Equisetaceae Field horsetail Equiseti herba Aerial parts The herb contains high concentrations of silicic acid and silicates. Flavonoids such as apigenin, kaempferol, luteolin, and quercetin glycosides and their malonyl esters, and other polyphenolic compounds (caffeic acid derivatives) are also present. Trace amounts of the alkaloid nicotine have been reported but are not confirmed, as well as sterols including cholesterol, isofucosterol and campesterol. Thiaminase (an enzyme that breaks down thiamine) is present in the fresh plant but is usually inactivated during processing (EMEA 2008; Williamson et al. 2013). No clinical studies have been performed using E. arvense preparations, although a study reported the use of another species of Equisetum (E. bogotense Kunth) as a diuretic (Lemus et al. 1996). Older in vivo studies support its use as a diuretic in different animal species (mice/rats, rabbits and dogs) (EMEA 2008). However, a clinical trial of two formulations containing E. arvense
Horsetail
Equisetum arvense L.
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