At Kestanesi Meyve Ekstresi

The plant commonly known as horse chestnut is scientifically classified in the Sapindaceae family as Aesculus hippocastanum L. of the genus Aesculus. The horse chestnut plant is a large tree that can reach approximately 39 metres in height. In older trees, branches are typically curved with drooping tips. Leaves are generally broad and 13–20 cm in length. Flowers are typically yellow with pink spots and white at the leaf base, with approximately 20–50 flowers in each cluster, and clusters form in spring. Generally only 1–5 fruits develop in each cluster; the fruit consists of green, spiky capsules containing one (rarely two or three) nut-like seeds called horse chestnuts. Horse chestnut has a wide distribution in Istanbul and is a plant synonymous with the city. According to historians, horse chestnut was first seen in Istanbul by Europeans during the reign of Kanuni Sultan Süleyman and was subsequently brought from there to European countries. In European territories, the widest distribution is found in the Balkan countries. The plant is listed in the red book, which contains species whose populations are becoming extinct.

Chemistry of the Horse Chestnut Plant

The plant contains more than 200 identified active compounds. The major compounds among these include rutin from the flavone group, aesculin and esculin from the glycoside group, aescin and escin from the saponins group, and B1, C and K vitamins from the vitamins group, providing a very rich active compound composition.

Aesculin Chemical Structure Rutin Chemical Structure

Applications

Horse chestnut extract is used in the cosmetics industry in skin and hair care products due to its flavones, saponins, glycosides and vitamins. The consistent success of tests conducted on claims made in the cosmetics industry has increased the frequency of horse chestnut extract use in the sector. Many of the claims regarding horse chestnut extract in skin care products stem from molecules of the saponin group. These cosmetic compounds have been found to possess strong anti-inflammatory properties. More than this, studies have proven that the escin compound prevents the breakdown of hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid or hyaluronate plays a role in skin repair and is one of the main components of skin. When you sunburn your skin, the cells in your skin stop producing hyaluronate and the deformation rate of the skin increases. A sun product containing horse chestnut extract will prevent the breakdown of hyaluronate in our skin, thus preventing skin deterioration. The individual effects of the active compounds in horse chestnut have been proven and are used as cosmetic and pharmaceutical active ingredients. In the cosmetics industry, to utilize all the positive effects of this plant's rich composition, horse chestnut compounds are used together in synergy. In other words, the whole plant is likely more potent than individual isolated compounds. The effects of the horse chestnut plant on skin care do not end with just saponin group compounds. After all, the plant contains many other compounds with excellent topical applications. Rutin, a flavonoid group compound, possesses radical scavenging, antibacterial and anti-viral activity. Products that can be used in the cosmetics industry include cellulite creams, gels, lotions, anti-aging sets, hair care products and all other product varieties. The recommended usage rate is 1–5%.

Technical Information

Akott Evolution S.R.L., an Italian company, serves the cosmetics industry with certified products in the field of herbal extracts. Its herbal extracts are standardized products with efficacy tests conducted and international certifications. Horse chestnut extract, the subject of our article, is one of the company's important products. The company has conducted and verified all the properties mentioned in our article through testing with Akobiol HGL Horse Chestnut, one of the most important products in its Akobiol series. Fatih Karabey Technical Sales Development Manager Parkim Group