Hawthorn Berry Benefits

How Hawthorn berry benefits were found?

Hypertension, as mentioned by Dr. Norman M Kaplan in his research paper, is quantitatively the most important risk factor for premature cardiovascular disease (CVD).[1] According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2.6 million US people died due to CVDs in 2015.[2] A research article published in Evidence Based Complement Alternative Medicine published an article in 2013, where it has been reported that worldwide hypertension affects 1 billion people and this number is expected to rise to 1.6 billion by 2025. Therefore, hypertension becomes an alarming medical and public health issue. [3]

In the last three decades, clinicians and researchers underwent rigorous efforts to identify local plants with hypotensive and antihypertensive values to avoid adverse effects and intolerance towards synthetic antihypertensive drugs. [4,5] Ultimately, researchers enlisted some herbs that possess potential benefits against the silent killer condition such as hypertension. [5] In 2010, Mary C. Tassell. et.al. reported in Pharmacognosy Review journal article that among all these herbs, unique bioactive content and a wide range of mechanism of action of Hawthorn make the herb an inimitable antihypertensive herbal therapy, which is not only capable of controlling hypertension but effective against multiple cardiac disorders. [6] Dr. Stephen Sinatra is a highly respected and sought-after cardiologist in America, and he recommends 500 mg of hawthorn, three times daily, to help maintain healthy blood pressure. [7]

What are the phytochemicals present in Hawthorn berry?

The antioxidant property of Hawthorn is a functional property which primarily acts on lowering high blood pressure. Hawthorn is a rich source of bioflavonoids and proanthocyanins. The group of phytochemicals present in Hawthorn significantly provides beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system. Berries, leaves, and flowers of hawthorn are phytochemically similar in composition, therefore, all these parts can be used for therapeutic purposes.  Mary C. Tassell. et.al. reported Bioflavonoids and Proanthocyanins, including oligomeric procyanidins (OPCs), possess significant antioxidant activity. [6]

What is the Mode of action of Hawthorn berry health benefits?

Pharmacognosy Review-Journal Published an article on 2010 reported that Hawthorn has a potent antioxidant property that improves cardiac functioning. Besides cardiac functioning improvement, Hawthorn also improves blood circulation by relaxing the blood vessels. This can achieve by improving the synthesis of nitric oxide and able to decrease angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity.  All these beneficial effects lower high blood pressure level.  [6]

According to the article published in Journal of Research in Medical Sciences (2014), endothelial cell lining is present in the interior of the blood vessels. This lining constriction and dilation are directly involved in constriction and dilation of the blood vessels. The constriction of the blood vessels increases blood pressure and dilation of the blood vessels lowers blood pressure.  Nitric oxide synthesis in the Endothelial cell lining and provide vasodilation. But increase the load of free radicals causes enhancement of oxidative stress and that provides vasoconstriction. Constriction of blood vessels leads to decreased synthesis and availability of nitric oxide, which increases blood pressure. [8] The antioxidant property of Hawthorn can control the overload of oxidative stress.

Research investigator has reported that asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) is a competitor of nitric oxide (NO). They are inversely proportional, which means increase ADMA can lead to decrease in NO synthesis.  Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) can increase the ADMA level. Hawthorn can inhibit ACE and decrease ADMA. Resultant of this increase NO synthesis, which provides vasodilatation and decrease blood pressure.  [9] Hawthorn also follows this same mechanism, which means it has an inhibitory effect on angiotensin-converting enzyme and can control high blood pressure in an effective manner.

Nitric oxide synthase is an enzyme takes part in nitric oxide production in the body. The bioactive constituents of hawthorn contain oligomeric procyanidins and the flavonoid hyperoside can increase nitric oxide synthesis by improving the activity of nitric oxide synthase. [8]

Another positive effect of Hawthorn includes it can able to regulate sympathetic nervous system effects. There are two receptors present in a sympathetic nervous system termed as alpha- and beta-adrenergic receptors. Activation of these sympathetic nervous system receptors mediates hypertension. A research study conducted by The University of Hong Kong showed that Hawthorn extract can block the Alpha-adrenergic receptor and provides the antihypertensive effect. [9]

What are the different forms of Hawthorn berry?

Some herbal dietary supplement manufacturing companies started manufacturing Hawthorn dietary supplements. But these products are US FDA approved. Therefore, consult with a doctor before introducing such a supplement in your diet.

HAWTHORN BERRY USES

Antihypertensive

Platelets aggregation often cause narrowing of the blood vessels which results in high blood pressure. Thromboxane B2 inhibitory effect of Hawthorn extract can prevent platelet aggregation. [3] Hawthorn extract can also prevent age-related high blood pressure.  Because this herb has endothelial protective action and prevents aging-related endothelial dysfunction. The anti-oxidant property of Hawthorn can reduce the prostanoid-mediated contractile responses and the over-expression of inflammatory mediators like COX-1 and COX-2. [3]

