Haw7.5

Hawthorn Research

32 peer-reviewed studies · Evidence score: 7.5/10

Would integrated Western and traditional Chinese medicine have more benefits for stroke rehabilitation? A systematic review and meta-analysis

Zhong LL et al. • Stroke and vascular neurology (2022)

Our results indicate that the combined use of CM and WM could be more efficacious in stroke rehabilitation compared with the use of WM therapy alone.

Our results indicate that the combined use of CM and WM could be more efficacious in stroke rehabilitation compared with the use of WM therapy alone.
However, most studies were short in duration (2 to 4 weeks) and prone to different types of biases, which prevents making any conclusion regarding the long-term effects and raises concerns regarding true efficacy in context of high likelihood of Hawthorn bias.
So, more randomised controlled trials with more rigorous design and longer duration of treatment and follow-up need to be conducted to compare WM alone versus WM and CM combined.

Meta-Analysisn=6,339

DOI

The effects of medicinal and food homologous substances on blood lipid and blood glucose levels and liver function in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials

Zhang Q et al. • Lipids in health and disease (2023)

In patients with NAFLD, dietary intervention using medicinal and food homologous substances can ameliorate blood lipid and blood glucose levels and liver enzymes to some extent.

In patients with NAFLD, dietary intervention using medicinal and food homologous substances can ameliorate blood lipid and blood glucose levels and liver enzymes to some extent.
Further research warranted to confirm findings

Systematic Reviewn=829

DOI

Hawthorn (Crataegus spp.) in the treatment of cardiovascular disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Holubarsch CJF et al. • Pharmacological Research (2018)

Hawthorn extract significantly improved maximal workload capacity and reduced symptoms of heart failure including dyspnea and fatigue.

Hawthorn extract (WS 1442) significantly improved maximal workload in heart failure patients
Exercise tolerance increased by approximately 7 watts compared to placebo
Symptoms of dyspnea and fatigue were significantly reduced

Meta-Analysisn=3,700

DOI

Traditional Chinese medicines benefit to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Shi KQ et al. • Molecular biology reports (2012)

In conclusion, TCM is of modest benefit to the treatment of NAFLD.

Comparing with western medicines mentioned above, TCM had a better effect on the normalization of alanine aminotransferase and disappearance of radiological steatosis in the treatment of NAFLD.
Furthermore, 246 kinds of Chinese herbs were included in our present study, with an average of 10 herbs (range 1-31) in each formulation.
Hawthorn Fruit (321 times in 17,670 patients) was the most often used herb in the treatment of NAFLD.

Meta-Analysisn=25,661

DOI

The combination of hawthorn extract and camphor significantly increases blood pressure: A meta-analysis and systematic review

Csupor D et al. • Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology (2019)

Korodin® is an effective and presumably safe complementary therapy for the treatment of hypotension.

Korodin® is an effective and presumably safe complementary therapy for the treatment of hypotension.
Its blood pressure increasing effect is confirmed; however, the evidence supporting its use is very limited.
The optimum dose and duration of treatment is still unclear.

Meta-Analysisn=221

DOI

Hawthorn extract for chronic heart failure: A Cochrane review

Pittler MH et al. • Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (2008)

Hawthorn extract significantly improved symptoms and exercise capacity.

Improved maximal workload
Reduced symptoms (dyspnea, fatigue)
Well-tolerated

Systematic Reviewn=855

DOI

Nutraceuticals in Patients With Heart Failure: A Systematic Review

Hopper I et al. • Journal of cardiac failure (2020)

Only one nutraceutical, omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid, received a positive recommendation in the Australian heart failure guidelines.

Only one nutraceutical, omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid, received a positive recommendation in the Australian heart failure guidelines.
Although occasionally showing some promise, all other nutraceuticals are inadequately studied to allow any conclusion on efficacy.
Clinicians should favor other treatments that have been clearly shown to decrease mortality.

Systematic Reviewn=50

DOI

Adverse-event profile of Crataegus spp.: a systematic review

Daniele C et al. • Drug safety (2006)

Moreover, the unsupervised use of this drug can be associated with problems, especially if given with concomitant medications.

