Crataegus (common hawthorn) extracts in cardiac failure - are there new promising results and outlooks?

Crataegus (common hawthorn) extracts traditionally are used for the treatme nt of early stages of cardiac failure. Recent pharmacological studies revea led remarkable positive inotropic, antiarrhythmic, antioxidative and cardio protective effects. Presently this is attributed to the oligomeric procyani dines, which are important constituents of the extract. In recent clinical trials with patients suffering from NYHA II cardiac failure, an increase in exercise capacity and also other favorable cardiovascular effects could be demonstrated after several weeks' treatment with daily doses of 900 mg dry extract. In ongoing studies the effects of hawthorn extract on several car diovascular parameters and on cardiovascular endpoints of patients with NYH A II-III cardiac failure are under investigation. Hopefully, crataegus extr act which is very well tolerated, could complete the standard treatment of chronic cardiac failure in the future.