The Mediterranean DietAn Evidence-Based Approach
2015, Pages 621–628
Chapter 55 – Mediterranean Hawthorn Fruit (Crataegus) Species and Potential Usage
Abstract
In
most European, Mediterranean, and Asian countries, hawthorn herbs and
phytomedicines are treated as drugs to be used in conjunction with
conventional medicines. In Europe, the fruit, leaves, and flowers of the
plant were traditionally employed in the treatment of heart problems
because of their antispasmodic, cardiotonic, hypotensive, and
antiatherosclerotic effects. Today, the plant is mainly used to treat
cardiovascular diseases, and it remains a therapeutic agent for cancer,
diabetes, cough, flu, asthma, stomach ache, rheumatic pain, nephritis,
and hemorrhoids in Mediterranean traditional medicine. Of the the many
hawthorn species, Crataegus monogyna Jacq. is commonly cultivated in Mediterranean countries.
Keywords
- Hawthorn;
- Crataegus species;
- Traditional use;
- Health
Abbreviations
- ABTS
- 2,2′-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid
- CUPRAC
- cupric reducing antioxidant capacity
- DW
- dry weight
- FRAP
- ferric reducing antioxidant potency
- GAE
- gallic acid equivalent
