Ingredient profile · other ingredients
What else is in a Melonex capsule besides the 500 mg blend?
The other Melonex capsule ingredients are hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, microcrystalline cellulose and magnesium stearate. The first is the capsule shell, a plant-cellulose shell rather than gelatin. The other two help the powder flow and fill evenly. None is part of the 500 mg blend, none is an active ingredient, and the label prints no amount for any of them.
Written by the Melonex label deskUpdated
Three label lines01
What are the other ingredients in Melonex?
The other ingredients in Melonex are hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (the capsule), microcrystalline cellulose and magnesium stearate. They are printed under the Supplement Facts box, after the proprietary blend.
These three lines hold the active powder together and get it into a shell. They are not part of the 500 mg blend, so they add weight on top of it. The label does not say how much. All six lines are laid out on Melonex ingredients.
All three are common in capsule supplements. One of them, magnesium stearate, has a federal food rule of its own (21 CFR 184.1440, magnesium stearate).
| Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose | The capsule shell: a plant-cellulose (HPMC) capsule, not gelatin |
|---|---|
| Microcrystalline cellulose | A filler made from purified plant cellulose that helps the powder flow and fill evenly |
| Magnesium stearate | A flow agent used in tiny amounts so powder does not stick to machines |
The shell02
What is a hydroxypropyl methylcellulose capsule?
A hydroxypropyl methylcellulose capsule, often shortened to HPMC, is a shell made from plant cellulose instead of gelatin. The Melonex label names it as the capsule itself.
Gelatin shells come from animal collagen. An HPMC shell does not, which is why people who avoid animal products often look for it on a label.
The brand images do not show the real capsule color. The plate at the top is a drawing made for this site.
What the label tells you about the shell
- It is written as "Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose (capsule)"
- One capsule is one serving, 60 to a bottle
- No size, color or weight is printed
- No vegetarian or vegan seal is printed
The filler03
What does microcrystalline cellulose do in a capsule?
Microcrystalline cellulose is a filler made from purified plant cellulose. In Melonex it helps the amino acid powder flow through the filling machine and fill each capsule evenly.
Fillers give a small dose of powder enough bulk to fill a shell the same way every time. That matters for a 500 mg blend, because each capsule should carry the same share.
The amount is not printed. It is there for manufacturing, not as a nutrient or a source of fiber.
The flow agent04
Is magnesium stearate safe in supplements?
Yes, FDA affirms magnesium stearate as generally recognized as safe (GRAS) as a direct food ingredient. Its only limit is current good manufacturing practice (21 CFR 184.1440, magnesium stearate).
It is the magnesium salt of stearic acid, made from stearic acid from edible sources. Factories use it as a lubricant and release agent, so the powder does not stick to steel parts (21 CFR 184.1440, magnesium stearate).
In capsules it is used in tiny amounts. It is not there to add magnesium, and Melonex makes no magnesium claim.
| Label line | Job in the capsule | Source | In the 500 mg blend? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose | The capsule shell | Plant cellulose | No |
| Microcrystalline cellulose | Filler; helps the powder flow and fill evenly | Purified plant cellulose | No |
| Magnesium stearate | Lubricant and release agent | Stearic acid from edible sources (21 CFR 184.1440, magnesium stearate) | No |
Melonex: from $49 a bottle60 capsules · 2, 3 or 6 bottles · free US shipping on 3 or 6 · 60-day guarantee
See packsDiet questions05
Are Melonex capsules gelatin-free?
Yes, the Melonex capsule is gelatin-free, because the label names a hydroxypropyl methylcellulose shell. That is a plant-cellulose capsule.
A gelatin-free shell does not settle every diet question. The label does not say how the three amino acid forms were made, and it carries no vegan, kosher, halal or allergen statement.
If a diet rule or an allergy matters to you, ask the order desk at [email protected] before you buy, and keep their answer in writing.
Plant-cellulose shell
HPMC, not gelatin. That part of the capsule is free of animal collagen.
Source of the amino acids
Only "globally sourced ingredients", with no country or process named.
Diet or allergen seals
No vegan, kosher, halal, gluten or allergen line is printed.
Storage06
How should you store Melonex capsules?
Store Melonex in a cool, dry place, away from heat, light and humidity. Those are the label's own words, and they protect the shell as much as the powder.
Cellulose shells and fillers can pick up moisture in a humid room. A shut cap and a dry shelf keep the capsules as the factory filled them.
Check the seal first
The label says not to use the bottle if the safety seal is damaged or missing.
Keep the cap tight
Close it after each capsule, and skip the steamy bathroom cabinet.
Keep it out of reach
Out of the reach of children and pets, as the label asks.
Daily use is covered on how to take Melonex.
Label claim07
Do the other ingredients fit the "Natural Formula" claim?
Partly. Two of the three other ingredients come from plant cellulose, and the third is made from stearic acid. The label never defines what "Natural Formula*" covers, and the asterisk points to the standard FDA statement (FDA, structure/function claims).
Processing aids like these are normal in capsules. They make the product easier to fill, not more effective. The full label, line by line, is on Melonex supplement facts, and the badges are explained on testing and quality.
A neat shell is still not a treatment. Keep taking prescribed medicine, and show your doctor the full label before you start.
FAQ08
Capsule and other ingredient questions
Is the Melonex capsule shell made from gelatin?
No, the shell is hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, a plant-cellulose capsule. Gelatin is made from animal collagen, and the Melonex label does not list it anywhere. The label names the HPMC line as the capsule itself.
What color are Melonex capsules?
The brand images do not show the real capsule, so we cannot say. The two-tone capsule at the top of the profile is an illustration made for this site, not a product photo. Check your own bottle when it arrives.
Do the other ingredients count toward the 500 mg blend?
No. The 500 mg figure covers only the three blend lines: citrulline malate and two arginine forms. The shell, the cellulose filler and the magnesium stearate sit outside that number, and their weight is not printed.
Why do capsule supplements contain magnesium stearate?
It keeps powder from sticking to the filling machines, so each capsule fills cleanly. FDA affirms it as generally recognized as safe as a lubricant and release agent in food, within good manufacturing practice (21 CFR 184.1440, magnesium stearate).
Is microcrystalline cellulose a source of fiber in Melonex?
Not in any useful way. It is a filler made from purified plant cellulose that helps the powder flow and fill. The label prints no amount and makes no fiber claim, so treat it as a manufacturing aid only.
Can I open a Melonex capsule and mix the powder into a drink?
The label gives no directions for opening the capsule. It says to swallow one with an 8 oz glass of water. If you have trouble swallowing capsules, ask a pharmacist before you change how you take it.
Does Melonex contain gluten, soy or dairy?
The label prints no allergen statement and no free-from claims. It lists six ingredients and none of them is wheat, soy or milk by name. If you have an allergy, ask the order desk in writing and talk to your doctor.
Who wrote this09
Written and reviewed by
Pages built from the label, the sales page and linked NIH, FDA, AHA, CDC, FTC and peer-reviewed sources.
Last updated . Read our editorial standards and how we check reviews. This website is run by a USA authorized Melonex retailer, not by the manufacturer or the distributor. We earn money when you buy through our order links.
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