Indian horse chestnut
Aesculus indica · Accepted scientific name
Scientific literature: Very Sparse (29 studies) · ★☆☆☆☆
Indian horse chestnut, scientifically known as Aesculus indica, is a remarkable medicinal plant native to the Himalayan region. Renowned for its therapeutic properties, it is traditionally used to treat inflammatory conditions, skin ailments, and digestive issues. This versatile species holds significant value in Ayurvedic medicine and holistic healing practices.
Names
Common Names
- Indian Horse-Chestnut
- Pangad
- Himalayan Horse-chestnut
Regional and Traditional Names
German:
- Indische Rosskastanie
- indische Rosskastanie
French:
- Marronnier de l'Himalaya
- marronnier de l'Himalaya
Scientific Names
Accepted name
Aesculus indicaSynonyms
- Pawia indica
- Hippocastanum asiaticum
- Pavia indica
- Aesculus indica var. concolor
Taxonomical Classification
This plant, Aesculus indica, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Sapindales and the family Sapindaceae. Finally, it is categorized under the genus Aesculus.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Sapindales | WCVP |
| Family | Sapindaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Aesculus | WCVP |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution that stretches across several distinct regions. In Northern Europe, its presence can be noted in Great Britain. Moving toward Western Asia, it is found growing within the terrain of Afghanistan. Within the Indian Subcontinent, the species is widely distributed across Assam and the East Himalaya. Additionally, it can be located throughout the mountainous landscape of Nepal.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Europe | Great Britain | WCVP |
| Western Asia | Afghanistan | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Assam | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | East Himalaya | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Nepal | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Pakistan | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | West Himalaya | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, known as Aesculus indica or the Indian Horse Chestnut, contains various components that are utilized in traditional medicine. The bark of the tree is often harvested for its specific chemical properties, which can be used in different topical or internal preparations. Additionally, the seed, which typically resembles a conker, is a significant part of the plant that holds medicinal interest, though it must be handled with care due to its potent bioactive compounds.| Plant Part | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| seed | Natural product research (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Aesculus indica has 8 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Aescin, Flavonoid, Flavonol, Phytosterols, Tannin.
| Chemical | Supporting sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Aescin | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Flavonoid | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Flavonol | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Phytosterols | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Tannin | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| fatty acid esters | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| phenol | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| triterpenoids | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Aescin
- Natural product research
Flavonoid
- Chemistry & biodiversity
Flavonol
- Chemistry & biodiversity
Phytosterols
- Chemistry & biodiversity
Tannin
- Chemistry & biodiversity
fatty acid esters
- Chemistry & biodiversity
phenol
- Chemistry & biodiversity
triterpenoids
- Chemistry & biodiversity
Activities
Aesculus indica has 5 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Antioxidant, Antidiabetic, Antimicrobial, Cytotoxic.
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Antibacterial | Chemistry & biodiversity (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antioxidant | Natural product research (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antidiabetic | Natural product research (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antimicrobial | Natural product research (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Cytotoxic | Natural product research (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Aesculus indica has 10 reported medicinal uses identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include joint pain, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, arthritis.
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| joint pain | Natural product research (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Escherichia coli | Chemistry & biodiversity (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Pseudomonas aeruginosa | Chemistry & biodiversity (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Staphylococcus aureus | Chemistry & biodiversity (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| arthritis | Natural product research (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| fever | Natural product research (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| hepatocellular carcinoma | Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| inflammation | Natural product research (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| rheumatism | Natural product research (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| skin diseases | Natural product research (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Preparations
| Preparations | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| acetone extract | Chemistry & biodiversity (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| aqueous fraction | BMC complementary and alternative medicine (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| crude extract | BMC complementary and alternative medicine (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| distilled water | Chemistry & biodiversity (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| methanol extract | Chemistry & biodiversity (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |