Natural Plant Extract Horse Chestnut Seed Extract Horse Chestnut Extract 20-40 % Aescin

Natural Plant Extract Horse Chestnut Seed Extract Horse Chestnut Extract 20-40 % Aescin

What is Horse Chestnut Extract?

Horse Chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum) is a tree native to the Balkans but now grown worldwide. Its seeds, bark, flowers, and leaves have been used in traditional medicine for centuries.

The modern medicinal extract is standardized and derived primarily from the seed (the "conker"). It's important to note that raw horse chestnut seeds, bark, and leaves are toxic and contain a harmful component called esculin. The commercially available Horse Chestnut Seed Extract (HCSE) is a processed product where the esculin has been removed, making it safe for consumption.

Aescin (also known as escin) is the collective term for a mixture of triterpene saponins that are the primary active components responsible for the medicinal properties of Horse Chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum) seeds.

It is the key ingredient that makes standardized Horse Chestnut Seed Extract (HCSE) effective for treating chronic venous insufficiency and other conditions. Essentially, when we talk about the therapeutic benefits of horse chestnut, we are primarily referring to the effects of aescin.