---

Hawthorn

Hawthorn fruit is the dried ripe fruit of Crataegus pinnatifida Bunge or Crataegus cuneata Sieb. It is produced primarily in Henan, Jiangsu, and Shandong provinces of China. It is harvested in autumn, sliced, and dried in sunlight. It belongs to the family of Rosaceae. Crataegus oxyacantha (Hawthorn) contains mainly flavonoids (such as flavonoglycosyls, hyperoside, rutin, flavonol, kaempferol, quercetin) and oligomeric procyanadins (1-epicatechol), which relax arterial expansion to decrease peripheral vascular resistance. Also contains amines (phenyletylamine, tyramine, O-methoxyphenethylamine), flavone (apigenin, luteolin) derivatives, vitexin glycosides, tannins, saponins, and cyanogenetic glycosides. Hawthorn fruit is normally used to stimulate digestion and promote the functional activity of the stomach. It can also improve the normal blood flow and dissipate blood stasis. It is known to positively affect the cardiovascular system and is also used to treat digestive problems and insomnia. The hawthorn fruits (berries) have been used to improve digestion, and to alleviate various stomach ailments. Saponins, flavonoids (including hyperoside), and anthocyanins (including proanthocyanidins) extracted form hawthorn fruits have also shown cardiotonic (heart stimulating and regulating) activity including inhibition of arrhythmia, normalization of blood pressure, dilation of blood vessels and increase in coronary blood flow, reduction of serum triglyceride and cholesterol levels, reduction in symptoms of angina, and improvement of circulation. Hawthorn has activities of stimulating secretion of gastric juice and lowering blood pressure and has antibacterial acitvities. Hawthorn works as a vasodilator, increasing blood and oxygen flow to the heart and lowering blood pressure. Hawthorn extract is a universal cardiac preparation, both with preventative and also with healing action in circulatory problems of the cardiac vessels and heart muscle. Furthermore it has a improves rhythm of the heart and circulation. In addition, the tolerance of the heart muscle to oxygen shortage is increased. It increases heart performance and reduces peripheral vessel resistance. By increasing the efficiency of the heart, hawthorn also increases blood flow to the rest of the body. Components in hawthorn have been shown to lower cholesterol and the amount of plaque in arteries. Hawthorn berry is known to enhance cardiac function, support normal blood pressure through dilation of coronary arteries and inhibit an ACE, an enzyme associated with elevated blood pressure. It enhances oxygen to the heart and blood flow to the extremities. Hawthorn is further known to enhance the function of the entire circulatory system and the health of blood vessels throughout the body consequently strengthening the heart. Crategolic acid, citric acid, tartaric acid, glavone, glycosides, and vitamin C are the active constituents of hawthorne berries.

---