Hyperlipidemia treated with TCM herb hawthorn berry

What is hawthorn berry (Shan Zha)?
When used as medicine, it mainly refers to the ripe fruits of Crataegus pinnatifida Bge.var.major N.E.Br. or Crataegus pinnatifida Bge., which are members of the family Rosaceae. Other names of hawthorn also include Crataegi Fructus, Fructus Crataegi, fruit of Crataegus pinnatifida, Chinese hawthorn, Crateagus oxycanthus, Chinese haw, Whitethorn, Thorn-apple tree, Shan-cha, and so on. In China it is mainly produced in Henan, Shandong, Hebei, and Shandong. And the hawthorn fruits cultivated from Shandong province are generally considered high quality. It is usually harvested in autumn when fruits are ripe, sliced, and dried. Medicinally it is used raw or fried. Besides of the mentioned species, there are many other similar ones used as Shan Zha too, such as Crataegus kansuensis Wils., Crataegus sanguinea Pall., Crataegus hupehensis Sarg., Crataegus scabrifolia (Franch.) Rehd., Malusyunnanensis schneid., Mprunifolia (Willd.) Bo-rkh., M.asiatica Nakai., Docynia delavayi(Franch.)Schneid., and so on.

Crataegus pinnatifida Bge.var.major N.E.Br. is a deciduous tree, up to 6 meters in height. Branch thorns are 1 to 2cm long or without thorns. Simple leaf is alternate; petiole is from 2 to 6cm long; blade is broadly ovate, triangular-ovate, or rarely rhombohedral-ovate, 6 to 12cm long, 5 to 8cm wide, and with 2 to 4 pairs of pinnate lobes, acuminate apex, broadly cuneate base, glossy upper surface, and lower surface with short pubescence along the veins and irregular heavy serrated edge. Corymb is about 4 to 6cm in diameter; calyx is bell-shaped and 5-lobed; white corolla is about 1.5cm in diameter; petals are 5 and obovate or nearly round; stamens are about 20 and with red anthers; pistil is 1; ovary is inferior, and with 5 rooms, and 5 styles. Pome is nearly spherical, up to 2.5cm in diameter, crimson, and with yellow-white spots and a deep circular depression at apex because sepals fall of very late; small pits are 3 to 5, and with slightly edged outer side and smooth inner side. Bloom time is from May to June and fruiting time is from August to October. It contains L-epicatechin; quercetin; hyperoside; chlorogenic acid; citric acid and its monomethyl ester, dimethyl ester, and trimethyl ester; sucrose; flavan polymer; and ursolic acid.

Hawthorn berry benefits
It is reported that the combination of hawthorn berry with other herbs can be a good remedy for a variety of diseases, such as indigestion, anorexia in children, infant diarrhea, dysentery, abdominal pain, postpartum blood stasis, and more.

a) 89 cases of hyperlipidemia in middle-aged and elderly adult have been treated with hawthorn-based Jiang Zhi Le (literally Lipid-lowering Happy). The results showed that the efficiency of lowering cholesterol and triglycerides were 69.49% and 80.28% respectively. What’s more, it can still improve a poor appetite, lassitude, lack of energy, high blood pressure, and other symptoms.

b) 186 cases of angina pectoris have been treated with Xin Xu Ning Pin, which is made from the extract of hawthorn and Ge Gen (Kudzu Root). And the efficiency is 89.87%. In addition, it has a very good blood pressure and lipid-lowering efficacy too.

c) 105 cases of acute and chronic pyelonephritis have been treated with decoction of 90g hawthorn on daily basis (treatment of children with reduced-dose). And the remedy was with a good result.