The extracts most used in the clinical trials were WS 1,442 (extract of hawthorn standardised to 18.75% oligomeric procyanidins) and LI 132 (extract of hawthorn standardised to 2.25% flavonoids).
In the identified trials, the most frequent adverse events were dizziness (n = 6), nausea (n = 5), fall (n = 2), gastrointestinal haemorrhage (n = 2), circulation failure (n = 2) and erythematous rash (n = 2).
There were no reports of drug interactions.

Systematic Reviewn=7,311

DOI

The effects of custodial vs non-custodial sanctions on reoffending: lessons from a systematic review

Killias M et al. • Psicothema (2008)

Equal rates of re-offending do not mean that <<nothing works>> or <<nothing matters>>, but that criminal justice policies should not be based on the belief that short-term confinement will be damaging.

However, this outcome may be biased because, in most quasi-experiments of this kind, subjects with the worst prospects of rehabilitation are likely to be sent to prison.
In a meta-analysis limited to five randomised controlled trials and one natural experiment, it is concluded that custodial and non-custodial sanctions do not differ significantly in terms of re-offending.
Lessons from this review include, in view of future evaluations, the need to increase randomised controlled trials, to use broader measures of re-offending and rehabilitation, to look at long-term effects, and to deal with possible Hawthorn effects.

Systematic Review

[Meta-analysis of randomized clinical studies. Hawthorn extract for treatment of chronic cardiac insufficiency]

Pittler MH et al. • Pharmazie in unserer Zeit (2005)

This meta-analysis examined the effects of Hawthorn.

Meta-analysis examining Hawthorn efficacy
Further research warranted to confirm findings

Meta-Analysis

DOI

Effects of a Scutellaria baicalensis/Crataegus laevigata, magnesium and chromium supplement on stressed individuals: A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial

Dodd F et al. • Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England) (2025)

The herbal supplement is safe and enhances mood, reduces subjective anxiety, and improves cognition under stress, though cognitive effects are variable without stress exposure.The study was registered on clinicaltrials.gov (identifier: NCT05757050).

A higher proportion of subjects experienced ⩾30% gains in social satisfaction scores after 7 days.
The herbal supplement is safe and enhances mood, reduces subjective anxiety, and improves cognition under stress, though cognitive effects are variable without stress exposure.The study was registered on clinicaltrials.gov (identifier: NCT05757050).
Further research warranted to confirm findings

Crossovern=43

DOI

Gelanxinning capsule improves coronary microvascular dysfunction by inhibiting inflammation and restoring endothelial function

Dong MY et al. • European review for medical and pharmacological sciences (2023)

In conclusion, GXSC could improve CMD by inhibiting inflammation and restoring endothelial function.

All patients were randomly divided into 2 groups: GXSC, 38 (48.7%), and control, 40 (51.3%).
Anti-inflammatory adropin was increased in the GXSC group (7.75±0.59 vs. 5.71±0.68, p=0.03).
In conclusion, GXSC could improve CMD by inhibiting inflammation and restoring endothelial function.

RCTn=78

DOI

Treating unstable angina with detoxifying and blood-activating formulae: A randomized controlled trial

Wu M et al. • Journal of ethnopharmacology (2021)

Detoxifying and blood-activating formulae can reduce the frequency and relieve symptoms of unstable angina, and this mechanism may be related to a regulation of the balance of pro- and anti-inflammatory factors.

After intervention, the hs-CRP, TNF-α, and IL-6 levels decreased, while the IL-10 and adiponectin levels significantly increased in the experimental group (P < 0.05 or 0.01).
The ratios of the inflammatory factors significantly decreased after treatment, particularly in the experimental group (P < 0.01).
Detoxifying and blood-activating formulae can reduce the frequency and relieve symptoms of unstable angina, and this mechanism may be related to a regulation of the balance of pro- and anti-inflammatory factors.

RCTn=144

DOI

The chronic effects of a combination of herbal extracts (Euphytose(®)) on psychological mood state and response to a laboratory stressor: A randomised, placebo-controlled, double blind study in healthy humans

Dodd F et al. • Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England) (2022)

The combination of herbal extracts contained within the MHEP reduced subjective anxiety in a healthy population and lowered electrodermal skin conductance and concentration of salivary α-amylase in response to a psychosocial stressor, compared to placebo.

