Extraction, Isolation, Characterisation and Pharmacological Investigations of Beta Escin from Horse Chest Nut Seed Extract

Abstract

Horse chestnut seeds (Aesculus hippocastanum) have long been recognized for their potential therapeutic properties, particularly due to the presence of bioactive compounds like beta-escin. This study aimed to comprehensively explore the extraction, isolation, characterization, and pharmacological investigations of beta escin from horse chestnut seed extract. Beta escin was extracted from horse chestnut seeds through a series of solvent extraction and purification steps. The isolated compound was then characterized using various analytical techniques, including UV, IR, DSC, X-RPD and GC/MS. Pharmacological studies were carried out to evaluate beta-escin’s possible medicinal applications. In this anti-inflammatory investigation, it was found that the carrageenan-induced reduction in swelling in diclofenac gel begins after 30 minutes, with a value of 11.71%, whereas the effect of escin gel takes 60 minutes to manifest, with a value that is slightly lower at 4.55%. Pharmacological research demonstrated a variety of positive benefits, such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and vascular protecting qualities, which may have prospective uses in the treatment of edema and chronic venous insufficiency.