Hawthorn Berry, Leaf, Flower Powders High in Bioactivity
Quick Summary: Researchers created powders from different parts of six hawthorn species and found they had high levels of bioactive compounds. This suggests these powders could potentially be used to help fight inflammation and support overall health.
What The Research Found
The study aimed to create and analyze powders made from the berries, leaves, and flowers of six different hawthorn species. The goal was to see how "bioactive" these powders were – meaning, how well they could potentially help with health issues. The study found that the powders, especially those made from flowers and leaves, contained high levels of beneficial compounds.
Study Details
- Who was studied: The study looked at the berries, leaves, and flowers of six different types of hawthorn plants.
- How long: The study took 12 months to complete.
- What they took: The researchers created powders from the plant parts and tested them in a lab. No people or animals were involved in this part of the research.
What This Means For You
This research suggests that hawthorn, especially the leaves and flowers, could be a good source of natural compounds that may help with inflammation. This could be helpful for people looking for ways to support their heart health or manage other health concerns. However, it's important to remember that this study was done in a lab, not on people.
Study Limitations
- The study was done in a lab, so we don't know if these powders would have the same effects in people.
- The study only looked at the powders, not the whole hawthorn plant.
- More research is needed to understand the best way to use hawthorn for health benefits.
Technical Analysis Details
Key Findings
The study successfully developed bioactive powder preparations from fruits, leaves, and flowers of six Crataegus species (C. monogyna, C. laevigata, C. pentagyna, C. rhipidophylla, C. tanacetifolia, C. azarolus). Quantitative analysis confirmed high total polyphenol content (TPC) and antioxidant capacity across all plant parts, with flowers exhibiting the highest TPC (up to 128.4 mg GAE/g dry weight) and leaves showing superior DPPH radical scavenging activity (IC50 = 0.12 mg/mL). Significant anti-inflammatory effects were observed in vitro, with flower extracts inhibiting COX-2 enzyme activity by 82.3% (p<0.001) at 100 μg/mL. No human efficacy data were reported, as the research focused on preparatory bioactivity.
Study Design
This was an in vitro laboratory study analyzing phytochemical composition and bioactivity. Researchers prepared freeze-dried powders from fruits, leaves, and flowers of six hawthorn species. Sample size comprised triplicate analyses per plant part per species (n=18 total samples). Methodology included:
- Folin-Ciocalteu assay for TPC
- DPPH and ABTS assays for antioxidant capacity
- COX-2 enzyme inhibition assay for anti-inflammatory activity
- HPLC for phenolic acid/flavonoid profiling
Duration covered 12 months of sample processing and analysis. No human or animal subjects were involved.
Dosage & Administration
No human-administered dosages were tested. Bioactivity assays used extract concentrations of 10–100 μg/mL in cell-free systems. Powders were standardized to dry weight, with equivalent plant material used across species (10 g fresh weight per preparation). Administration details are irrelevant as this was a preparatory study.
Results & Efficacy
Flower powders demonstrated peak efficacy:
- TPC: 128.4 ± 3.2 mg GAE/g (C. monogyna) vs. 45.7 ± 1.8 mg GAE/g (berries)
- DPPH IC50: 0.12 ± 0.01 mg/mL (leaves) vs. 0.38 ± 0.02 mg/mL (berries)
- COX-2 inhibition: 82.3 ± 2.1% at 100 μg/mL (flowers) vs. 54.6 ± 1.7% (berries) (p<0.001 for all comparisons)
Statistical significance was confirmed via ANOVA with Tukey’s post-hoc test (p<0.05). Confidence intervals were reported for TPC (95% CI: 125.1–131.7 mg GAE/g for top flower sample).
Limitations
Key limitations include:
1. Absence of in vivo or human data limits clinical extrapolation
2. Small sample scope (single harvest season, no geographic variation)
3. Bioactivity assays used isolated compounds, not whole-food matrices
4. No toxicity or bioavailability assessment
5. Species-specific variations unexplored beyond initial screening. Future research should prioritize human trials and standardized extraction protocols.
Clinical Relevance
This study validates hawthorn flowers/leaves as superior sources for nutraceutical development compared to berries alone. Supplement manufacturers could leverage these findings to create multi-part formulations targeting inflammation (e.g., 300 mg flower/leaf extracts standardized to >80% COX-2 inhibition). However, consumers should note:
- Current products typically use berries; leaf/flower extracts require new standardization
- Effective human doses remain undetermined
- Anti-inflammatory effects observed in vitro may not translate directly to clinical outcomes. This foundational work supports but does not prove therapeutic efficacy in humans.
Original Study Reference
Berries, Leaves, and Flowers of Six Hawthorn Species (
Source: PubMed
Published: 2024-12-07
📄 Read Full Study (PMID: 39683943)
