Chinese Herbs In Western View - Shan Zha (Fructus Crataegi) Health Benefits and Side Effects

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Shan Zha is also known as hawthorn fruit. The sour, sweet, and slightly warm has been used in TCM to treat indigestion, flatulence, diarrhea, amenorrhea, postpartum blood stasis, acute pain in chest and abdomen area, pain in hernia, high lipids, etc. as it promotes digestion, transforms food retention,  invigorates Blood, eliminates accumulation, etc. by enhancing the functions of spleen, liver and stomach channels.

Ingredients
1. Malic acid
2. Caffeic acid
3. Oleanolic acid
4. Crataegolic acid
5. Epicatechin
6. Quercetin
7. Hyperoside
8. Chlorogenic acid、
9. Citric acid
10. Citric acid symmetrical monomethyl ester.
11. Etc.

Health Benefits
1. Antiatherogenic effect
In the study to investigate the antiatherogenic effect and possible mechanisms of the extracts of Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae (RSM) or Fructus Crataegi (FC), as well as their interaction, showed that RSM and FC could inhibit the atherogenesis formation and development, which might be due to regulating the lipid metabolism, enhancing the antioxidation, and reducing the release of inflammatory factors(1).

2. Strengthen blood circulation
In the study to evaluate Jiang-Zhi-Ning (JZN), composed of four Chinese herbs, i.e., Fleeceflower Root, Fructus Crataegi, Folium Nelumbinis and Semen Cassiae used to strengthen blood circulation of coronary artery, arrhythmia and hyperlipidemia, showed that Extract and effective fraction of JZN significantly reduced contents of Serum total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), CRI and AI in hyperlipidemic rats as well as significantly increased contents of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), in the rats. Moreover, they significantly enhanced the activity of NOS and increased contents of NO(2).

3. Monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B) inhibition
In the study to investigate MAO-B kinetic constants, K(i), K(m) and IC₅₀ based on quantitative of the substrate peak area compared with the reference electropherogram obtained from without the inhibitor.
Showed that  the screening of 16 natural extracts was performed, and 2 natural extracts from Fructus crataegi and Radix polygoni multiflori were identified to be positive for MAO-B inhibition(3).

4. Diuretic effect
In the study to determine the effects of mixtures of selected medicinal plants on some physiological renal functions, i.e. excretion of urine and electrolytes and changes in the quantity of prostaglandins E2 (PGE2) and kallikrein-kinins in rat blood plasma after water and salt load, found that the greatest diuretic effect was found in a mixture composed of birch leaves (Betulae folium), hawthorn berries (Crataegi fructus), strawberry leaves (Fragariae folium), corn silk (Maydis stigmata), chamomile flowers (Matricariae flos), and horsetail herb (Equiseti herba)(4).

5. Sexual activity and erectile function
In the study to investigate SA1 (Korean red ginseng, fermented soybean, Tribulus terrestris, Fructus Rubi, Fructus Lycii, Semen Cuscutae, Dioscorea Rhizome, Fructus Corni and Fructus Crataegi)using both in vitro and in vivo experiments on laboratory animals in order to determine its effect on the sexual behavior and penile erection, indicated that there was an overall increase in the copulatory behavior parameters in the SA1-treated rats, which was reflected by a decrease in the mount and intromission latencies and an increase in the ejaculation latency and mount frequency. SA1 significantly increased the ratio of the intracavernous pressure to mean arterial pressure. In vitro, SA1 significantly enhanced the relaxation responses to acetylcholine. These results suggest that SA1 improves the sexual activity and erectile function(5).

5. Etc.

Side Effects
1. Do not use the herb in case of spleen deficiency without digestion or abundance of stomach acid or peptic ulcers
2. Do not use the herb in newborn, children or if you are pregnant or breast feeding without first consulting with the related field specialist.
3. Etc. 

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For other Chinese herbs in western view, visit http://chineseherbsinnutrientsperspective.blogspot.com/2011/10/chinese-herbs-in-western-view-health.html 

For other health articles, please visit http://medicaladvisorjournals.blogspot.com/ 
Sources
(1) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21710751 
(2) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21316437
(3) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20980208 
(4) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17619305
(5) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16819173 

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