Hawthorn Berry Extract.Hawthorn Leaf Extract.

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Hawthorn:Research Update.

Hawthorn Berry Extract.Hawthorn Leaf Extract CRATAEGUS MONOGYNA EXTRACT EINECS ELINCS No 289-914-0 CAS 90045-52-6 photo picture image High-performance liquid chromatographic determination of oligomeric procyanidins from dimers up to the hexamer in hawthorn.:

 An HPLC method using UV diode array detection was developed for analysing procyanidins qualitatively and quantitatively up to the hexameric level in hawthorn samples. The analysed compounds included procyanidin dimers B-2, B-4 and B-5, procyanidin trimers C-1, epicatechin-(4beta-->8)-epicatechin-(4beta-->6)-epicatechin and epicatechin-(4beta-->6)-epicatechin-(4beta-->8)-epicatechin, a tetramer D-1 and a pentamer E-1 both consisting of (-)-epicatechin units linked through C-4beta/C-8 bonds. The concentrations of two unknown tetramers and a hexamer F were also quantified. The oligomeric procyanidins (OPs) were specifically determined due to the development of a method for isolating them from hawthorn during sample preparation. The pattern of oligomeric procyanidins in the leaves, flowers and fruits was similar, but the concentrations varied depending on the part of the plant. The concentration in leaves was 1.6%, in flowers 1.2% and in fruits 0.2% of the dry mass. The method was validated with respect to repeatability, recovery, linearity, and sensitivity. The repeatability for the quantitative analytical method of all the OPs in leaves was 7.7%, in flowers 8.8%, and in fruits 12.3%. The recovery of the main OPs ranged from 91 to 97%. The correlation coefficients of calibration curves were between 0.997 and 1.000. The limits of quantitation for different procyanidin standards were 0.05-0.12 mg/ml, when 10 microl of each standard solution was injected into the HPLC.

 Isolation and identification of oligomeric procyanidins from Crataegus leaves and flowers.:

 Oligomeric procyanidins were isolated from the leaves and flowers of hawthorn (Crataegus laevigata). A trimer, epicatechin-(4 beta-->8)-epicatechin-(4 beta-->6)-epicatechin, and a pentamer consisting of (-)-epicatechin units linked through C-4 beta/C-8 bonds have been isolated from hawthorn for the first time, in addition to known procyanidins including dimers B-2, B-4 and B-5, trimers C-1 and epicatechin-(4 beta-->6)-epicatechin-(4 beta-->8)-epicatechin, and tetramer D-1. A fraction containing a hexamer was also found.

 Cardiac Activity.:

 Hawthorn extracts prepared from leaves and flowers were investigated for their effects on contraction, energy turnover, and the apparent refractory period in isolated cardiac myocytes from an adult rat heart. The hawthorn extract exhibited a positive inotropic effect accompanied by a moderate increase of oxygen consumption. This research compared the hawthorn extract with other known positive inotropic drugs, such as the beta-adrenergic agonist isoprenaline or the cardiac glycoside ouabain (gamma-strophantin); the effects of the hawthorn extract were significantly more economical with respect to the energy of the myocytes. Furthermore, the extract prolonged the apparent refractory period in the presence and absence of isoprenaline, which was indicative of an antiarrhythmic action as well.

 Guinea pig hearts also were used to compare the influence of Crataegus extract to that of other inotropic drugs, such as epinephrine, milrinon and digoxin. Different functional parameters were measured, focusing on the effective refractory period of the myocardium. Several cardiac parameters were measured to test the effect of the extract on the refractory period. All of the drugs except the Crataegus extract shortened the effective refractory period in a concentration-dependent manner. However, the Crataegus extract prolonged the effective refractory period by a maximum of 10%.

 The main flavonoids of Crataegus species were tested on isolated guinea pig heart. O-glycosides, luteolin-7-glucoside, hyperoside and rutin increased the coronary flow (186%, 66%, and 66%, respectively) and the relaxation velocity. A slight, positive inotropic effect and a rise in the heart rate were also seen. The C-glycosides itexin, vitexin-rhamnoside and monoacetyl-vitexin-rhamnoside ad similar, but less dramatic, effects. A possible beta-adrenergic effect of the glycosides was eliminated by propranolol treatment. Also, reserpine did not influence the myocardial action of hyperoside. These results and former experiments showed that an inhibition of 3? 5?cAMP phosphodiesterase may be underlying the possible mechanism of the glycosides of the species.

 Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) is released from damaged heart cells and is used as a marker of myocardial injury following myocardial infarction. Rats were treated for three months with C. oxyacantha. When the coronary effluent was sampled for LDH content, the Crataegus group showed significantly lower LDH activity after reperfusion, indicating a preservation effect on the plasma membrane and protection from myocardial damage.

 The effects of garlic (Allium sativum) and Crataegus were examined on isoprenaline-induced heart, liver and pancreas damage in rats. Hawthorn extract in combination with garlic powder showed protective effects in a dose-dependent manner. Clinical signs, histological and histoenzymatical findings, and determination of activities of succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), NADH-NBT reductase, acid phosphatase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-DPH) were evaluated. Heart, hepatic and pancreatic tissue pretreated with 0.5 g/kg Allium sativum and 0.3 g/kg Crataegus showed a marked protective effect against tissue necrosis. Evaluation of hepatic and heart SDH in isoprenaline-treated animals given the drug combination mentioned above yielded significant enhancement of enzyme activity. In evaluating the other key enzyme activity G-6-DPH, the composition of 0.5 g/kg garlic and 0.3 g/kg Crataegus had a significant protective effect against necrosis induced by isoprenaline. The G-6-DPH activity increase was more pronounced in the heart, providing excellent protection against isoprenaline-induced myocardial lesions.

 In a multicenter trial of 80 patients with heart problems originating from ischemia or hypertension, the group taking the hawthorn extract showed statistically significant (p less than 0.01) improvement in cardiac function, palpitations, cardiac edema and shortness of breath. However, ECG results did not improve for the treated or placebo group.26

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Reference:

citations1.Hawthorn Berry Extract.Hawthorn Leaf Extract.

last edit date:12th,May.2009.