| Product name | Horse Chestnut seed extract |
| Other names | horse chestnut, buckeye, Spanish chestnut |
| Latin Name | Aesculus hippocastanum |
| Part Used | Seed, Fruit |
| Active ingredients | Aescin (escin) |
| CAS | 6805-41-0 |
| Specifications | standardized to 20% aescin，40% UV,HPLC |
| Appearance/Color | Yellow Brown Powder (for low specification) |
| Benefits | chronic venous insufficiency,treatment for Varicose Veins and Hemorrhoids,leg pain |
| Applied industries | Dietary supplement, pharmaceuticals, drugs, food additives |
What is horse chestnut seed extract?
Horse chestnut extract with Latin name as aesculus hippocastanum, according to Wikipedia, is derived from the seeds of buckeye tree (horse chestnut tree). In traditional herbal practice, the seeds of horse chestnut have been used as folk remedies mainly for varicose veins and hemorrhoids for decades. German research of horse chestnut began in the 1960s and ultimately led to the approval of a horse chestnut extract for vein diseases of the legs, making Horse chestnut the third most common single-herb product sold in Germany, after ginkgo and St. John’s wort.
If you looked into the first-aid kit of most soccer teams in Europe, you would find a tube of horse chestnut gel, ready to ease pain, bruising, and swelling from sprains and other contusions or sports -injuries. And now more effective standardized horse chestnut extract with 20% aescin is available in the form of powder, cream, gel and widely used in dietary supplement formulas, cream cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, drugs,etc.
Chemical compositions of horse chestnut seed extract
The chemical constituents of horse chestnut seed extract include triterpenoid saponin glycosides, coumarin derivatives, flavonoids,essential oils,amino acids and other related substances. Coumarin derivatives like aesculin, fraxin, scopolin; Flavonoids like quercetin, kaempferol, astragalin, isoquercetrin, rutin, leucocyanidine; Essential oils such as oleic acid, linoleic acid; amino acids acid such as (adenosine, adenine, guanine), allantoin, argyrin, carotin, choline, citric
Acid, epicatechin, leucodelphinidin, phyosterol, resin, scopoletin, tannin, and uric acid.
However, the principal ingredient in horse chestnut seed extract is aescin (or escin), which is a mixture of triterpene glycosides. The seeds also contain flavonoids and sterols. Horse chestnut extracts are commonly standardized to provide consistent (16 to 20 percent) aescin concentration.
How does horse chestnut work?
Poor blood flow in the veins of the legs is one of the common problems that develop as we age. But when the problem becomes severe enough, it can result in a condition called chronic venous insufficiency,with symptoms like leg pain, pruritus (itchiness), hardening of the skin and edema (swelling of tissue under the skin).
Horse chestnut extract contains a saponin called aescin, which has anti-inflammatory properties, and thins the blood,making it hard for fluid to leak out of veins and capillaries and weakly promotes fluid loss through the urine to help prevent water retention(edema). In addition, aescin strengthens the walls of the veins and arteries, giving it vasoprotective properties. The condition of capillaries is improved because horse chestnut extract reduces the presence of elastase and hyaluronidase, enzymes that break down protein. Horse chestnut extract also thins the blood by impairing the action of platelets. When taken orally, escin has been scientifically proven to be effective in the treatment of chronic venous insufficiency, a condition which prevents deoxygenated blood being pumped back to the heart effectively. Blood can pool in the lower extremities, leading to swelling of the legs and ankles. Leg injuries can trigger this debilitating condition. Women tend to be more susceptible to chronic venous insufficiency than men.
High levels of aescin also make horse chestnut extract an effective treatment for varicose veins and hemorrhoids due to its vasoconstricting properties. Both varicose veins and hemorrhoids are caused by enlarged, protruding veins. Horse chestnut extract tightens and shrinks enlarged varicose veins and hemorrhoids, making them less visible.
How Veins in Legs Work
Arteries deliver oxygenated blood from your heart to the rest of your body. A network of veins returns deoxygenated blood to your heart, which sends it to your lungs to pick up more oxygen. Your legs have three types of veins that work together to pump blood “uphill” against gravity to get it back to your heart. Superficial veins lie close to your skin. When they become enlarged and twisted they are called varicose veins. This can happen from the pressure of too much standing, extra body weight (from obesity or pregnancy), or from problems with valves in your veins or in deeper veins that are resulting in a pressure buildup in superficial veins (a pressure backup issue).
You also have perforating veins, which connect your superficial veins to your deep veins. Your deep veins lie in groups of muscles and are the main workhorses that pump the blood back up to your heart. The flow of blood upwards is driven by pressure within the system (the push factor), muscle contractions (the massage factor), and valves that prevent blood that is moving up from going back down (the backflow factor). Another issue is the structural integrity of the veins and valves themselves.
