Crataegus
Hawthorn
Crataegus, commonly known as hawthorn, is a versatile medicinal shrub cherished for centuries in traditional herbalism. Renowned primarily for its profound cardiovascular benefits, it supports heart health by improving circulation and regulating blood pressure. Its nutrient-rich berries and flowers offer potent antioxidant properties, promoting overall vitality and wellness.
- Scientific name: Crataegus
- Family: Rosaceae
- Native range: Europe
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Rosales and the family Rosaceae, it is classified under the genus Crataegus.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Rosales | WCVP |
| Family | Rosaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Crataegus | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Crataegus, is referred to by various common names depending on the language and region. In Polish, it is called głóg, while in Scottish Gaelic, it is known as Sgitheach. Moving to different linguistic traditions, it is called Hodar in Lebanese, Долонно in Kyrgyz, and སྐྱུ་རུ་དམན་པ། in Tibetan.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| lb | Hodar | Wikidata |
| ky | Долоно | Wikidata |
| bo | སྐྱུ་རུ་དམན་པ། | Wikidata |
| pl | głóg | Wikidata |
| gd | Sgitheach | Wikidata |
| hu | galagonya | Wikidata |
| et | viirpuu | Wikidata |
| sq | Bima e murrizit | Wikidata |
| el | Κράταιγος | Wikidata |
| sv | Hagtornssläktet | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant is widely distributed across several regions within Northern Europe. Specifically, its presence can be noted throughout the coastal and inland areas of Denmark. It also grows naturally within the expansive landscapes of Finland. Furthermore, the species is commonly found across the islands of Great Britain and Ireland. Finally, its geographical range extends into the rugged terrains of Norway.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Europe | Denmark | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Finland | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Great Britain | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Ireland | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Norway | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Sweden | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Austria | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Belgium | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Czechia-Slovakia | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Germany | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, commonly known as hawthorn, offers various components used in traditional medicine. The vibrant flowers often bloom in clusters during the spring, and observing the leaves with flowers can help in the correct identification of the species in the wild. While the botanical classification refers to the fleshy fruit produced by the tree, these are often colloquially described as small berries due to their appearance. Additionally, the medicinal properties of the plant can be found in the leaves, which are frequently studied for their bioactive compounds.- Total parts
- 7
- Scientific sources
- 14
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| leaves | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| fruit | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| flowers | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| berries | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaves with flowers | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| fruits | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| blooms | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Crataegus has 33 reported phytochemicals identified across 39 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include flavonoids, ursolic acid, Ba, Cd, Cr.
- Total chemicals
- 33
- Scientific sources
- 39
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| flavonoids | 6 | ★★★☆☆ |
| ursolic acid | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Ba | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Cd | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Cr | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Cu | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Fe | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Ni | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Pb | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Zn | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Crataegus has 11 reported activities identified across 13 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Anticancer, Antioxidant, Antiarrhythmic, Antihypertensive, Antitumor.
- Total activities
- 11
- Scientific sources
- 13
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Anticancer | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antioxidant | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiarrhythmic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antihypertensive | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antitumor | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Cardioprotective | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Chemopreventive | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Cytoprotective | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Hypoglycemic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Hypolipidemic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Crataegus has 36 reported medicinal uses identified across 40 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include anxiety, cancer, cholesterol, inflammation, DNA damage.
- Total uses
- 36
- Scientific sources
- 40
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| anxiety | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cancer | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cholesterol | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| inflammation | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| DNA damage | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| atherosclerosis | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| blood glucose | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| blood sugar | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cardiovascular diseases | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| congestive heart failure | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |