Evening Primrose Oil

Cold-pressed and refined seed oil from evening primrose (Oenothera biennis), one of the most important commercial sources of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA, C18:3 omega-6), standardized to a minimum 9% GLA content.

Pale yellow to golden-amber clear oil with a mild characteristic aroma. The defining feature is the GLA content, which places evening primrose oil at the center of women's hormonal health, skin health, and inflammatory-balance supplement positioning.

We supply food-grade and pharmacopoeial Evening Primrose Oil from manufacturers in China holding ISO, Halal, Kosher, and organic certifications relevant to the product and production. Cold-pressed virgin, refined, and high-GLA (≥ 12%) grades are available.

Common market grades include Standard 9% GLA (the dominant commercial grade), 10% GLA (premium retail), 12% GLA (high-end positioning), and Pharmacopoeial Grade meeting EP and BP monographs.

Bulk and reduced-MOQ shipments. Batch-level COA covering fatty acid profile (GC), GLA content, peroxide value, acid value, moisture, heavy metals, and microbiology.

Evening primrose (Oenothera biennis) is a biennial wildflower native to North America that was domesticated for seed oil production in the 1970s as commercial interest in GLA developed. The crop is now cultivated commercially in China (the world's largest producer), the U.K., Hungary, and Argentina.

The seeds are cold-pressed or solvent-extracted, with the crude oil refined through degumming, neutralization, bleaching, and deodorization to produce a stable, mild-flavored oil. Refining is calibrated to preserve the GLA content while removing free fatty acids, pigments, and oxidation products.

GLA is an omega-6 fatty acid produced in the body by delta-6 desaturation of linoleic acid, a step that is rate-limiting and can be impaired by age, stress, and metabolic conditions. Dietary GLA bypasses this step and supplies substrate for the production of the anti-inflammatory eicosanoid PGE1. The pharmacological rationale supports use in atopic dermatitis, premenstrual symptoms, breast pain, and inflammatory conditions, with a published clinical evidence base that varies in strength by indication.

Regulatory status is broad. Evening primrose oil is recognized as a conventional food in the U.S. (with GLA at typical supplement doses below the GRAS daily intake of 4 g), permitted as a food supplement in the EU, and approved under Chinese health food regulations. The oil is listed in the European Pharmacopoeia and has held marketing authorization as a prescription medicine for atopic dermatitis and breast pain in several European markets.

Commercial positioning is the women's wellness segment, where evening primrose oil sits alongside borage oil and blackcurrant seed oil as the three principal commercial GLA sources. Evening primrose offers the largest and best-characterized clinical evidence base of the three.

• Women's hormonal health, PMS, and menopause support softgels; the dominant supplement category
• Skin health and atopic dermatitis support products; pharmacopoeial use in several markets
• Inflammatory-balance and joint health formulations
• Cardiovascular and lipid-management products
• Functional food and beverage fortification (with appropriate emulsion technology)
• Cosmetic and skincare formulations including anti-aging serums and moisturizers
• Hair and scalp care treatments
• Pet supplements for skin, coat, and inflammatory support
• Pediatric atopic dermatitis support products in regulated markets