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Dietary supplement

Horse Chestnut Seed Extract 400 mg Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by Solaray

Capsule Category: Botanical
Most serious interaction: Moderate
The interaction bottom line Most serious interaction: Moderate

Horse Chestnut Seed Extract 400 mg is a dietary supplement by Solaray with 2 active ingredients. Its ingredients are commonly taken for chronic venous insufficiency, varicose veins, leg swelling and heaviness.Based on those ingredients, 276 medications have a known interaction with it, the most serious rated moderate. The ingredients most likely to interact are Butcher's Broom, Horse Chestnut Seed Extract. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.

HelloPharmacist Scorecard of Horse Chestnut Seed Extract 400 mg by Solaray

Our pharmacy team’s full take, with four database checks built into the cards below — a summary of what is known, not a grade of the product itself.

From our pharmacy team — supplement deep dive

What’s inside

Full disclosure
Ingredient Transparency · database check
Full

Every active ingredient lists its own amount on the label.

Why this rating?
  • The label discloses an exact amount for 2 of its 2 active ingredients.
  • “Horse Chestnut Seed Extract” is listed as a grouped ingredient — the label gives one combined amount (400 mg) without saying how much of each component you get.

This product contains two active ingredients in a capsule form. Butcher's broom is included for its effects on circulation and vein health.

Aescin (a compound from horse chestnut seeds) is the other active component. The capsule also contains inactive ingredients — cellulose, maltodextrin, and rice bran extract — which serve as fillers and binders.

Does it work?

Moderate evidence
Evidence for Intended Use · database check
By FDA rules, dietary supplements can’t claim to treat, cure, or prevent disease — so labels speak in careful marketing language. We discern each product’s intended use from its name, label claims, and label statements, then grade the clinical evidence for that use. How these ratings are computed
Moderate

Some clinical evidence supports this product's ingredients for its stated purpose, but it isn't conclusive.

Why this rating?
  • The label markets this product for: Horse chestnut seed extract vein and circulation support.
  • We looked for evidence on: Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), Varicose veins, Hemorrhoids, Postoperative swelling, leg edema, venous insufficiency — and 1 related terms.
  • The strongest evidence on file: Butcher's Broom is rated "Possibly Effective" for Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) (Natural Medicines).
  • Also on file: Butcher's Broom is rated "Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate" for Hemorrhoids, Varicose veins.

Butcher's broom is possibly effective for chronic venous insufficiency (a condition where veins have trouble pushing blood back to the heart, often causing leg swelling and discomfort). For other uses — diabetic retinopathy, hemorrhoids, low blood pressure on standing, and lymphedema — the evidence we hold is insufficient to rate whether it works.

We have no effectiveness data on file for aescin.

The evidence, ingredient by ingredient Butcher's Broom Horse Chestnut

How safe is it?

Well-documented data
Safety Information · database check
Well characterized

Adverse-effect, pregnancy, and general safety data are on file for most of these ingredients.

Why this rating?
  • We hold adverse-effect (side-effect) data for 1 of the 1 matched ingredient.
  • Pregnancy & breastfeeding safety ratings cover 1 of 1.
  • General safety write-ups exist for 1 of 1.
  • Remember: this measures how much safety information exists. Thin data is not the same as being safe.

Butcher's broom is generally well tolerated in the short term for most healthy adults, but we don't have strong evidence about long-term safety. The most common side effects are digestive: diarrhea, indigestion, heartburn, nausea, and vomiting.

In rare cases, people have had severe vomiting and diarrhea that led to dehydration and other complications. If you apply products containing butcher's broom to your skin, contact dermatitis (an allergic skin rash) has been reported in sensitive people.

Do not use butcher's broom during pregnancy or while breastfeeding — safety data advises against it.

Side effects, ingredient by ingredient Butcher's Broom Horse Chestnut

Meds to double-check

Moderate interaction found
Known Interaction Concern · database check
Moderate identified

The most serious documented interaction for these ingredients is Moderate. Check your medications for a personalized result.

Why this rating?
  • 1 of the 1 matched ingredient can interact with medications — Butcher's Broom.
  • The most serious interaction on file is rated Moderate.
  • For scale: 158 individual medications appear in the full list. A big number alone doesn't make a product dangerous — what matters is whether YOUR medication is on it, so run yours through the interaction checker on this page.

If you take any alpha-adrenergic agonists (decongestants like pseudoephedrine, or medications for blood pressure or ADHD) or alpha-adrenergic antagonists (blood-pressure drugs like doxazosin or terazosin), check with your pharmacist before using this product. Butcher's broom can change how these medications work.

Check your own medication Run your meds through the checker above

The bottom line

Scorecard at a glanceFully disclosed formula with some supporting evidence for its stated purpose. Moderate medication interactions have been identified, and safety information is well characterized.

