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Monograph

Crataegus oxycantha (Hawthorn)

Monograph
Introduction
Crataegus oxycantha has been used traditionally
as a cardiac tonic since the first century A.D., as
noted by the Greek herbalist, Dioscorides, and
became even more popular among European and
American herbalists in the late 19th century.1
Currently it is used as a cardiotonic for a variety of
functional heart disorders. Recent research shows
Crataegus extracts exert a wide range of positive
actions on heart function, supporting and validating historical observations.2,3

Description
C. oxycantha is a thorny deciduous tree found
primarily in Europe, North America, and Western
Asia, growing to heights of 25-30 feet. The tree is a
member of the Rosaceae family and common
names include hawthorn, English hawthorn, May
bush, and whitehorn. Large bunches of fragrant
white or pink flowers bloom in the spring and
develop into small, bright red, apple-shaped fruit
in the autumn.4

Active Constituents
The primary cardiovascular protective activity of
the plant is generally attributed to its flavonoid
content, particularly the oligomeric proanthocyanidins (OPCs). The OPCs are highly concentrated in
the leaves, berries, and flowers and are responsible
for providing the pigment that colors the berries.3
These flavonoids have very strong vitamin P (also
known as citrin bioflavonoid) activity, working
synergistically with vitamin C to promote capillary
stability.5 Other constituents of Crataegus include
quercetin, quercetrin, triterpene saponins, vitamin
C, and several cardioactive amines.

Mechanisms of Action
Because of its high flavonoid content, particularly the OPCs, Crataegus has significant antioxidant activity. Crataegus oxycantha extract has been
shown to reduce oxidative stress in reperfused
myocardium and appears to inhibit apoptosis,
resulting in a cardioprotective effect.6-8

In addition, Crataegus increases coronary blood

flow,9 enhancing oxygen flow and utilization by the
heart. Crataegus extracts also have a positive
inotropic effect on the contraction amplitude of
myocytes.10 Crataegus exerts a simultaneous
cardiotropic and vasodilatory action. Because of
these actions, it can be safely and effectively
utilized for cardiac conditions for which digitalis is
not yet indicated.11 Due to the flavonoid content,
extracts of this herb exert considerable collagenstabilizing effects, enhancing integrity of blood
vessels.12
In rats fed a hyperlipidemic diet, extracts of
Crataegus prevented elevation of plasma lipids,
including total cholesterol, triglycerides, and
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Monograph

LDL- and VLDL-fractions.13 Crataegus up-regulates

hepatic LDL-receptors, resulting in greater influx
of plasma LDL-cholesterol into the liver. It also
prevents the accumulation of cholesterol in the
liver by enhancing cholesterol degradation to bile
acids, promoting bile flow, and suppressing
cholesterol biosynthesis.14
Crataegus provides effective and low-risk
phytotherapy for patients with coronary heart
disease, atherosclerosis, hypertension, or
hypercholesterolemia.

those in the treatment group the average time to

first cardiac event was 620 days, compared to 606
days for those in the placebo group. Although the
difference between the two groups did not reach
statistical significance for the primary endpoint, a
trend toward cardiac mortality reduction was
observed in the treatment group. Furthermore, in
a subgroup of 1,139 patients with initial LVEF
between 25 and 35 percent, cardiac mortality was
decreased by 20 percent and sudden cardiac death
by 39.7 percent compared to placebo. The treatment was well tolerated with no significant side
effects or drug interactions reported.17

Congestive Heart Failure

Hypertension

Research indicates administration of Crataegus

provides subjective and objective benefits in
individuals with signs and symptoms of mild
congestive heart failure (CHF) New York Heart
Association stage II (NYHA-II). Over a period of
eight weeks, supplementation with Crataegus
resulted in a clear improvement in the performance of the heart. Patients reported improvement
in subjective symptoms, such as reduced performance, shortness of breath, and ankle edema.9 A
large multi-center observational study demonstrated 450 mg Crataegus extract WS 1442
(standardized to 18.75% OPC) given twice daily for
24 weeks significantly improved exercise tolerance
and dyspnea, fatigue, blood pressure, ejection
fraction, and resting pulse in 1,011 patients with
NYHA-II cardiac insufficiency. Ankle edema and
nocturia also were significantly decreased.
Physicians reported treatment was well tolerated in
most patients and had a good or very good
efficacy.15
In a randomized, placebo-controlled trial, 209
Germans (average age, 67.6 years) with NYHA-III
cardiac insufficiency were supplemented with
1,800 mg Crataegus extract WS 1442 daily for 16
weeks. Compared to placebo, Crataegus resulted in
a statistically significant improvement in maximal
tolerated workload during exercise under standardized loading on a bicycle ergometer.16
In the SPICE trial, a long-term, randomized,
double-blind, placebo-controlled, multi-center
study, 2,681 patients with NYHA-II or -III CHF and
left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) 35
percent received 900 mg WS 1422 or placebo daily
for 24 months in addition to regular treatments
(beta-blockers, angiotensin converting enzyme
[ACE] inhibitors, diuretics, and digoxin). Primary
endpoint was time until first cardiac event. For

