Hippocastani semen

Hippocastanii semen, the horse chestnut seed (popularly known as the chestnut proper) consisting of the fresh or dried "chestnuts" of Aesculus hippocastanum and preparations thereof (off. DAB 10, WHO monographs, Commission E), see also Horse Chestnut

HMPC monograph: Well-established use: Internal: standardized dry extracts (extractant ethanol 40-80%; 6.5-10% triterpene glycosides - calculated as protoaescigenin): Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI)
ESCOP monograph: Chronic venous insufficiency, varicose veins.
Commission E-monograph: Diseases of the leg veins (chronic venous insufficiency), e.g. pain and heaviness in the legs, night cramps in the calves, itching and leg swelling.

Empirical medicine: varicosis, post-thrombotic syndrome, leg ulcer; post-traumatic soft tissue swelling, prophylactic against travel thrombosis, hematoma for resorption.

The preparations contain 3-6% triterpene saponins (according to DAB at least 3% calculated as dried aescin; preferably a standardised horse chestnut extract, RSE), starch (30-60%), bitter substance, fatty oil, proteins, tanning agents (catechin derivatives) and flavonoids.

Effects (pos. Report of Commission E): anti-oedematous, antiexudative and venentonizing to support chronic venous insufficiency (CVI).

CVI, postthrombotic syndrome, varicosis, phlebothrombosis, superficial thrombophlebitis, pain and heaviness in the legs

Standardized extracts: 100-150 mg aescin

Side effects compared to one of the existing active substances.
Pregnancy and lactation: No safety studies yet, consult your doctor!

Not recommended for children and adolescents.

Internal: Aescusan retard® Tbl. (ED 263.2 mg RSE ), Venoplant® retard S retard tablets (ED 263.2 mg RSE, 50 mg aescin), Venostasin® retard capsules (ED 240-290 mg RSE, 50 mg aescin
)External: Venostasin® cream

1. Abudayeh ZH et al. (2015) Determination of Four Major Saponins in Skin and Endosperm of Seeds of Horse Chestnut (Aesculus Hippocastanum L.) Using High Performance Liquid Chromatography with Positive Confirmation by Thin Layer Chromatography. Adv Pharm Bull 5:587-591.
2. Commission E Hippocastani semen
3. Liu S et al (2012) Escin inhibits lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation in human periodontal ligament cells. Mol Med Rep 6:1150-1154.
4. Luzzi R et al (2011) Aescin: microcirculatory activity. Effects of accessory components on clinical and microcirculatory efficacy. Panminerva Med 53(3 Suppl 1):51-55.
5. Sipos W et al. (2013) Escin inhibits type I allergic dermatitis in a novel porcine model. Int Arch Allergy Immunol 161:44-52.
6. Vašková J et al. (2015) Antioxidant potential of Aesculus hippocastanum extract and escin against reactive oxygen and nitrogen species. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 19:879-886.
7. Wang H et al (2013) Anti-inflammatory effects of escin are correlated with the glucocorticoid receptor/NF-κB signaling pathway, but not the COX/PGF2α signaling pathway. Exp Ther Med 6:419-422.
8. https://arzneipflanzenlexikon.info/rosskastanie.php.
9. https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/herbal-monograph/european-union-herbal-monograph-aesculus-hippocastanum-l-semen-final-revision-1_en.pdf
10. Wenigmann M. (2017) Phytotherapy medicinal drugs, phytopharmaceuticals, application. Urban & Fischer, pp. 184-185