Hawthorn Berry Extract.Hawthorn Leaf Extract.
Article Content:
- .Basic Botanical Info of Hawthorn.
- .Hawthorn Medicinal Uses.
- .Relieve chronic heart conditions.
- .Active Component and Structure.
- .Physiological Functions of Hawthorn.
- .Common Benefit of Hawthorn.
- .Dosage and Administration.
- .Hawthorn:Witches' Ointments.
- .Hawthorn:Research Update
- .How Search engine think about Hawthorn.
- .Research update of Hawthorn Fruit Extracts Hawthorn Leaves Extracts.
Common Benefit of Hawthorn.
Used to promote the health of the circulatory system, treat angina, high blood pressure, congestive heart failure and cardiac arrhythmia and has been found to strengthen the heart. Hawthorn is widely regarded in Europe as a safe and effective treatment for the early stages of heart disease and has been used for a number of ailments including angina, myocarditis, arteriosclerosis, nervous conditions like insomnia, and diarrhea. It has also been indicated for strengthening blood vessels, vascular insufficiency and blood clots, restoring the heart muscle wall, lowering cholesterol and to aid digestion.
Treatment for the early stages of heart disease:
Hawthorn is widely regarded in Europe as a safe and effective treatment for the early stages of heart disease and is endorsed by Commission E- the branch of the German government that studies and approves herbal treatments. It is used to promote the health of the circulatory system and has been found useful in treating angina, high blood pressure, congestive heart failure and cardiac arrhythmia. It has been found to strengthen the heart and stabalise it against arrythmias.
Cardiovascular system improvement:Cardiac Activity
There is also evidence for cardiovascular system improvement, particularly in clinical parameters associated with angina, congestive heart failure and acute myocardial infarct. This may be due to the herb's antioxidant activity. Its use in the treatment of hepatitis in modern Chinese medicine is supported by the demonstration of hepatoprotective activity in animal studies.
Research supports the suggestion that Crataegus extracts used therapeutically for cardiovascular diseases should be standardized for oligomeric procyanidins (OPC) content.
Antioxidant properties:
Animal and laboratory studies have found that hawthorn contains active compounds with antioxidant properties. Antioxidants are substances that scavenge free radicals; damaging compounds in the body that alter cell membranes, tamper with DNA, and even cause cell death. Free radicals occur naturally in the body, but environmental toxins (including ultraviolet light, radiation, cigarette smoking, and air pollution) can also increase their number.
Free radicals are believed to contribute to the ageing process as well as the development of a number of health problems including heart disease. Antioxidants found in hawthorn can neutralise free radicals and may reduce or even help prevent some of the damage they cause.
While oxidation is part of a normal biological reaction, overloading the cells with free radicals could initiate the pathogenesis of many diseases.Some Crataegus constituents are predicted to be good antioxidants. The flower and fruit constituents responsible for free radical scavenging activity are epicatechin, hyperoside and chlorogenic acid. They are also among the best antilipoperoxidants.Phenolic compounds of Crataegus also have antioxidant activity. The flowers contain the most phenolic compounds, and the antioxidant activity of these extracts was clearly related to the phenolic contents.
Congestive heart failure:
Hawthorn has primarily been studied in people with congestive heart failure (a health condition in which the heart is unable to pump adequate amounts of blood to other organs in the body). Of six well-designed trials, four studies concluded that hawthorn significantly improved heart function and three found that the herb improved patients' ability to exercise. Patients in five of the six studies reported that hawthorn significantly improved symptoms of the disease (such as shortness of breath and fatigue). One study found that hawthorn extract (900 mg/day) taken for 2 months was as effective as low doses of captropril (a leading heart medication) in improving symptoms of congestive heart failure. A large-scale international study is currently underway to determine whether hawthorn extract reduces the risk of death in people with this disease.
Anti-inflammatory Action:
Recent research showed that macrophage-derived mediators pytokines, interleukin-1 (IL-1) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) play a crucial role in inflammatory and immune responses. Therefore, inhibition of IL-1 and TNF could be criteria of anti-inflammatory activity. Extracts of the root of C. tanacetifolia showed inhibitory effect depending upon the concentration applied on IL-1 alpha and beta, and TNF alpha.
