On the Cover

Abstract

Genus Aesculus includes about 16 species of primarily temperate trees and shrubs worldwide, of which six are native to North America. 1 Farrar J.L. Trees of the Northern United States and Canada. in: Iowa State University Press, Ames, IA1995: 156-159 Google Scholar , 2 Brown C.L. Kirkman L.K. Trees of Georgia and Adjacent States. in: Timber Press, Portland, Oregon1990: 194-199 Google Scholar , 3 Sibley D.A. The Sibley Guide to Trees. in: Alfred A. Knopf, New York2009: 326-331 Google Scholar Horse chestnut, Aesculus hippocastanum, is native to Greece and Albania, but is widely cultivated throughout Europe, Canada, and northeastern United States. 1 Farrar J.L. Trees of the Northern United States and Canada. in: Iowa State University Press, Ames, IA1995: 156-159 Google Scholar , 3 Sibley D.A. The Sibley Guide to Trees. in: Alfred A. Knopf, New York2009: 326-331 Google Scholar , 4 Polunin O. Flowers of Europe: A Field Guide. in: Oxford University Press, London1969: 234-235 Google Scholar Ohio or fetid buckeye, A. glabra, is found throughout the eastern states and up into southern Ontario; and red buckeye, A. pavia, is found throughout the southeastern states. 1 Farrar J.L. Trees of the Northern United States and Canada. in: Iowa State University Press, Ames, IA1995: 156-159 Google Scholar , 2 Brown C.L. Kirkman L.K. Trees of Georgia and Adjacent States. in: Timber Press, Portland, Oregon1990: 194-199 Google Scholar , 5 Phillips R. Trees of North America and Europe. in: Random House, New York1978: 79-82 Google Scholar Horse chestnut and buckeye are planted frequently as ornamentals due the large showy flowers. The large seeds are not edible, but have been used to feed livestock; they are 5% oil, and the starch has been used for stiffening. 4 Polunin O. Flowers of Europe: A Field Guide. in: Oxford University Press, London1969: 234-235 Google Scholar The wood is used for turnery, utensil and bush handles. 1 Farrar J.L. Trees of the Northern United States and Canada. in: Iowa State University Press, Ames, IA1995: 156-159 Google Scholar , 4 Polunin O. Flowers of Europe: A Field Guide. in: Oxford University Press, London1969: 234-235 Google Scholar Escin, a mixture of triterpene saponins extracted from A. hippocastanum seeds, protects against oxidative stress effects, has antitumor activity against hepatocellular carcinoma, and has anti-inflammatory effects synergistic with glucocorticoids. 6 Küçükkurt I. Ince S. Keleş H. et al. Benefical effects of Aesulus hippocastanum L. seed extract on the body's own antioxidant defense system on subacute administration. J Ethnopharmacol. 2010; 129: 18-22 Crossref PubMed Scopus (49) Google Scholar , 7 Zhou X.Y. Fu F.H. Li Z. Dong Q.J. He J. Wang C.H. Escin, a natural mixture of triterpene saponins, exhibits antitumor activity against hepatocellular carcinoma. Planta Med. 2009; 75: 1580-1585 Crossref PubMed Scopus (44) Google Scholar , 8 Xin W. Zhang L. Sun F. et al. Escin exerts synergistic anti-inflammatory effects with low doses of glucocorticoids in vivo and in vitro. Phytomedicine. 2010; (Epub) Google Scholar