Deciduous, flowering tree, Aesculus hippocastanum L., Hippocastanaceae, bearing spiny, globular fruit capsules that contain up to 3 reddish brown, inedible seeds. Medicinal portions are the dried leaves and an extract prepared from the seeds. Habit. Balkan peninsula; widely cultivated in Northern hemisphere as a shade tree. Constit. Mixture of triterpene saponins known as escin, q.v. (3-5%); coumarins such as esculetin, fraxin, scopolin; flavonoids incl. astragalin, isoquercetin, rutin, leucocyanidin; tannins, starch, fatty acids; also contains the toxic glycoside, esculin. Comprehensive description: N. Tiffany et al., J. Herb. Pharmacother. 2, 71-85 (2002). Review of constituents and uses: J. Barnes et al., Herbal Medicines (Pharmaceutical Press, London, 2nd Ed., 2002) pp 296-299; A. Y. Leung, S. Foster, Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients, (Wiley-Interscience, Hoboken, 2nd Ed., 2003) pp 304-306; J. Gruenwald et al., PDR for Herbal Medicines (Medical Economics, Montvale, 3rd Ed., 2004) pp 445-448.
Principle constituent is escin which is used to calculate potency. Clinical pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of formulations: D. Bssler et al., Adv. Ther. 20, 295 (2003). Review of clinical trials in chronic venous insufficiency: U. Siebert et al., Int. Angiol. 21, 305-315 (2002).
Seed extract in treatment of chronic venous insufficiency.