Sasa Bamboo Leaf Extract
クマザサエキス (Kumazasa Ekisu)
Why source from Japan
Kumazasa's centuries-old ekiben preservation use is uniquely Japanese; cosmetic and food-supplement standardised extracts emerged in domestic R&D in the 1990s.
Key spec
Alkaline polysaccharide 5-15%; chlorophyll-derived bioactives 0.5-2%; minimal allergen profile.
Typical end-product
Deodorising body-care, antibacterial wound-care cosmetics, digestive-positioned supplements.
At a glance
- Suppliers listed
- 2 suppliers
- Typical MOQ
- 10–50 kg dried leaf; 1–10 kg extract
- Typical lead time
- 6–10 weeks
- Regions of origin
- Hokkaido, Nagano, Niigata, Gifu
- Category
- Medicinal plants
- Harvest season
- Spring – summer (May – August); year-round dried-leaf processing
- Japan regulatory status
- JSCI listed for cosmetic use; food product status for traditional ekiben preservation
- INCI name
- Sasa Veitchii Extract
- Japanese name
- クマザサエキス
- Romaji
- Kumazasa Ekisu
About this ingredient
Extract of kumazasa (dwarf bamboo) leaves, primarily Sasa veitchii and S. kurilensis from Japanese mountain regions. Used historically as a natural preservative for ekiben (railway lunchboxes) and traditional confectionery on the back of antibacterial polysaccharide content. Modern functional positioning leverages alkaline polysaccharide and chlorophyll-derived actives for both cosmetic (deodorising / antibacterial) and food-supplement (digestive / antioxidant) applications. Hokkaido and Nagano are the principal commercial harvest regions.
Regulatory status
| Japan | JSCI listed for cosmetic use; food product status for traditional ekiben preservation |
|---|---|
| EU | CosIng listed (Sasa Veitchii Extract) |
| United States | MoCRA cosmetic use; GRAS by long traditional food use |
| China | NMPA cosmetic NCI consideration |
Looking for alternatives?
Common reasons buyers swap to a different ingredient — and what we'd suggest based on this ingredient's profile.
Vegan / plant-based alternatives
Sasa Bamboo Leaf Extract is animal-derived. If you need a non-animal source with similar functions, consider:
Shiso / Perilla Frutescens Leaf Extract
紫蘇葉エキス
INCI Perilla Frutescens Leaf Extract / Perilla Frutescens Red Leaf Extract; MOQ from 10–30 kg.
Plant-based· shares 3 categories
Kuromoji / Lindera Umbellata
黒文字
INCI Lindera Umbellata Leaf Oil / Branch Oil / Branch-Leaf Extract; MOQ from 100 ml – 1 L essential oil; 1–10 kg dried.
Plant-based· shares 3 categories
Rice-Derived Glucosylceramide
米由来グルコシルセラミド
FFC notification(s) on file; MOQ from 5–20 kg.
Plant-based· shares 3 categories
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Japanese suppliers
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Last updated: 2026-05-05