Butcher’s Broom (Ruscus aculeatus)

This medicinal botanical is approved to treat venous conditions including venous insufficiency and hemorroids. The therapeutic activity is due to increasing venous tone while reversing inflammation. The major active compounds include steroid saponins ruscine and ruscoside which comprise 5% of the extract by weight. The other group of active compounds include benzofuranes including euparone. These extracts are orally administered as capsules with only rare gastrointestional adverse reactions reported (3).