The combination of herbal extracts contained within the MHEP reduced subjective anxiety in a healthy population and lowered electrodermal skin conductance and concentration of salivary α-amylase in response to a psychosocial stressor, compared to placebo.
The study was registered on clinicaltrials.gov (identifier: NCT03909906).
Further research warranted to confirm findings

RCTn=31

DOI

[Umbilical therapy combined with moxibustion for autumn diarrhea in children]

Liu XZ et al. • Zhongguo zhen jiu = Chinese acupuncture & moxibustion (2019)

The umbilical therapy combined with moxibustion could improve the symptoms of diarrhea and shorten the recovery time in children of different ages with autumn diarrhea, which have better efficacy than montmorillonite powder.

The total effective rate was 95.0% (57/60) in the observation group, which was superior to 76.7% (46/60) in the control group (P<0.05).
Three months after treatment, the recurrence rate was 0% (0/36) in acute phase and 4.8% (1/21) in chronic phase in the observation group, which were superior to 9.7% (3/31) in acute phase and 46.7% (7/15) in chronic phase in the control group (P<0.05).
The umbilical therapy combined with moxibustion could improve the symptoms of diarrhea and shorten the recovery time in children of different ages with autumn diarrhea, which have better efficacy than montmorillonite powder.

RCTn=120

DOI

Detection and initial management of gestational diabetes through primary health care services in Morocco: An effectiveness-implementation trial

Utz B et al. • PloS one (2018)

A high GDM prevalence in Morocco calls for a context-adapted screening and management approach to enable early interventions.

GDM prevalence reached 23.7% in Marrakech.
Birthweight in the intervention group was 147grams lower than in the control group (p = 0.08) as was the proportion of macrosomes (3.5% versus 18.4%; p< 0.001).
In the intervention arm, women did two times more follow-ups than at control sites (p = 0.001) and mean follow-up intervals were shorter (11.3 days versus 18.7 days; p < 0.001).

RCTn=210

DOI

Effect of vitamin C and hawthorn beverage formula on blood pressure and oxidative stress in heat-exposed workers: a cluster-randomized controlled trial

Du W et al. • Asia Pacific journal of clinical nutrition (2024)

Supplementation of Vit C and flavonoids rich hawthorn beverage to heat-exposed workers prevented elevated BP caused by heat exposure which may be attributed to its oxidative stress inhibition effects.

Supplementation of Vit C and flavonoids rich hawthorn beverage to heat-exposed workers prevented elevated BP caused by heat exposure which may be attributed to its oxidative stress inhibition effects.
Further research warranted to confirm findings

RCTn=36

DOI

Effects of Hawthorn Fruit Supplementation on Facial Skin Phenotypes and Leukocyte Telomere Length Stratified by TERT Polymorphisms

Kim M et al. • Nutrients (2025)

These findings suggest that HF consumption may have potential anti-skin-aging effects.

These findings suggest that HF consumption may have potential anti-skin-aging effects.
Future studies may need to elucidate the biological mechanisms underlying these effects.
Further research warranted to confirm findings

RCTn=17

DOI

Electrocardiographic effects of hawthorn (Crataegus oxyacantha) in healthy volunteers: A randomized controlled trial

Trexler SE et al. • Phytotherapy research : PTR (2018)

In conclusion, a single dose of oral hawthorn had no effect on electrocardiographic parameters in healthy volunteers.

No significant differences in 4- or 6-hr QTc I were seen between hawthorn and placebo.
Maximum post-dose QTc I in the hawthorn and placebo groups were similar (346 ± 35 vs 346 ± 40 ms; p = .979).
No significant adverse events were seen.

RCTn=20

DOI

Impressions of using the Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory as an outcome measure: Lessons learnt for future clinical researchers (innovative practice)

Brett L et al. • Dementia (London, England) (2020)

It is important that tools originally developed for research are still valid and reliable in the clinical setting.

It was the primary outcome measure for a randomised controlled trial which evaluated the effects and feasibility of a physiotherapist-led physical exercise intervention on agitation and physical performance of individuals living with dementia in nursing homes.
The study produced weak results in regards to the Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory due to small sample size and perceived issues with the use of the Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory.
Therefore, the focus of this paper is consideration of the identified issues by the research team: learnt effect and Hawthorn effect, misunderstanding of behaviours and inaccurate recall and observation.

RCT

DOI

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