Esculin

Esculin is a fluorescent coumarin glucoside, the active ingredient in ash bark. Esculin has antidiabetic effects, improves cognitive impairment in experimental diabetic nephropathy (DN) via the MAPK signaling pathway, and exerts antioxidant stress and anti-inflammatory effects. Esculin also has anticancer, antibacterial, antiviral, neuroprotective, antithrombotic, and therapeutic properties for eye diseases^{[1][2][3][4][5][6][7]}. In Vitro:Esculin (100 μM; 2-8 h) has antiviral activity agasint White spot syndrome virus (WSSV) monomer in Litopenaeus vannamei larvae, with a safe concentration of 100 μM^[4].
Esculin (200 μM, 400 μM, 600 μM; 4 h or 2 h) is a chemical protectant of red blood cells, protecting them from oxidative damage. Esculin inhibits the increase of markers of oxidative stress (such as protein and lipid oxidation) induced by Bioallethrin (HY-122376) (50-200 μM; 4 h or 2 h) in red blood cells and lymphocytes, and restores reduced free amino groups. The ratio of reduced glutathione to oxidized glutathione is also increased^[5].
In Vivo:Esculin (5, 10, and 20 mg/kg; Intragastric administration, once daily for 2 days) protects mice model of ethanol-induced gastric injury. Esculin inhibits NF-κB activation, thereby reducing the expression of iNOS, TNF-α and IL-6. Esculin reduces histopathological damage in a dose-dependent manner^[6].