Horse chestnut and its active compound called aescin (also escin) is best known for its ability to correct vein-related circulatory problems and leg swelling.  It has been used historically¹ for hemorrhoids, kidney stones, fever, GI tract support, bladder problems, post-operative edema, and skin problems.  New studies show that it may also be helpful for weight management and brain health – while helping to boost antioxidant function and reducing inflammation.

Researchers fed mice a high fat diet for five weeks, resulting in significantly elevated leptin and total cholesterol.  Feeding the mice horse chestnut at the same time as consuming a high fat diet resulted in 31% less rise in leptin² and a 17% increase in protective HDL cholesterol.  Lowering leptin levels is important as that means it helps combat leptin resistance and consequent food cravings.  Another animal study showed that horse chestnut given with a high fat diet prevented adverse changes to the liver³ by boosting antioxidant glutathione levels in liver cells – the core antioxidant needed for cellular health.

In another recent study scientists induced stroke by occluding both carotid arteries into the brain.  Horse chestnut⁴ was given ½ hour after the stroke event and repeated daily for three days.  Tests then showed that horse chestnut significantly improved memory and learning while reducing damage to the hippocampus in the brain.  Analysis of gene responses showed that it reduced inflammatory gene signaling while boosting repair gene signaling.  The mechanisms of improvement suggest that horse chestnut may be a good nutrient for general brain health to help offset inflammatory brain stress.

The potent anti-inflammatory properties of horse chestnut were further demonstrated by researchers at the MD Anderson Cancer Center when they showed that horse chestnut could powerfully lower the primary gene signal, NF-kappaB, which is overly wound up in just about every type of cancer.  The reduction of NF-kappaB in resistant cancer cells now enabled the cancer cells to be killed by chemo drugs.

Collectively, this new information expands the usefulness of this very helpful circulatory compound.

Posted by Byron J Richards at 03:12 PM.

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