If you have chronic venous insufficiency and your doctor supports it, butcher's broom may help. But check your medications first — it can affect how blood-pressure drugs and decongestants work.

Avoid it in pregnancy and while breastfeeding. Talk to your pharmacist about your specific situation before starting.

Educational only — not medical advice; always confirm with your pharmacist. Our editorial policy · How we use AI

Assessment coverage: 1 of 2 active ingredients matched to our full ingredient reviews (monographs). Based on the product label dated Sep 25, 2025.

This Scorecard evaluates available label information, ingredient evidence, and known medication-safety considerations. It does not independently verify product identity, purity, potency, contamination, or manufacturing quality. How these ratings are computed

At a glance

General information

Key facts about Horse Chestnut Seed Extract 400 mg, straight from the product label.

Brand Solaray
Barcode (UPC) 076280366594
Net contents 120 VegCap(s)
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD Sep 25, 2025
DSLD ID 338429
Product type Botanical
Supplement form Capsule
Dietary claims / uses All Other, Structure/Function
Intended target group(s) Adult (18 - 50 Years)
From the label
Everything in this section is reproduced from the manufacturer’s own product label — it’s the label speaking, not HelloPharmacist. We show it so you can see exactly what the maker states; we don’t verify or endorse those statements.

Supplement Facts

The label details for Horse Chestnut Seed Extract 400 mg by Solaray, sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database.

Supplement Facts

Daily Value (DV) Target Group(s):
Adults and children 4 or more years of age
Minimum serving Sizes:
1 VegCap(s)
Maximum serving Sizes:
1 VegCap(s)
Servings per container
120
UPC/BARCODE
076280366594
IngredientAmount% DV
Butcher's Broom55 mg--
Aescin72 mg--
Horse Chestnut Seed Extract400 mg--

Other ingredients: Cellulose, Maltodextrin, Rice Bran Extract

Tap any ingredient to jump to its full detail below.

Label statements
These statements are the manufacturer’s wording, reproduced from the product label — the label is saying it, not HelloPharmacist. We don’t verify or endorse them.
FDA Statement of Identity

Dietary Supplement

Formula

Horse Chestnut Seed Extract 400 mg per capsule Aesculus hippocastanum 18% Aescin

Discussion: Horse chestnut is a large, deciduous tree native to eastern Europe. Horse chestnut seed extract contains a unique saponin known as aescin. Clinical studies suggest that aescin may promote leg vein health, blood vessel integrity and healthy circulation.

Formulation

Guaranteed Potency

Seals/Symbols

Lab Verified

Precautions

Warning: Do not use if safety seal is broken or missing. Keep your licensed health care practitioner informed when using this product.

Keep out of reach of children.

Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

Directions: Use only as directed. Take one VegCap daily with a meal or glass of water.

Storage

Store in a cool, dry place.

FDA Disclaimer Statement

These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

See for yourself

Horse Chestnut Seed Extract 400 mg by Solaray label

The label scan from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Tap to enlarge.

What’s inside

The Ingredients in Horse Chestnut Seed Extract 400 mg by Solaray

These are the 2 active ingredients this product is made of. Select any to open its full monograph.

Serving size1 VegCap(s) Dosage formCapsule Servings per container120 Amounts shown are per serving.

Most supplement products combine several ingredients, and a medication can interact with the product through any one of them. Each ingredient below shows whether it has known drug interactions.

Butcher's Broom

Interacts with
158 drugs
55 mg per serving Form: Ruscus aculeatus

Butcher's broom is a plant extract most often used for circulation problems in the legs, such as chronic venous insufficiency, where some evidence sug...

Butcher's Broom monograph & interactions

Horse Chestnut Seed Extract

Interacts with
122 drugs
400 mg per serving Form: Aesculus hippocastanum Seed Extract

Horse chestnut seed extract is most often used for chronic venous insufficiency, where standardized products may help reduce leg swelling, pain, and h...

Horse Chestnut Seed Extract monograph & interactions
  • › Aescin

Other (inactive) ingredients: Cellulose, Maltodextrin, Rice Bran Extract. These complete the product’s ingredient list but are not active constituents.

Interaction report

Horse Chestnut Seed Extract 400 mg by Solaray Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against Horse Chestnut Seed Extract 400 mg?

Ask about interactions with your drugs in plain English — “Can I take it with lisinopril?” — and we find you the answer in seconds, ingredient by ingredient.

Go to the checker
276Drugs
276 Moderate

Ingredients driving the most interactions

Each ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects

For each ingredient in Horse Chestnut Seed Extract 400 mg with known interactions, here are the types of medications they can affect. Open any type for the detail — or search your exact drug in the checker above.

