Aescins

Fig. 2.1 Strucnires of some common saponins. The strucnires of some of the saponins described in the text are shown, including aescin from horse chesnut, avenacin A-1 and avenacoside A from oat, and a-tomatine from tomato. The glucose molecule enclosed in square brackets in the structure of avenacoside A highlights the glucose moiety that is cleaved off by hydrolysis by glycosidases in disrupted oat leaf tissue, leading to the fungitoxic 26-desglucosyl avenacoside A. Redrawn from [94]...

Herbs rich in podophyllotoxin 3-Aescin (saponin mixture from horse-chestnut seed)... 

Pharmacokinetic studies with horse chestnut focus on the absorption, metabolism, and excretion of the main constituent—p-aescin. 

Animal studies Pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of aescin was studied after oral and i.v. administration of tritiated aescin (108,109). About 66% and 33% of the dose was excreted in bile and urine, respectively, after i.v. administration. The oral bioavailability of aescin was about 12.5%. Percutaneous absorption of aescin was studied in mice and rats (110). The amounts of aescin in muscle were greater than in other organs. These results indicate that percutaneous administration of aescin could be beneficial. 

Lehtola T, Huhtikangas A. Radioimmunoassay of aescine, a mixture of triter-pene glycosides. J Immunoassay 1990 11 17-30. 

Schrader E, Schwankl W, Sieder C, Christoffel V. Comparison of the bioavailability of beta-aescin after single oral administration of two different drug formulations containing an extract of horse-chestnut seeds. Pharmazie 1995 50 623-627. 

Loew D, Schrodter A, Schwankl W, Marz RW. Measurement of the bioavailability of aescin-containing extracts. Methods Find Exp Clin Pharmacol 2000 22 537-542. 

Lang W, Mennicke WH. Pharmacokinetic studies on tritiated aescin in the mouse and rat. Arzneim Forsch/Drug Res 1972 22 1928-1932. 

Meyer-Bertenrath J, Kaffarnik H. Enteral resorption of aescin. Arzneim Forsch/Drug Res 1970 20 147-148. 

Lang W. Percutaneous absorption of 3H-aescin in mice and rats. Arzneim Forsch/Drug Res 1974 24 71-76. 

Aesculus chinensis L. A. indica Colebr. A. hippocastanum L. Sha Lou Zi (Horse chestnut) (ripe fruit) Protoescigenine, escigenin, aescine, flavonoid glycosides, aesculine, albumin, fatty oils, amylose, oligosaccharides.33 450 Promote circulation, relieve epigastrium pain, promote digestion. 

N.A. Aescin, citric acid, resin, saponin, tannin, uric acid, quercetin, kaempferol, flavonoids, coumarin derivatives.99,100 Antipyretic, antithrombin, antiexudative. Treat lymphatic congestions, cerebral and pulmonary edema, crural ulcer and hemorrhoidal complaints. 

The edema-reducing effects of class II compression stockings in patients with chronic venous insufficiency have been compared with those given either a placebo or a dried horse chestnut seed extract (HSCE, providing aescin 50 mg twice daily) in a randomized, partially blinded, parallel study. After 12 weeks of therapy, HSCE and compression produced equivalent mean decreases in lower-leg volume (44 and 47 ml, respectively), whereas a mean increase of 10 ml was observed in the placebo group. 

Plant materials often contain triterpenoid saponin in considerable amounts. With regard to plants with antiulcer activity, licorice root contains about 2 to 12% of glycyrrhizic acid and the seeds of the horse chestnut up to 13% of aescin. Several plants containing high amounts have been shown to possess antiulcer activity in several experimental ulcer models (Table 64.2). 

Olsen, R.A. Triterpene glycosides as inhibitors of fungal growth and metabolism. 6. The effect of aescin on fungi with reduced sterol contents. Physiol Plant 1973b 29 145-149. 

Aescins (= Escins) Aesculus hippocastanum (horse Permeabilizes membranes... 

SYNS A-4760 AESCIN SODIUM SALT AESCUSAN SODIUM SALT Na-AESCINAT REPARIL SODIUM SALT SODIUM AESCINATE... 

SODIUM ACID SULFATE see SEG800 SODIUM ACID SULFATE (solid) see SEG800 SODIUM ACID SULFITE see SFEOOO SODIUM AESCINATE see EDMOOO SODIUM ALBAMYCIN see NOBOOO SODIUxM ALGINATE see SEHOOO SODIUM n-ALKYLBENZENE SULFONATE see SEH500... 

Aescin is a complex mixture of triterpene saponins prepared from the seeds of the horse chestnut, Aesculus hippocastanum. It consists of a water-soluble fraction (alpha-aescin) and a water-insoluble fraction (beta-aescin). 

Beta-aescin has been repeatedly associated with acute renal insufficiency when given intravenously in massive doses. Whether such effects can also occur after oral administration is unclear, as animal studies have shown poor absorption of beta-aescin from the gastrointestinal tract. (SEDA-3,181) (SEDA-9,190). 

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