Search Results (5)

Crataegus oxyacantha is used in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the transplacental genotoxicity effect of aqueous (AE) and hydroalcoholic extract (HE) of leaves C. oxyacantha in a rat model and the quantification of malondialdehyde (MDA) in the liver. Three different doses of the AE and HE of the C. oxyacantha leaf were administered orally (500, 1000 and 2000 mg/kg) to Wistar rats during 5 days through the pregnancy term (16–21 days), and sampling in rats occurred every 24 h during the last 6 days of gestation, while only one sample was taken in neonates at birth. A sample of the mother’s and the neonate’s liver was taken for the determination of MDA. The results show that, at the hepatic level, the evaluated doses of extracts C. oxyacantha in pregnant rats and their pups did not show cytotoxicity. However, the AE and HE generated cytotoxic and genotoxic damage in the short term. On the other hand, only the AE showed a teratogenic effect. Based on these results, the AE and HE of the C. oxyacantha leaf should not be administered during pregnancy. Full article

Salinity is a severe abiotic problem that has harmful impacts on agriculture. Recently, biostimulants were defined as bioprotectant materials that promote plant growth and improve productivity under various stress conditions. In this study, we investigated the effect of Crataegus oxyacantha extract as a biostimulant on tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum) grown under salt stress. Concentrations of 20 mg/L, 30 mg/L, and 70 mg/L of C. oxyacantha extract were applied to tomato plants that were grown under salt stress. The results indicated that plants that were treated with C. oxyacantha extract had a higher ability to tolerate salt stress, as demonstrated by a significant (p < 0.05) increase in plant growth and photosynthetic pigment contents, in addition to a significant increase in tomato soluble sugars and amino acids compared to the control plants. In the stressed tomato plants, malondialdehyde increased and then decreased significantly with the different concentrations of C. oxyacantha extract. Furthermore, there was a significant improvement in the antioxidant enzyme activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione S-transferase (GST), and glutathione reductase (GR) in the stressed plants, especially after treatment with 70 mg/L of the extract. Overall, our results suggest that C. oxyacantha extract could be a promising biostimulant for treating tomato plants under salinity stress. Full article

Crataegus oxyacantha has been mainly used in traditional medicine for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. However, its safety profile has not been fully established, since only the genotoxic effects of C. oxyacantha fruit have been described. Therefore, the objective of this work was evaluating the cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of the aqueous and hydroalcoholic leaf and bark extracts of C. oxyacantha by means of the micronucleus test in a murine model. Doses of 2000, 1000, and 500 mg/kg of both extracts were administered orally for 5 days in mice of the Balb-C strain. Peripheral blood smears were performed at 0, 24, 48, 72, and 96 h after each administration. The number of polychromatic erythrocytes (PCEs), micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes (MNPCEs), and micronucleated erythrocytes (MNEs) was determined at the different sampling times. Our results showed that the leaf and bark of C. oxyacantha increase the number of MNEs at the 2000 mg/kg dose, and only the aqueous leaf extract decreases the number of PCEs at the same dose. Therefore, the aqueous and hydroalcoholic leaf and bark extracts of C. oxyacantha showed genotoxic effects, and only the aqueous leaf extract exhibited cytotoxic effects. Full article

Hawthorn (HAW) is a herbal preparation extracted from Crataegus oxyacantha. HAW has cardioprotective, antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, and anti-hypotensive effects. HAW’s effect on hepatic fibrosis remains, however, unknown. This study evaluated the impact of HAW on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepatic fibrosis in rats and elucidated its mechanisms. HAW reduced liver index and the serum liver enzyme markers and reduced liver damage, and fibrosis as confirmed by histopathological scoring of hematoxylin-eosin staining. Collagen deposition was reduced in HAW group compared to CCl4 group as confirmed by Masson staining, hydroxyproline content, and both mRNA and protein levels of alpha-smooth muscle actin, collagen 1 and 3. HAW also down regulated the gene expressions of inflammatory markers including interleukin-IL-1β, tumor necrosis factor-α, transforming growth factor-β 1, nuclear factor kappa-B, and cyclooxygenase-2 and decreased the myeloperoxidase activity. The effects of HAW was also associated with decreased levels of hepatic oxidative stress markers (malondialdehyde and P.Carbonyl) and with increased activity of superoxide dismutase. Those effects are possibly mediated by blocking the pro-oxidant machinery and down regulating the inflammatory and profibrotic responses. Finally, chlorogenic acid, epicatechin, rutin, vitexin quercetin, and iso quercetin were identified as the major species of polyphenols of the HAW herbal preparation used here. Therefore, HAW’s potent protecting effects against liver fibrosis predicts a significant beneficial application. Full article

Numerous studies have supported a role for oxidative stress in the development of ischemic damage and endothelial dysfunction. Crataegus oxyacantha (Co) and Rosmarinus officinalis (Ro) extracts are polyphenolic-rich compounds that have proven to be efficient in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. We studied the effect of extracts from Co and Ro on the myocardial damage associated with the oxidative status and to the production of different vasoactive agents. Rats were assigned to the following groups: (a) sham; (b) vehicle-treated myocardial infarction (MI) (MI-V); (c) Ro extract-treated myocardial infarction (MI-Ro); (d) Co extract-treated myocardial infarction (MI-Co); or (e) Ro+Co-treated myocardial infarction (MI-Ro+Co). Ro and Co treatments increased total antioxidant capacity, the expression of superoxide dismutase (SOD)-Cu²⁺/Zn²⁺, SOD-Mn²⁺, and catalase, with the subsequent decline of malondialdehyde and 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine levels. The extracts diminished vasoconstrictor peptide levels (angiotensin II and endothelin-1), increased vasodilators agents (angiotensin 1–7 and bradikinin) and improved nitric oxide metabolism. Polyphenol treatment restored the left intraventricular pressure and cardiac mechanical work. We conclude that Ro and Co treatment attenuate morphological and functional ischemic-related changes by both an oxidant load reduction and improvement of the balance between vasoconstrictors and vasodilators. Full article