Butcher's Broom2 drug types · 158 drugs

Alpha-Adrenergic Agonists

Theoretically, butcher's broom might increase the effects and adverse effects of alpha-adrenergic agonists.
Animal and in vitro studies show that butcher's broom has alpha-adrenergic agonist effects.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Alpha-Adrenergic Antagonists

Theoretically, butcher's broom might reduce the effects of alpha-adrenergic antagonists.
Animal and in vitro studies show that butcher's broom has alpha-adrenergic agonist effects.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Horse Chestnut Seed Extract1 drug type · 122 drugs

Anticoagulant/Antiplatelet Drugs

Horse chestnut may have antiplatelet effects and may increase the risk of bleeding if used with anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs.
Horse chestnut contains the constituent esculin which has been shown to have antithrombotic effects. Therefore, horse chestnut might have antiplatelet effects. This has not been shown in humans.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
The maker

Brand information

Manufacturer and brand details for Horse Chestnut Seed Extract 400 mg, from the product label.

Solaray

See all Solaray products
Name
Nutraceutical Corp.
Web Address
www.nutrafamily.com
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Horse Chestnut Seed Extract 400 mg by Solaray: Common Questions

Does Horse Chestnut Seed Extract 400 mg by Solaray interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, Horse Chestnut Seed Extract 400 mg has a known interaction with 276 medications. Use the checker to see how it interacts with a specific drug.
How can one product interact with so many drugs?
Horse Chestnut Seed Extract 400 mg contains 2 active ingredients, and an interaction can come from any of them. We check every ingredient, combine the results into one list per medication, and show which ingredient and mechanism is responsible.
Where does this information come from?
The product label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD); the interaction data is built on the Natural Medicines database and reviewed by HelloPharmacist pharmacists.
Can I take this while I'm pregnant or breastfeeding?
No. The safety data advises against using butcher's broom during pregnancy and while breastfeeding. Talk to your doctor or midwife about your specific situation.
What's the difference between horse chestnut seed extract and butcher's broom — are they the same thing?
No, they're different plants. This product contains both: horse chestnut seed extract (which includes aescin) and butcher's broom, a separate ingredient added for circulation support.
What side effects should I watch for?
Most commonly, digestive upset — nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, heartburn, or indigestion. Rarely, severe cases have led to dehydration and hospitalization. If you develop these symptoms, stop and call your pharmacist or doctor. If you apply this topically, a rash can occur in sensitive skin.
Does this work for varicose veins?
Butcher's broom is possibly effective for chronic venous insufficiency, which is related to varicose veins, but our data doesn't specifically measure it for varicose veins alone. Talk to your doctor about whether it's right for you.
How long is it safe to take this?
Butcher's broom is well tolerated in the short term, but we don't have strong evidence about long-term safety. Discuss with your pharmacist how long you should take it.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Not sure if Horse Chestnut Seed Extract 400 mg is safe with your meds?

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Label information is sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database and reflects the product version on file; always read your actual product label. This page is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Confirm with your pharmacist or doctor before combining supplements and medications.

Horse Chestnut Seed Extract 400 mg label
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Horse Chestnut Seed Extract 400 mg's label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database; the ingredient interaction data is from the Natural Medicines database, reviewed by our pharmacists.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

The 29 references behind this product’s interaction data

Every citation that drives the interaction findings for this product’s ingredients, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Open an ingredient to browse its citations — links open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

Butcher's Broom 8 references
  1. Beltramino R, Penenory A, Buceta AM. An open-label, randomized multicenter study comparing the efficacy and safety of Cyclo 3 Fort versus hydroxyethyl rutoside in chronic venous lymphatic insufficiency. Angiology 2000;51:535-44.. PubMed
  2. Redman DA. Ruscus aculeatus (butcher's broom) as a potential treatment for orthostatic hypotension, with a case report. J Altern Complement Med 2000;6:539-49..
  3. Landa, N., Aguirre, A., Goday, J., Raton, J. A., and Diaz-Perez, J. L. Allergic contact dermatitis from a vasoconstrictor cream. Contact Dermatitis 1990;22(5):290-291. PubMed
  4. Cluzan, R. V., Alliot, F., Ghabboun, S., and Pascot, M. Treatment of secondary lymphedema of the upper limb with CYCLO 3 FORT. Lymphology 1996;29(1):29-35.
  5. Parrado F, Buzzi A. A study of the efficacy and tolerability of a preparation containing Ruscus aculeatus in the treatment of chronic venous insufficiency of the lower limbs. Clin Drug Invest 1999;18(4):255-61. DOI
  6. Sadarmin PP, Timperley J. An unusual case of Butcher's Broom precipitating diabetic ketoacidosis. J Emerg Med 2013;45(3):e63-e65. PubMed
  7. Ramirez-Hernandez M, Garcia-Selles J, Merida-Fernandez C, Martinez-Escribano JA. Allergic contact dermatitis to ruscogenins. Contact Dermatitis 2006;54(1):60. PubMed
  8. European Medicines Agency. Assessment report on Ruscus Aculeatus L rhizome. EMEA/HMPC/261939/2007. London, September 4, 2008. Available at: http://www.ema.europa.eu/docs/en_GB/document_library/Herbal_-_HMPC_assessment_report/2009/12/WC500018288.pdf. Acces

