BPF® 38% is a concentrated Bergamot Polyphenolic Fraction produced from authentic Citrus bergamia Risso. It is standardized to 38% combined flavanones and approximately 70% total polyphenols, and has the characteristic five-flavanone profile of authentic bergamot.
BPF® 38% is a standardized bergamot polyphenol fraction derived from authentic Citrus bergamia Risso.
It provides:
The 38% designation therefore refers to a specifically characterized flavanone fraction rather than a generic measure of total polyphenols.
For formulators, this provides substantially more compositional information than a specification stating only “bergamot extract” or “70% polyphenols.”
The bergamot used in BPF® is sourced from Calabria in Southern Italy, the principal growing region associated with authentic Citrus bergamia Risso.
Calabrian sourcing is important because it supports:
The species and geographic origin should be considered when comparing a clinically researched BPF® ingredient with generic bulk citrus extracts.
It means that BPF® 38% is standardized so that the five principal bergamot flavanones collectively account for 38% of the ingredient according to specification.
Those flavanones are:
Neoeriocitrin + Naringin + Neohesperidin + Melitidin + Brutieridin
For example, 1,000 mg of a 38% standardized ingredient nominally provides approximately 380 mg of combined flavanones, subject to the actual lot assay.
This is different from saying the ingredient contains 38% total polyphenols.
BPF® 38% contains the five principal flavanones characteristic of the BPF® platform:
The complete profile matters because a bergamot ingredient should not be judged by one marker compound alone.
Neoeriocitrin, naringin and neohesperidin are well-known citrus flavanones. Melitidin and brutieridin are particularly characteristic of authentic bergamot and add an important authentication dimension to the BPF® profile.
Together, the five provide a more meaningful phytochemical fingerprint than total-polyphenol content alone.
Melitidin and brutieridin are characteristic bergamot flavanone derivatives and are among the constituents that distinguish authentic Citrus bergamia Risso from many other citrus extracts.
They contain structural features that have generated particular scientific interest in relation to pathways involved in cholesterol metabolism.
For a formulator, their importance is twofold:
Authentication: Their presence contributes to the characteristic chemical fingerprint of authentic bergamot.
Scientific relevance: They form part of the flavanone complex investigated in BPF® research related to healthy lipid metabolism.
They should not, however, be viewed in isolation. BPF® is a multi-component polyphenolic fraction, and the complete flavanone matrix is relevant.
They are two different analytical measurements.
BPF® 38% is standardized to approximately:
Flavanones form one defined subset of the broader polyphenol fraction.
The 38% therefore identifies the combined concentration of the five principal BPF® flavanones, while the approximately 70% value measures a wider range of phenolic constituents within the ingredient.
A claim of “70% total polyphenols” should never be interpreted as “70% bergamot flavanones.”
BPF® 38% is differentiated by a combination of botanical identity, composition, standardization and research.
It is characterized by:
A generic citrus bergamot extract may state only an extraction ratio or total-polyphenol percentage without identifying the specific flavanones responsible for its phytochemical fingerprint.
This makes direct equivalence between generic bergamot extracts and BPF® scientifically inappropriate unless composition has been demonstrated.
All four grades belong to the BPF® platform but provide different concentrations of the characteristic bergamot flavanones.
Ingredient | Combined Flavanones | Approx. Total Polyphenols | General Position |
BPF® 20% | 20% | Per current specification | Lower-concentration BPF® grade |
BPF® 30% | 30% | Approx. 55% | Moderate flavanone concentration |
BPF® 38% | 38% | Approx. 70% | Concentrated/core BPF® grade |
BPF Gold® | 47% | Approx. 80% | Highest-concentration BPF® grade |
BPF® 38% provides greater flavanone density than the 20% and 30% grades while retaining more ingredient mass per active level than BPF Gold® 47%.
BPF® 38% is particularly appropriate where the finished product requires:
It represents a useful balance between active concentration, clinical relevance and formulation flexibility.
BPF Gold® 47% may be preferable where maximum flavanone density or the specific 47% clinical research is the priority.
BPF® 38% is particularly relevant to formulations targeting:
The broader BPF® research platform has also investigated endpoints related to liver health, endothelial function and metabolic syndrome.
Finished-product claims must, of course, comply with the applicable regulatory framework in each market.
BPF® 38% is closely associated with the core body of BPF® human clinical research, but clinical substantiation should always be presented study by study.
The BPF® literature includes human research examining:
Where a publication identifies the exact standardization, that grade should be stated specifically.
Where it describes BPF® without providing enough information to establish the commercial concentration, the study should be described as research on the BPF® platform rather than automatically assigned to 38%.
This distinction strengthens scientific credibility.
One of the foundational publications was:
Mollace V, et al. Hypolipemic and hypoglycaemic activity of bergamot polyphenols: From animal models to human studies. Fitoterapia. 2011;82:309–316.
