New look on the use of sodium escinate in patients with post-COVID conditions

The emergence of the COVID-19 infection associated with multisystem disorders, long-term-complications (post-COVID conditions), low productivity and reduced quality of life, the lack of a unified treatment resulted to the search of novel agents and expansion of indication for use of pre-existing medications. Escine is an active ingredient of Aesculus hippocastanum (horse chestnut) which is well-known in the phlebological pharmaceutical market. This paper reviews recent pharmacological and clinical data on anti-edematous, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects of sodium escinate in post-COVID conditions. The anti-inflammatory and antiviral effects of sodium escinate involve inhibiting the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines (including tumor necrosis factor a and interleukin 1β) by LPS-induced RAW264.7 macrophages. In Russia, escine is a component of a combined formulation based on horse chestnut seed extract and thiamine (vitamin B1). Given efficacy of sodium escinate (based on the results of in vitro and in vivo experimental studies) and its antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties, this agent can be prescribed for the COVID-19 complications. KEYWORDS: sodium escinate, post-COVID conditions, anti-inflammatory effects, phlebological agent, SARS-CoV-2. FOR CITATION: Shugushev Z.Kh., Akulova A.A. New look on the use of sodium escinate in patients with post-COVID conditions. Russian Medical Inquiry. 2022;6(1):33–38 (in Russ.). DOI: 10.32364/2587-6821-2022-6-1-33-38.