herb research - hawthorn

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Crataegus oxycantha

(Hawthorne)

 

Therapeutic Actions:

* Adaptogen specific for the circulatory system

* Cardiotonic

* Collagen stabilizing action

* Cross links collagen fibers

* Improves cardiac metabolism

* Improves coronary circulation by dilating coronary vessels

* Increases and sustains action of arterioles with principle influence on

the myocardium

* Increases enzyme metabolism in heart muscle

* Increases intracellular vitamin C levels and stabilizes it

* Increases oxygen utilization by the heart

* Inhibits angiotensin converting enzyme

* Inhibits cAMP phosphodiesterase thus increasing the levels of cAMP

* Inhibits enzymatic cleavage by enzymes secreted by leukocytes during

inflammation

* Prevents free radical damage

* Prevents the release and synthesis of compounds that promote inflammation

(histamine, prostaglandins, serine proteases, leukotrienes)

* Regulates distribution of heart rhythm

* Restores myocardial reserve

* Sedative

* Trophorestorative

Clinical Indications:

* Atherosclerosis

* Congestive heart failure

* Hypertension

* Rheumatoid arthritis

* Acute myocardial insufficiency

* Angina pectoris

* Digitalis withdrawal

* Dyspnea

* Endocarditis, myocarditis and pericarditis

* Hypertrophy

* Inflammation

* Nervous depression

* Palpitations

* Periodontal disease

* Tachycardia

* Valvular murmur

* Vertigo

Contraindications:

* None known

Drug/Nutrient Interaction:

* Enhances the effects of digitalis, g-strophanthin, the cardiac herbs,

Convallaria majalis and Adonis vernalis, and the cardiac glycosides,

digitoxin and digoxin, due to the polymeric procyanidins

Chemical Constituents:

* Amygdalin

* Cardiotonic amines:

Isobutylamine

Omethoxphenylethylamine

Phenylethylamine

Tyramine

* Catechins

* Choline and acetycholine

* Flavone glycosides

* Flavonoids:

Quercetin

Quercetin-3-galactoside

Vitexin

Vitexin-4'-rhamnoside

* Flavonoid compounds:

Anthocyanidins

Proanthocyanidins

* Pectins: triterpene acids - oleanolic, ursolic, crataegolic

* Purine derivatives:

Adenine

Adenosine

Caffeic acid

Guanine

* Saponins

* Trimethylamine, a circulatory depressant

* Vitamin C

Toxicity:

* None known