PHENOLIC COMPOUNDS OF HAWTHORN (Crataegus spp.): THEIR BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY ASSOCIATED TO THE PROTECTION OF HUMAN HEALTH

Abstract

Hawthorn (Crataegus spp.) is a plant widely distributed in Mexico, where it is mainly used as food for humans and feed for livestock. Its use in traditional medicine is low, compared to that in other countries. Historically, the fruit has been used to treat many conditions, including cardiovascular diseases, which represent one of the leading causes of death in Mexico and the world. Scientific studies attribute some beneficial effects of hawthorn to phenolic compounds. In this review, the beneficial effects attributed to hawthorn and the mechanisms of action involved are analyzed in a critical and systematic way in order to promote its use in the treatment of various diseases considered in Mexico as public health problems.