Potential Antithrombotic Effect of Crataegus Species

  Hawthorn (Crataegus), a highly important medicinal and aromatic plant, has been used for many years in the treatment of various diseases. In folk medicine, hawthorn has been used to treat asthma, hyperlipidemia, heart failure, and pain. Today, one of the predominant uses of hawthorn extract is to combat Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), such as angina, hypertension, arrhythmias, and congestive heart failure. Crataegus species contain flavonoids, proanthocyanidins, organic acids and certain amines. Since thrombus is one of the most common causes of many CVDs, the purpose of this review is to evaluate the antithrombotic effect of various hawthorn species and some of their constituents. In the previously conducted research, we have investigated the antithrombotic effects of the ethanol extracts of Crataegus orientalis, C. monogyna, C. davisii, and also, apigenin, vitexin, quercetin, hyperoside, flavonoids which are found in the Crataegus species, in the carrageenan-induced tail thrombosis model. Our results have shown that the extracts and the flavonoids of the Crataegus species are potentially effective against thrombosis and therefore it can be considered as candidates for the development of new antithrombotic agents and for use in complementary medicine as well.