aescin aescin aescin or escin is a mixture of saponins with anti-inflammatory, vasoconstrictor and vasoprotective effects found in aesculus hippocastanum (the horse chestnut). aescin is the main active component in horse chestnut, and is responsible for most of its medicinal properties. the main active compound of aescin is β-aescin, although the mixture also contains various other components including α-aescin, protoescigenin, barringtogenol, cryptoescin and benzopyrones. β-aescin (main component) names iupac name β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)--(22α-(acetyloxy)-16α,24,28-trihydroxy-21β-olean-12-en-3β-yl β-d-glucopyranosiduronic acid) systematic iupac name (2s,3s,4s,5r,6r)-6--1,2,3,4,4a,5,6,6a,6b,7,8,8a,9,10,11,12,12a,14,14a,14b-icosahydropicen-3-yl]oxy}-4-hydroxy-3,5-bisoxane-2-carboxylic acid other names escin identifiers cas number 6805-41-0 aescin y11072-93-8 β-aescin y 3d model (jsmol) interactive image chembl chembl505939 y chemspider 4977652 y echa infocard 100.027.164 kegg c08921 n pubchem cid 6476031 unii ruu8g67gqm aescin yqyk0d6h79o β-aescin y inchi inchi=1s/c55h86o24/c1-10-23(2)46(71)79-43-44(72-24(3)60)55(22-59)26(17-50(43,4)5)25-11-12-30-51(6)15-14-32(52(7,21-58)29(51)13-16-53(30,8)54(25,9)18-31(55)61)75-49-41(77-48-38(67)36(65)34(63)28(20-57)74-48)39(68)40(42(78-49)45(69)70)76-47-37(66)35(64)33(62)27(19-56)73-47/h10-11,26-44,47-49,56-59,61-68h,12-22h2,1-9h3,(h,69,70)/b23-10-/t26-,27+,28+,29+,30+,31+,32-,33+,34+,35-,36-,37+,38+,39-,40-,41+,42-,43-,44-,47-,48-,49+,51-,52+,53+,54+,55-/m0/s1 ykey: axnvhpcvmsnxnp-oxpbsutmsa-n yinchi=1/c55h86o24/c1-10-23(2)46(71)79-43-44(72-24(3)60)55(22-59)26(17-50(43,4)5)25-11-12-30-51(6)15-14-32(52(7,21-58)29(51)13-16-53(30,8)54(25,9)18-31(55)61)75-49-41(77-48-38(67)36(65)34(63)28(20-57)74-48)39(68)40(42(78-49)45(69)70)76-47-37(66)35(64)33(62)27(19-56)73-47/h10-11,26-44,47-49,56-59,61-68h,12-22h2,1-9h3,(h,69,70)/b23-10-/t26-,27+,28+,29+,30+,31+,32-,33+,34+,35-,36-,37+,38+,39-,40-,41+,42-,43-,44-,47-,48-,49+,51-,52+,53+,54+,55-/m0/s1key: axnvhpcvmsnxnp-oxpbsutmbo smiles cc=c(c)c(=o)oc1c(c2(c(cc1(c)c)c3=ccc4c5(ccc(c(c5ccc4(c3(cc2o)c)c)(c)co)oc6c(c(c(c(o6)c(=o)o)oc7c(c(c(c(o7)co)o)o)o)o)oc8c(c(c(c(o8)co)o)o)o)c)co)oc(=o)c properties chemical formula c55h86o24 molar mass 1131.269 g·mol−1 except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °c , 100 kpa). n verify (what is yn ?) infobox references evidence suggests that aescin, especially pure β-aescin, is a safe and effective treatment for short-term treatment of chronic venous insufficiency; however, more high quality randomized controlled trials are required to confirm the effectiveness. horse chestnut extract may be as effective and well tolerated as the use of compression stockings. mechanism of action aescin appears to produce effects through a wide range of mechanisms. it induces endothelial nitric oxide synthesis by making endothelial cells more permeable to calcium ions, and also induces release of prostaglandin f2α. other possible mechanisms include serotonin antagonism and histamine antagonism and reduced catabolism of tissue mucopolysaccharides.