Susan WS Leung and her colleague conducted research on rats by using Hawthorn extract (WS 1442), which contains 18.75% oligomeric procyanidins can significantly reduce blood pressure in rats. The finding of results also showed that Hawthorn extract significantly lowers diastolic blood pressure than in systolic blood pressure. Therefore, it indicates the blood pressure-lowering the effect of Hawthorn is due to vasodilatation, which may not alter cardiac functioning.  [9] The similar recommendation also provided by Dr. Walker.  After she treats her hypertensive patients with Hawthorn extract over 16 weeks.  Dr. Walker suggests “As hypertension is such a huge problem in Western societies, any safe, natural approach, which can be used with or without modern drugs, is worth exploring. It is possible to have modern and herbal medicines working in harmony.”  [10] In addition, Susan WS Leung and her colleague also recommended the dose of the hawthorn extracts given to hypertensive patients ranged from 80 to 900 mg taken twice daily orally. [9]

Hawthorn berry benefits heart

Hawthorn can also increase contraction force of the left ventricle that raises cardiac output. In addition, this herb can also enhance calcium ion concentration. Pick concentration of calcium ion is essential for heart muscle contraction and effective to treat patients with congestive heart failure. [3]

High blood pressure induces inflammatory condition and results of this led to the onset of cardiovascular diseases. Hawthorn extract can cause reduction of several inflammatory mediators like COX-2, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 etc. and provides an anti-inflammatory effect.  This also effective to prevent cardiovascular diseases. [3]

The multifocal approach of Hawthorn makes it as a unique herb. Hawthorn controls high blood pressure by regulating the core cause and along with it can able to provide cardio-related discomfort which may occur in hypertension.In 2003, the researcher MH Pittler. et.al reported that chronic heart failure patients with hypertension get significant relief from shortness of breath and fatigue, along with the beneficial effect of decreasing blood pressure and heart rate by Hawthorn treatment. [11]

Hawthorn berry benefits cholesterol

Oxidation of the low-density lipoprotein (LDL), which is considered as a bad cholesterol plays an important role in plaque formation. The outcome of plaque formation is or atherosclerosis. This causes increased blood pressure and other cardiovascular diseases. Hawthorn can reduce LDL level through multiple ways. Hawthorn flavonoids increase LPL expression and that accelerates LDL metabolism. Therefore, several study findings suggested that Hawthorn fruits, leaves and flowers have the potentiality to lower intravascular cholesterol levels and improve cardiac output. [3]

Antioxidant 

According to the laboratory test reports (both in vivo and in-vitro experiments) documented by Jie Wang. et. al. (2013) accepted that apart from antioxidant properties, the active ingredients of hawthorn can also provide positive inotropic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cardiac remodeling effects and another cardiovascular protective effect. [3]

Other Hawthorn berry health benefits

A research study conducted by The University of Hong Kong reported that Hawthorn acts as an adjunct therapy like the antihypertensive α-adrenergic receptor blockers. [9] It also controls other comorbidities like diabetes, hyperlipidemia, which influence high blood pressure.

Hawthorn Berry Side Effects

Most of the study result indicates hawthorn has low toxicity with better tolerable herbal medication for most of the patients. Digestive disorder, nausea and dizziness may occur in some patients after using hawthorn herbal remedy.  [12]

When should I avoid Hawthorn berry?

There is no serious adverse effect reported after treating hypertensive or cardiac disorder patients with hawthorn herbal remedy. But these study reports compare with placebo. Patients who have already under cardiac treatment should discuss with their doctor for correct measure.  Hawthorn may interact with other prescribed medications.

References

1. Dr. Mercola. Hawthorn Berry for Your Heart. 
2. Jie Wang, Xingjiang Xiong, Bo Feng. Effect of Crataegus Usage in Cardiovascular Disease Prevention: An Evidence-Based Approach. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2013; 2013: 149363. 
3. Sotiris Antoniou et al. Management of Hypertensive Patients With Multiple Drug Intolerances: A Single‐Center Experience of a Novel Treatment Algorithm. The journal of Clinical Hypertension
4. Nahida Tabassum, Feroz Ahmad. Role of natural herbs in the treatment of hypertension. Pharmacogn Rev. 2011 Jan-Jun; 5(9): 30–40
5. Mary C. Tassell et al. Hawthorn (Crataegus spp.) in the treatment of cardiovascular disease. Pharmacogn Rev. 2010 Jan-Jun; 4(7): 32–41.
6. Dr. Stephen Sinatra. (2019) Hawthorn Berry for Blood Pressure: Benefits & Dosage.
7. Azar Baradaran, Hamid Nasri, Mahmoud Rafieian-Kopaei. Oxidative stress and hypertension: Possibility of hypertension therapy with antioxidants. J Res Med Sci. 2014 Apr; 19(4): 358–367
8. Susan WS, Miranda MW Wong, and Ricky YK Man. Effects of an Extract of Hawthorn on Arterial Blood Pressure in Anaesthetized Rats. Cardiol Pharmacol 2013, 2:1
9. Clinical trial Results of Hawthorn Extract for High Blood Pressure.
10. Pittler MH, Schmidt K, Ernst E. Hawthorn extract for treating chronic heart failure:  meta-analysis of randomized trials. Am J Med. 2003  Jun 1;114(8):665-74.
11. Hawthorn. National Center for  Complementary and Integrative Health