Diosmin

Diosmin (diosmetin 7-O-rutinoside), a flavone derivative also known as venosmine, is a glycoside of diosmetin, which in turn is the 4'-methoxy derivative of luteolin. Diosmin is naturally occurring, mainly in the citrus family rutaceae, but also in herbs such as Teucrium gnaphalodes.

Diosmin prolongs the vasoconstrictor effect of norepinephrine on the vein wall, increasing venous tone, and therefore reducing venous capacitance, distensibility, and venous stasis. This increases the venous return and reduces venous hyperpressure present in patients suffering from CVI.

Diosmin improves lymphatic drainage by increasing the frequency and intensity of lymphatic contractions, and by increasing the total number of functional lymphatic capillaries. Furthermore, diosmin with hesperidine decreases the diameter of lymphatic capillaries and the intralymphatic pressure.

At the microcirculation level, diosmin reduces capillary hyperpermeability and increases capillary resistance by protecting the microcirculation from damaging processes.

Diosmin reduces the expression of endothelial adhesion molecules (ICAM1, VCAM1), and inhibits the adhesion, migration, and activation of leukocytes at the capillary level. This leads to a reduction in the release of inflammatory mediators, principally oxygen free radicals and prostaglandins (PGE2, PGF2a).