example lead below 2 ppm, cadmium and arsenic typically below 1 ppm), and microbial counts controlled to standard limits such as total aerobic count below 1000 CFU per gram and absence of pathogenic organisms. Individual suppliers may provide full certificates of analysis showing exact impurity profiles determined by HPLC, GC and MS.
Taxifolin is used as an analytical reference standard, a raw material in nutraceutical and cosmetic formulations, and a research compound to study antioxidant, anti inflammatory and metal chelation properties; its specific application depends on purity, form and regulatory status in the target market.
Foods and botanicals known to contain measurable taxifolin include Siberian larch extracts, milk thistle, some onions and certain berries; concentrations vary widely by species, cultivar, plant part and processing method so quantification is required to rank food sources.
Yes, taxifolin is a flavonoid; it is specifically classified as a flavanonol within the broader flavonoid family of polyphenolic compounds.
