Ruscus aculeatus

Ruscus aculeatus (butcher's broom) is a medicinal plant with limited macronutrient relevance; it is not consumed as a food source but as a standardized herbal extract. Key bioactive compounds include: Steroidal saponins (primary actives) at approximately 1-3% total saponin content in dried rhizome — predominantly ruscogenin (neoruscogenin and ruscogenin aglycones) and neoruscogenin glycosides, with commercial extracts typically standardized to 9-11% total ruscogenins. Flavonoids are present including rutin, hesperidin, and quercetin derivatives at trace concentrations (estimated 0.1-0.5% dry weight). Sparteine (alkaloid) is present in small quantities. Benzofuran glycosides including eupatoretin have been identified. Stigmasterol and other phytosterols contribute to the lipid fraction. The rhizome contains a modest fiber fraction (~15-20% dry weight as structural polysaccharides), minimal protein (~3-5% dry weight), and negligible fat. Micronutrient content includes trace amounts of calcium, potassium, and magnesium. Bioavailability note: Ruscogenin saponins undergo intestinal hydrolysis prior to absorption; bioavailability of intact glycosides is low, with aglycone forms being the primary absorbed species. Standardized dry extracts (e.g., 150-300 mg/day yielding ~9-11% ruscogenins) represent the clinically studied form, delivering approximately 13-33 mg active ruscogenins per dose.