Crataegus exerts mild blood pressure-lowering

activity, which appears to be a result of a number
of diverse pharmacological effects. It dilates
coronary vessels,18 inhibits ACE,19 acts as an
inotropic agent,10 and possesses mild diuretic
activity.4 A randomized, placebo-controlled, pilot
study of 36 untreated, mildly hypertensive,
middle-aged subjects (18 males, 18 females)
investigated the hypotensive effects of a standardized Crataegus extract and magnesium (both
separately and in combination) for 10 weeks.
Subjects were divided into four groups: 600 mg
magnesium daily, 500 mg Crataegus extract daily, a
two-tablet combination of magnesium and
Crataegus (same dosages as in groups 1 and 2), or
cellulose placebo. Subjects were assessed at
baseline and at five and 10 weeks for anthropometric measurement, dietary patterns, and blood
pressure. Both systolic and diastolic blood pressure
decreased in all treatment groups, but analysis
revealed no clear benefit of one group over another.
However, when looking at resting diastolic blood
pressure alone, subjects receiving Crataegus extract
demonstrated a significant decrease at week 10
compared to the other groups. Interestingly, this
group also showed a trend toward reduced anxiety
episodes compared to the other groups.20
Crataegus extract has also been shown to lower
blood pressure in type 2 diabetics taking prescription medications for hyperglycemia. In a randomized, double-blind, parallel, placebo-controlled trial,
80 type 2 diabetics (mean age, 60) with diastolic
blood pressures between 85-95 mmHg and systolic
blood pressures between 145-165 mmHg were
randomized to receive 1,200 mg Crataegus extract
(n=40) or placebo (n=40) daily.21 Study length was
16 weeks and patients were assessed at baseline
and at eight and 16 weeks for anthropometric

Clinical Indications

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measurements and blood pressure (primary
outcome was diastolic blood pressure). Subjects
were also assessed for electrolytes, liver and kidney
function, blood glucose, hemoglobin A1C, and
fructosamine at baseline and 16 weeks. At 16
weeks those in the Crataegus group showed a
statistically significant (although perhaps not
clinically significant) reduction of 2.6 mmHg in
diastolic blood pressure compared to placebo. No
other statistically significant differences were
reported between the placebo and treatment
groups. The Crataegus extract was well tolerated
and no adverse effects or drug interactions were
reported.

Hyperlipidemia
Crataegus extract demonstrates a lipid-lowering
effect in mouse and rat models of hyperlipidemia.
In a mouse study, group A mice (n=6) were fed a
normal diet and served as the negative control,
while group B mice (n=6) were fed a high cholesterol diet (HCD) and demonstrated higher blood
lipid levels compared to group A, thus serving as
the positive control. Group C mice (n=6) were fed
an HCD and simvastatin, and group D mice (n=6)
were fed an HCD and a Crataegus fruit-kiwi fruit
extract for eight weeks. Mice in groups C and D
both demonstrated a significant reduction in
triglyceride levels as well as the LDL- to totalcholesterol ratio. Only mice in the Crataegus-kiwi
extract group demonstrated a reduction in LDL
levels.22 Another study in mice investigated the
mechanism behind hawthorn flavonoids effect on
blood lipid levels and found they significantly
up-regulate adipogenesis gene expression and
modulate both lipogenesis and lypolisis, resulting
in decreased blood lipid concentrations.23

Drug-Botanical Interactions
The root, leaves, fruit, and flowers of Crataegus
contain cardioactive compounds. Crataegus
preparations may have a potentiating effect on
digitalis, anti-hypertensive agents, and lipid-lowering medications, and concomitant use may necessitate a reduction in the dosage of these drugs.24

Monograph

including dizziness, gastrointestinal complaints,

headaches, and heart palpitations have occasionally been reported.27

Dosage
Positive effects from supplementation will
usually be observed within the first two weeks. In
most instances, as a cardiac tonic, Crataegus is
administered for prolonged intervals. Dosages vary
depending on the concentration of the extract. A
typical therapeutic dose of an extract standardized
to contain 1.8 percent vitexin-4 rhamnoside is
100-250 mg three times daily. A standardized
extract containing 18-percent OPCs is dosed in the
range of 250-500 mg daily.

References
1.
2.
3.

4.

5.
6.

7.

8.

9.

Side Effects and Toxicity

10.

Crataegus has been shown to have low toxicity,

with an LD50 of 25 mg/kg.25 The German
Commission E monograph states that mice and
rats have been safely given a standardized extract
at doses up to 3 g/kg body weight.26 Serious side
effects are not associated with use of Crataegus
extracts, although mild, transient side effects

11.
12.

Hobbs C, Foster S. Hawthorne a literature review.

