A Comparative Study of the Constituents of Aesculus hippocastanum and Aesculus indica

This work compared the phytochemical composition of two species, of Aesculus hippocastanum (horse chestnut) and Aesculus indica grown under comparable conditions. Thin-layer chromatography zone profiles of the constituents in methanol extracts from leaves, seeds, and husks indicated differences within and between the two species. Similar profiles were observed for seeds and leaves from the two species but not for the husks. Aesculin and its aglycone, aesculetin, were not detected in leaves, husks, or seeds of the two species. The content of aescin found in A. indica seeds (13.4% weight/weight) was higher than in A. hippocastanum (9.5%). Laurie acid, palmitic acid, myristic acid, stearic acid, arachidic acid, and oleic acid were detected, by capillary gas chromatography, in the saponified extracts of the seeds, leaves, and husks of the two species.