A hydroalcoholic extract from the flower heads of C. oxyacant has inhibited thromboxane A2 biosynthesis in vitro. Further analysis showed that the following ingredients may be responsible for the action: vitexin, vitexin-2 betaO-rhamnoside, quercetin and hyperoside from the flavonoid class. Also, significant inhibitions were observed with catechin and epicatechin from the flavonoid class.
A triterpene fraction isolated from C. monogyna, which contained mainly cycloartenol, was tested against paw edema in rats. A 40 mg/kg oral dose had significant inhibition (61.5%) after 3 hours of administration. A similar action was observed in mice, measured with an inflammation test of the peritoneum. The triterpene fraction given orally to mice (40 mg/kg) inhibited peritoneal leukocyte infiltration by 89.4%. The fraction also showed weak inhibition of phospholipase A2 in vitro.
Atherosclerosis:
Animal and laboratory studies demonstrate that this herb has antioxidant properties that help protect against the formation of plaques, which leads to a health problem known as atherosclerosis. Plaque buildup in the vessels that supply the heart with oxygen-rich blood may cause chest pain (angina) and heart attacks while plaque buildup in the arteries that supply blood to the brain may result in stroke.
Chest pain:
Hawthorn berry preparations have been shown to combat chest pain (angina), a health problem caused by insufficient blood flow to the heart. In one early study, 60 angina patients were given either 180 mg/day of hawthorn berry-leaf-flower extract or placebo for 3 weeks. Those who received the hawthorn preparation experienced improved blood flow to the heart and were also able to exercise for longer periods of time without suffering from chest pain.
CNS Actions:
The alcoholic extract of C. oxyacantha has shown direct influence on the CNS, having sedative, hypothermic and hypotensive actions.
High cholesterol:
Studies using rats suggest that a hawthorn tincture (made from the berries) may be a powerful agent for the removal of LDL ("bad") cholesterol from the bloodstream. The tincture of hawthorn berries also reduced the production of cholesterol in the liver of rats who were being fed a high-cholesterol diet. Studies to determine if hawthorn will confer the same effects in people are needed.
Hypolipidemic Action:
An alcoholic extract prepared from the berries of C. oxyacantha was tested on hyperlipidemic rats, and a significant decrease in lipid deposits in liver and aorta was observed. The reductions of cholesterol and triglycerides were progressive in the low density (LDL) and very low-density (VLDL) lipoprotein fractions. Further study revealed that the drug lowered the level of the atherogenic component, beta-lipoprotein.A similar study in rats fed an atherogenic diet showed that Crataegus tincture increased the LDL receptor-binding capacity in the liver and enhanced bile acid secretion. These observations indicated that Craetegus possibly up-regulates cholesterol influx into the liver and enhances cholesterol degradation to bile acid while suppressing cholesterol biosynthesis.A Chinese clinical trial conducted on 130 hyperlipidemic subjects also achieved an impressive result with a combination of Chinese herbs, including C. pinnatifida. After the treatment, 87% of subjects had lower total serum cholesterol, and 80.8% also had lower triglyceride level.
High blood pressure:
Although hawthorn has not been studied specifically in people with high blood pressure, considerable evidence supports the cardiovascular benefits of this herb. Studies suggest that hawthorn can be taken safely by people with hypertension who are also taking blood pressure medications.
Hypotensive Action:
A water-alcoholic extract of a procyanidin isolated from C. oxyacantha has been tested on cats. An injected dosage of 3 mg/kg lowered the blood pressure of the cats from 160 to 110 mmHg. Stepka and Winters investigated 39 known Crataegus species and found 15 with mild to significant hypotensive activity.Myocardial blood flow and arterial blood pressure were tested on nonanesthetized dogs and anesthetized cats. Oral administration of Crataegus (12.0 mg/kg) in the dogs and an injection of 15.5 mg/kg in the cats led to a significant increase in blood flow for several hours depending on the dose. A maximum 70% increase over resting flow was reached in the dogs. In cats, a similar result was associated with a slight decrease in arterial blood pressure.
Reference:
1.Hawthorn Berry Extract.Hawthorn Leaf Extract.
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