What husk purity percentages and mesh really mean, why swell volume is the spec that matters, and how to separate pharma-grade isabgol from food and industrial material.
Psyllium husk — isabgol, from Plantago ovata — is one product where India is almost the only game in the world, supplying roughly 80% of global demand. It is grown across North Gujarat and Rajasthan and trades heavily through Unjha. Buyers often ask us to explain the purity percentages, because that single number drives most of the price.
Husk purity grades
Psyllium is separated from the seed by milling, and the husk grade tells you how pure that separation is. Common tiers run 85%, 95%, 98%, 99% and 99.5% purity — the rest being residual seed and fibre fines. Higher purity means whiter, lighter husk and a higher price. Powder is sold by mesh, commonly 40 or 100, depending on whether you want a coarse husk or a fine flour-like grade. The exact purity and mesh are agreed on contract and confirmed on the CoA per lot.
Swell volume is the spec that matters
Here is what we tell every functional-fibre buyer: purity is about appearance, but swell volume — water absorption — is about performance. It measures how much the soluble fibre gels, and it is the figure that determines whether your supplement or food product actually works. Always specify a minimum swell volume and have it confirmed by lot, not just the purity percentage.
- Husk purity % (85 / 95 / 98 / 99 / 99.5)
- Swell volume / water absorption — the key performance spec
- Mesh for powder (e.g. 40, 100)
- Form: husk, powder, seed, khakha or feed grade
- Microbiology and pesticide MRL for your market
- Gluten-free and non-GMO; organic on request
Pharma, food and industrial grades
Not all isabgol is the same job. Pharma-grade husk meets tighter microbiology and purity, food-grade sits a step below, and the by-products — khakha (the seed-and-fibre residue used industrially) and cattle feed grade — are lower-value streams. Decide your grade before quoting, because pharma testing adds genuine cost. We supply against the grade you specify, tested at accredited partner labs, with the CoA matched to your destination requirements.
Tip: If your application is a supplement or laxative, lead with swell volume, not purity. A clean-looking 99% husk with poor swell volume is worse for you than a slightly lower purity grade that gels properly — so test that figure on the shipping lot.
Frequently asked questions
Which husk purities do you offer and what about swell volume?
From the Unjha belt in Gujarat and Rajasthan we supply 85, 95, 98, 99 and 99.5% husk purity. Swell volume is the key functional spec, so we set the target on the contract and confirm it on the CoA per lot.
Can you meet pharma grade and a specific mesh?
Yes, we offer pharma, food and industrial grades and mesh sizes such as 40 and 100. The grade and mesh are agreed on the contract and verified at the accredited partner lab.
Is it gluten free, and is organic available?
Psyllium husk is naturally gluten free, and we can document that. Organic is available on request under NPOP, USDA or EU with a Transaction Certificate.
How do I lock the specification?
We put purity, swell volume, mesh and grade on the sales contract, then test each lot at the partner lab and ship with a matching CoA.
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