Herbalgram 1990;22:19-33.
Duke JA. Handbook of Medicinal Herbs. Boca Raton,
FL: CRC Press; 1985:146-147.
Mills S, Bone K. Principles and Practice of
Phytotherapy: Modern Herbal Medicine. Edinburg,
UK: Churchill Livingstone; 2000:439-447.
Weihmayr T, Ernst E. Therapeutic effectiveness of
Crataegus. Fortschr Med 1996;114:27-29. [Article in
German]
Vitamin P. http://www.thefreedictionary.com/
vitamin+P [Accessed April 5, 2010]
Jayalakshmi R, Thirupurasundari CJ, Devaraj SN.
Pretreatment with alcoholic extract of Crataegus
oxycantha (AEC) activates mitochondrial protection
during isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction
in rats. Mol Cell Biochem 2006;292:59-67.
Swaminathan JK, Khan M, Mohan IK, et al.
Cardioprotective properties of Crataegus oxycantha
extract against ischemia-reperfusion injury.
Phytomedicine 2010 Feb 17. [Epub ahead of print]
Schussler M, Holzl J, Fricke U. Myocardial effects of
flavonoids from Crataegus species.
Arzneimittelforschung 1995;45:842-845.
Weikl A, Assmus KD, Neukum-Schmidt A, et al.
Crataegus Special Extract WS 1442. Assessment of
objective effectiveness in patients with heart failure
(NYHA II). Fortschr Med 1996;114:291-296. [Article
in German]
Popping S, Rose H, Ionescu I, et al. Effect of a
hawthorn extract on contraction and energy
turnover of isolated rat cardiomyocytes.
Arzneimittelforschung 1995;45:1157-1161.
Blesken R. Crataegus in cardiology. Fortschr Med
1992;110:290-292. [Article in German]
Gabor M. Pharmacologic effects of flavonoids on
blood vessels. Angiologica 1972;9:355-374.

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Monograph

13. Shanthi S, Parasakthy K, Deepalakshmi

PD, Devaraj SN. Hypolipidemic activity
of tincture of Crataegus in rats. Indian J
Biochem Biophys 1994;31:143-146.
14. Rajendran S, Deepalakshmi PD,
Parasakthy K, et al. Effect of tincture of
Crataegus on the LDL-receptor activity
of hepatic plasma membrane of rats fed
an atherogenic diet. Atherosclerosis
1996;123:235-241.
15. Tauchert M, Gildor A, Lipinski J.
High-dose Crataegus extract WS 1442
in the treatment of NYHA stage II heart
failure. Herz 1999;24:465-474. [Article
in German]
16. Tauchert M. Efficacy and safety of
Crataegus extract WS 1442 in comparison with placebo in patients with
chronic stable New York Heart
Association class-III heart failure. Am
Heart J 2002;143:910-915.
17. Holubarsch CJ, Colucci WS, Meinertz T,
et al. The efficacy and safety of
Crataegus extract WS 1442 in patients
with heart failure: the SPICE trial. Eur J
Heart Fail 2008;10:1255-1263.

18. Rewerski W, Lewak S. Some pharmacological properties of flavan polymers

isolated from hawthorn (Crataegus
oxyacantha). Arzneimittelforschung
1967;17:490-491. [Article in German]
19. Uchida S, Ikari N, Ohta H, et al.
Inhibitory effects of condensed tannins
on angiotensin converting enzyme. Jpn
J Pharmacol 1987;43:242-246.
20. Walker AF, Marakis G, Morris AP,
Robinson PA. Promising hypotensive
effect of hawthorn extract: a randomized double-blind pilot study of mild,
essential hypertension. Phytother Res
2002;16:48-54.
21. Walker AF, Marakis G, Simpson E, et al.
Hypotensive effects of hawthorn for
patients with diabetes taking prescription drugs: a randomised controlled
trial. Br J Gen Pract 2006;56:437-443.
22. Xu H, Xu HE, Ryan D. A study of the
comparative effects of hawthorn fruit
compound and simvastatin on lowering
blood lipid levels. Am J Chin Med
2009;37:903-908.

23. Xie W, Sun C, Liu S. Effects of hawthorn

flavanone on blood-fat and expression
of lipogenesis and lipolysis genes of
hyperlipidemia model mouse. Zhongguo
Zhong Yao Za Zhi 2009;34:224-229.
[Article in Chinese]
24. McGuffin M, Hobbs C, Upton R,
Goldberg A. Botanical Safety Handbook.
New York, NY: CRC Press; 1997:37.
25. Ammon HP, Handel M. Crataegus,
toxicology and pharmacology, Part I:
Toxicity. Planta Med 1981;43:105-120.
26. Blumenthal M, Busse W, Goldberg A, et
al. The Complete German Commission E
Monographs. Boston, MA: American
Botanical Council; 1998:142-144.
27. Daniele C, Mazzanti G, Pittler MH,
Ernst E. Adverse-event profile of
Crataegus spp.: a systematic review.
Drug Saf 2006;29:523-535.

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