Crataegus sp., commonly known as hawthorn, is a large genus of thorny shrubs and trees belonging to the family Rosaceae, comprising approximately 280 species, native to temperate zones in Europe, East Asia and North America. Hawthorn has been used around the world for centuries as a food and as a folk medicine. Hawthorn is one of the recognized medicinal plants in European medicine, because Dioscorides primarily describes its cardiovascular effects in the first century, he states study. Currently, countries such as China, Germany and France have officially recorded some species in their pharmacopoeias, he states study.
Over the past 20 years, more than 150 chemical compounds, including flavonoids, triterpenoids, oligomeric proanthocyanidins, and organic acids, have been isolated and characterized in berries, leaves, and flowers of C. pinnatifida (According to a study from 2005; and study from 2014 ). Moreover, it has been recorded that pectin in fresh hawthorn fruit is as much as 20.5%, the study states .
Cardiovascular diseases (CVD), especially atherosclerosis (which is caused by bad lifestyle habits, smoking, consumption of meat, fish, eggs, dairy products...), are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality throughout the world. CVD imposes a significant burden on families and primary caregivers, along with a high financial cost to society. Over the past decades, ischemic heart disease and stroke have been the top two causes of death in China study. With a rapidly aging population, the absolute number of deaths caused by cardiovascular disease increased by 46% in China, which is four and three times more than those in the United States and Western Europe, he states study. The World Health Organization estimates that in developing countries almost four billion people consume dietary supplements as the primary source of health care. Therefore, the use of food supplements in complementary and natural medicine is widely accepted in many countries, he states study .
The results show that hawthorn fruits could serve as promising dietary supplements and also as a potential source of antioxidant and cardiotonic phenolic materials. One study identified phenolic compounds in the fruit of Crataegus pubescens, and the most abundant substances were (+)-catechin, (−)-epicatechin and chlorogenic acid, which can be used as nutraceuticals and functional foods, states study from 2018.
With increasing global interest, contemporary research has confirmed the presence of multiple biological and pharmacological activities in hawthorn fruit, leaf, and flower extracts, including cardiovascular protective ability, hypolipidemic activity, and antioxidant capacity (states a study from 2003; states a study from 2011.; states a study from 2014). Hawthorn fruit and leaf extract is the most studied compound consisting of 20% oligomeric procyanidins extracted from the leaves and flowers (45% ethanol extract) of C. monogyna and Crataegus laevigata, states a study from 2008. In the United States and European countries, the extract is recommended for the treatment of congestive heart failure stage I–III based on the New York Heart Association (NYHA) classification (states a study from 2002; states a study from 2003). The last study mentions another interesting fact: "Thirteen trials met all inclusion criteria. In most studies, hawthorn was used as an adjunct to conventional treatment. Eight trials involving 632 patients with chronic heart failure (New York Heart Association classes I to III) provided data suitable for meta-analysis. For the physiological outcome of maximal exercise, hawthorn extract was more beneficial than placebo (weighted mean difference, 7 Watt; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3 to 11 Watt; P < 0.01; n = 310 patients). The product of pressure and heart rate as well showed a favorable reduction (weighted mean difference, -20; 95% CI: -32 to -8; n = 264 patients) with hawthorn. Symptoms such as dyspnea and fatigue were significantly improved with hawthorn compared to placebo. Reported side effects were rare, mild, and transient; they included nausea, dizziness, and cardiac and gastrointestinal complaints. In conclusion, these results suggest that there is a significant benefit of hawthorn extract as a dietary supplement in chronic heart failure.”
A six-month clinical observation of 64 patients with atherosclerosis of the carotid arteries showed that taking hawthorn extract at a dose of 5.0 mg/kg reduced serum lipid levels and promoted plaque stability, states a study from 2014 .
Most research has been conducted with European and East Asian species. Little is known about plants native to other parts of the world. One study of extracts from the berries and leaves of Hawthorn, a species native to North America, showed that reduced fasting serum LDL-C improved heart function by raising nitric oxide (NO) levels, according to study from 2016.
Another study, provided evidence that hawthorn total flavonoids alleviated endothelial cell damage after coronary artery bypass surgery by reducing oxidative stress, according to a study from 2018.
Furthermore, hawthorn leaf extract suppresses doxorubicin (DOX)-induced oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, and myocardial damage through a mechanism involving increased cellular expression of p-FoxO3a, states a study from 2016.
It is important to note that extracts from hawthorn leaves are recorded in the European Pharmacopoeia (European Pharmacopoeia, 2017) and in the Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China (Chinese Pharmacopoeia Commission, 2015), such as hawthorn extract, which has been extensively researched. in preclinical and clinical studies. However, none of its effects on patients with coronary heart disease have been reported so far. In China, the National Medical Products Administration has approved the sale of several hawthorn leaf products for the treatment of angina and coronary heart disease, states the official website.
The Irish doctor who was first recorded to have used a remedy for cardiovascular problems specifically used the berry. The 1983 edition of the British Herbal Pharmacopoeia, considered by many for years the standard text for professional herbalists, lists only berries. This may explain why herbal practitioners favor berries over flowers, although this trend seems to be changing in recent times, with flowers and berries being used more synonymously, and in some cases, mixed up. Historical texts in Western medicine record the use of berries, seeds and flowers. Leaves are also used. According to the hawthorn study.
The medicinal properties of hawthorn (Crataegus spp., a genus consisting of approximately 300 species) have been used for centuries by many cultures for various therapeutic purposes. In the Western world, cardiovascular diseases (CVD) have become one of the most significant single causes of premature death. Echoing this situation, recent research into the therapeutic benefits of hawthorn preparations has focused primarily on its cardiovascular effects. This review covers research on the various mechanisms of action proposed for Crataegus preparations, clinical trials involving Crataegus preparations and the safety profile of the plant.According to the hawthorn study.
The clinical trials reviewed were not consistent in terms of the criteria used (sample size, preparation, dosage, etc.), but were largely consistent in terms of positive outcomes. A survey of the data available so far on hawthorn preparations and herb-drug interactions reveals that theoretically harmful interactions have not been recorded in practice. Furthermore, side effects associated with the use of hawthorn preparations are rare and mild, even at higher dosage ranges. Although further research is needed in certain areas, current research suggests that hawthorn could potentially represent a safe, effective, non-toxic agent in the treatment of CVD and ischemic heart disease (IHD).According to the hawthorn study.
The aim of this paper is to provide a complete overview of the previous research on the effectiveness of Crataegus preparations in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). The paper includes information on recent research related to the identification of perceived active ingredients and their mechanisms of action. Current research involving clinical trials using Crataegus preparations is also reviewed.According to the hawthorn study.
The World Health Organization (WHO) lists cardiovascular disease (CVD) as the number one global cause of death, accounting for 30% of all deaths in 2005. The American Heart Association lists heart disease as the number one killer of American adults, further commenting that in 2005, 80,700 .000 Americans suffered from some form of CVD.According to the hawthorn study.
The conclusion is very simple to protect yourself with A healthy lifestyle and if necessary with which hawthorn tea or our tincture Heart.