Study at a Glance
Subjects: 237 adults with hyperlipidemia, including subjects with elevated glucose
Duration: 30 days
Ingredient: Bergamot Polyphenolic Fraction
What Researchers Studied
Researchers measured:
What They Found
BPF supplementation produced substantial improvements in lipid parameters, including reductions in total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, together with increases in HDL cholesterol. Improvements in glucose were also reported in relevant subjects.
What This Means
The study helped establish BPF® as a clinically relevant bergamot for cholesterol and cardiometabolic health ingredient platform.
Important Qualification
The clinical study should be cited according to the material actually described in the publication rather than being used to imply that every commercial bergamot extract or every BPF® grade has independently reproduced the same results.
Yes.
Published BPF® research has investigated small dense LDL (sdLDL) in subjects with metabolic syndrome and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
Small dense LDL particles are considered more atherogenic than larger, more buoyant LDL particles because they are more susceptible to oxidation and may penetrate the arterial wall more readily.
The research reported improvements in LDL particle characteristics alongside other cardiometabolic and liver-related parameters.
For formulators, this expands the scientific story beyond simply reducing the amount of LDL cholesterol to include aspects of lipoprotein quality and cardiometabolic risk.
Healthy cholesterol metabolism represents the principal application of the BPF® platform.
Human BPF® studies have reported improvements in:
The BPF® flavanone fraction has also been investigated mechanistically in relation to pathways involved in cholesterol synthesis and metabolism.
Appropriate supplement language generally focuses on supporting healthy cholesterol levels already within or near a normal range or supporting healthy lipid metabolism, depending on the regulatory market.
BPF® should not be presented as a pharmaceutical substitute.
The BPF® clinical literature includes findings related to fasting glucose and overall metabolic balance.
This is relevant because lipid metabolism, glucose regulation, liver metabolism and body composition are closely interconnected.
For formulators, BPF® 38% can therefore fit broader cardiometabolic health formulations rather than being restricted exclusively to cholesterol products.
Disease-treatment claims such as treating diabetes are not appropriate for dietary supplement positioning.
Yes.
A published human study investigated BPF® alongside rosuvastatin and reported that the combination produced greater lipid improvements than the lower statin dose alone.
This study is scientifically interesting because it supports investigation of complementary mechanisms between bergamot polyphenols and conventional lipid-management approaches.
However, this research should not be translated into consumer instructions to combine BPF® with prescription statins without healthcare supervision.
Anyone taking statins or other lipid-modifying medications should consult an appropriate healthcare professional before using a bergamot supplement.
Yes.
Bergamot polyphenols have demonstrated antioxidant activity, and the broader BPF® research platform includes investigation of endothelial function and vascular responsiveness.
Oxidative stress can impair normal endothelial signaling and nitric oxide availability. The antioxidant properties of bergamot polyphenols therefore provide a mechanism complementary to their lipid-metabolism effects.
For formulations specifically centered on endothelial function or high-potency vascular applications, formulators should also review BPF Gold® 47% and N.O. Max®, which have dedicated positioning within the broader Bergamonte® portfolio.
The correct dosage depends on the specific formulation, intended application and clinical study being referenced.
Across the broader BPF® research program, daily doses have commonly fallen within approximately 500–1,300 mg/day, depending on the BPF preparation, population and endpoint.
For BPF® 38%, formulation decisions should consider:
A published dose from a 30% or 47% material should not automatically be converted mathematically to a 38% dose without appropriate scientific justification.
A technically appropriate quality program should evaluate both identity and concentration.
Testing may include:
Chromatographic analysis such as HPLC provides a detailed flavanone fingerprint that cannot be obtained from a general total-polyphenol assay alone.
A lot-specific Certificate of Analysis should confirm that the supplied bulk ingredient conforms to the established specification.
Yes.
Its relatively high active concentration makes BPF® 38% useful in premium multi-ingredient products where capsule or tablet space needs to be managed.
Potential complementary ingredient categories include:
The broader Bergamonte® portfolio also offers purpose-built combinations where appropriate—for example N.O. Max® for nitric oxide and performance applications and Bergacyn® for liver and cardiometabolic health.
A technically meaningful comparison should ask:
These questions allow buyers to differentiate a scientifically characterized bergamot polyphenol fraction from a commodity citrus extract carrying only a high headline polyphenol number.
BPF® 38% is available through HP Ingredients, working with the Bergamonte®/BPF® technology platform developed with Herbal & Antioxidant Derivatives (H&AD) in Calabria, Italy.
Qualified manufacturers, formulators and contract manufacturers may request applicable technical resources including:
For companies evaluating a citrus bergamot extract supplier, bergamot manufacturer, bulk bergamot extract, standardized bergamot flavonoids or clinically researched bergamot supplement ingredient, the most useful comparison combines:
botanical authenticity + five-flavanone standardization + analytical verification + appropriate clinical evidence + technical support.
BPF® 38% was developed around those principles.