Health benefits of horse chestnut seed extract
Horse chestnut extract significantly reduces chronic venous insufficiency symptoms in leg size, pain, itching and fatigue.
Horse chestnut and Chronic Venous Insufficiency
Research suggests that horse chestnut seed extract may be useful in the treatment of chronic venous insufficiency. In a systematic review published in 2006, for instance, researchers analyzed seven clinical trials and concluded that horse chestnut seed extract is “an efficacious and safe short-term treatment” for chronic venous insufficiency.
A condition in which the veins do not efficiently return blood from the legs to the heart, chronic venous insufficiency is linked to problems such as varicose veins, ankle swelling, and nighttime leg cramping. Horse chestnut produced significant improvement in leg edema, pain, and sensation of heaviness.
Varicose Veins and Hemorrhoids
A double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 80 people with symptomatic hemorrhoids evaluated the use of a horse chestnut product providing 40 mg of aescin 3 times daily. The results indicated that use of horse chestnut produced noticeable subjective improvements in pain, bleeding, and swelling within a week; within 2 weeks, the benefits were visible by objective examination. A review published in 2001 concluded that supplementation with horse chestnut “may prevent time-consuming, painful, and expensive complications of varicose veins and hemorrhoids.”
Horse Chestnut and Bruises
A double-blind study of 70 people found that about 10 g of 2% aescin gel, applied externally to bruises in a single dose 5 minutes after they were induced, reduced bruise tenderness.
Side effects of taking horse chestnut seed extract
Although horse chestnut extract is generally considered safe, it may produce a number of adverse effects, including itching, nausea, or gastrointestinal upset.
Dosage of taking horse chestnut supplements
The most common dosage of horse chestnut is 300 mg twice daily, standardized to contain 50 mg aescin per dose, for a total daily dose of 100 mg aescin.
For chronic venous insufficiency, Germany’s Commission E Monographs recommends divided doses of standardized horse chestnut extract providing the equivalent of 100 mg of aescin per day. Topical preparations may be applied liberally 3 to 4 times per day. The herb appears to be well tolerated at this dosage range, although minor side effects such as nausea and other gastric complaints have been reported in isolated cases. Topical preparations may cause allergic skin reactions in some individuals.
Horse chestnut preparations should certify that a toxic constituent called esculin has been removed (see Safety Issues). Also, a delayed-release formulation must be used to prevent gastrointestinal upset.
supplements for varicose veins
Below is a list of common natural remedies used to treat or reduce the symptoms of varicose veins.
We’ve narrowed down a list of the most effective ingredients found in today’s top varicose veins treatments.
1.Horse Chestnut
As we have discussed before, it is a good choice.
2.Diosmin
Derived from citrus fruits, Diosmin is a powerful bioflavonoid that is used by many as a natural treatment of chronic venous insufficiency, hemorrhoids, varicose veins, and lymph-edema. Diosmin is one of the most effective treatments for varicose veins. As a matter of fact, this bioflavonoid has been used as a vein tonic and vascular protectant for more than three decades. Diosmin is also praised for its ability to support lymphatic flow along with the integrity and sufficiency of the veins. In all, diosmin is always combined with hesperidin to enhance the benefits of treating chronic venous insufficiency.
3.Hesperidin
Hesperidin, a potent bioflavonoid found mainly in lemons and sweet oranges, works well to help the body condition itself against easy bruising, hemorrhoids, and varicose veins. Hesperidin is most effective as a treatment for varicose veins because it strengthens capillaries and acts as an anti-inflammatory.
4.Butcher’s Broom
Butchers Broom is a well-known herb that functions as a laxative and diuretic. Butchers Broom is also trusted as a treatment for varicose veins, works as a remedy for a number of ailments, it is perhaps most effective as a treatment for varicose veins, arteriosclerosis, hemorrhoids, circulation problems, and blood clots. When it comes to varicose veins, Butchers Broom is known to strengthen and support the veins as well as the capillaries. The anti-inflammatory steroidal molecules in Butchers Broom are also effective for decreasing the fragility of capillaries along with swelling.
Where to buy Horse Chestnut seed extract
Ingredients for chronic venous insufficiency are Herb Nutritionals Co., Ltd’s key products. Many supplement companies and pharmaceutical enterprises use horse chestnut seed extract in their supplement formula or drug formula. Horse Chestnuts are often combined used with diosmin, butcher’s broom extract, hesperidin for a better effect. Documents such as certificate of Analysis (COA), manufacturing process, MSDS, Method of Analysis (MA) are all available with upon request within 12 hours.