Esculin

Description

Aesculin (also Esculin) is a glucoside compound, which occurs naturally in unprocessed seeds, leaves, bark, and flowers of horse chestnut. Aesculin is used for the identification of bacteria, for the treatment of hemorrhoids and venous peripheral diseases. In cosmetics, aesculin was found to be effective in the treatment of aging skin. Owing to its ultraviolet absorbing activity, aesculin is employed in tanning preparations. Aesculin can be also used as a substrate for the detection of ß-gluocosidase activity in polyacrylamide gels.

References

[1] Anna D. Orla-Jensen, About the application of aesculin for the identification of bacteria, APMIS, 1934, vol. 11, 312-322
[2] S. Srijayanta, A. Raman and B. L. Goodwin, A comparative study of the constituents of Aesculus hippocastanum and Aesculus indica, Journal of Medical Food, 1999, vol. 2, 45-50
[3] Ki-Sun Kwon, Jaehoon Lee, Hyung Gyoo Kang and Yung Chil Hah, Detection of ß-Glucosidase Activity in Polyacrylamide Gels with Esculin as Substrate, Appl. Environ. Microbil., 1994, vol. 80, 4584-4586
[4] Dennis J Mckenna, Kenneth Jones, Kerry Hughes and Virginia M Tyler, Botanical Medicines: The Desk Reference for Major Herbal Supplements, Second Edition, 2011

Chemical Properties

White to nearly white

Uses

Esculin hydrate has been used as a component of sporulation-inducing esculin agar. It has also been used for esculin uptake assay.

Uses

esculoside is utilized in formulations for the treatment of cellulite. es culoside is apparently beneficial for impaired microcirculation.

Uses

esculin is used as a skin protectant in ointments and creams. This is a glucoside compound originally obtained from the leaves and bark of the horse chestnut tree.

Definition

ChEBI: A hydroxycoumarin that is the 6-O-beta-D-glucoside of esculetin.

General Description

Esculin hydrate has vasoprotective and venotonic properties.

Flammability and Explosibility

Not classified

Biochem/physiol Actions

Esculin is a coumarin glycoside that demonstrates antioxidant activitites and protection against chemically-induced carcinogenesis. Esculin is utilized in microbiology for the isolation and identification of Enterococcus (group D streptococci).