See these in context on the Butcher's Broom monograph →

Horse Chestnut 21 references
  1. Blumenthal M, ed. The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. Trans. S. Klein. Boston, MA: American Botanical Council, 1998.
  2. Ellenhorn MJ, et al. Ellenhorn's Medical Toxicology: Diagnoses and Treatment of Human Poisoning. 2nd ed. Baltimore, MD: Williams & Wilkins, 1997.
  3. Gruenwald J, Brendler T, Jaenicke C. PDR for Herbal Medicines. 1st ed. Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Company, Inc., 1998.
  4. Brinker F. Herb Contraindications and Drug Interactions. 2nd ed. Sandy, OR: Eclectic Medical Publications, 1998.
  5. Greeske K, Pohlmann BK. Horse chestnut seed extract-an effective therapy principle in general practice. Drug therapy of chronic venous insufficiency. Fortschr Med 1996;114:196-200.
  6. Robbers JE, Tyler VE. Tyler's Herbs of Choice: The Therapeutic Use of Phytomedicinals. New York, NY: The Haworth Herbal Press, 1999.
  7. Takegoshi K, Tohyama T, Okuda K, et al. A case of Venoplant-induced hepatic injury. Gastroenterol Jpn 1986;21:62-5.
  8. Jaspersen-Schib R, Theus L, Guirguis-Oeschger M, et al. [Serious plant poisonings in Switzerland 1966-1994. Case analysis from the Swiss Toxicology Information Center]. Schweiz Med Wochenschr 1996;126:1085-98.
  9. Popp W, Horak F, Jager S, et al. Horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum) pollen: a frequent cause of allergic sensitization in urban children. Allergy 1992;47:380-3.
  10. Diaz-Perales A, Collada C, Blanco C, et al. Cross-reactions in the latex-fruit syndrome: A relevant role of chitinases but not of complex asparagine-linked glycans. J Allergy Clin Immunol 1999;104:681-7. PubMed
  11. Blanco C, Diaz-Perales A, Collada C, et al. Class I chitinases as potential panallergens involved in the latex-fruit syndrome. J Allergy Clin Immunol 1999;103:507-13. PubMed
  12. Comaish JS, Kersey PJ. Contact dermatitis to extract of horse chestnut (esculin). Contact Dermatitis 1980;6:150-1. PubMed
  13. Pittler MH, Ernst E. Horse chestnut seed extract for chronic venous insufficiency (Cochrane Review). In: The Cochrane Library, Issue 3, 2004. Chichester, UK: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. PubMed
  14. Ottillinger, B. and Greeske, K. Rational therapy of chronic venous insufficiency--chances and limits of the therapeutic use of horse-chestnut seeds extract. BMC.Cardiovasc.Disord. 2001;1(1):5. PubMed
  15. Pittler, M. H. and Ernst, E. Horse chestnut seed extract for chronic venous insufficiency. Cochrane.Database.Syst.Rev. 2004;(2):CD003230. PubMed
  16. Fang, Y., Zhao, L., Yan, F., Xia, X., Xu, D., and Cui, X. Escin improves sperm quality in male patients with varicocele-associated infertility. Phytomedicine. 2010;17(3-4):192-196. PubMed
  17. De Smet, P. A., Van den Eertwegh, A. J., Lesterhuis, W., and Stricker, B. H. Hepatotoxicity associated with herbal tablets. BMJ 7-13-1996;313(7049):92.
  18. Rehn, D., Unkauf, M., Klein, P., Jost, V., and Lucker, P. W. Comparative clinical efficacy and tolerability of oxerutins and horse chestnut extract in patients with chronic venous insufficiency. Arzneimittelforschung 1996;46(5):483-487.
  19. Edem E, Kahyaoglu B, Çakar MA. Acute Effusive Pericarditis due to Horse Chestnut Consumption. Am J Case Rep. 2016;17:305-8. PubMed
  20. Costa Santos D, Lérias G, Madruga I. Drug-induced Liver Injury Due to a Horse Chestnut Dietary Supplement. Eur J Case Rep Intern Med 2021;8(3):002389. PubMed
  21. Yi HY, Lee JY. Poisoning due to consumption of horse chestnut seed. Clin Exp Emerg Med 2021;8(4):333-335. PubMed

See these in context on the Horse Chestnut monograph →

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

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