Plant Profile

Hawthorn

Compiled by the Omnia Sana editorial team from the plant database ·Last updated August 14, 2026

Crataegus monogyna

Family: Rosaceae · Parts used: Flower, Fruit, Leaf · Also known as: common hawthorn, may tree, whitethorn

The complete database record: 2 documented constituents, 4 pharmacological actions, 6 traditional / indicated uses, with 23 cited sources.

Botanical Description

Small deciduous tree or large shrub, densely thorny, with deeply lobed, glossy leaves (more deeply cut than midland hawthorn). Clusters of small, five-petalled white flowers with a strong, musky scent appear in spring ('May blossom'), followed by small red berries (haws), each containing a single seed (nutlet) - the origin of the species name monogyna.^[4]

Height: 5-10 m

Habit: Small deciduous, densely thorny tree or large shrub

Leaves: Deeply lobed, glossy (more deeply cut than C. laevigata)

Flowers: Clusters of small, five-petalled white, strongly musky-scented flowers

Stem: Densely thorny branches; grey, fissured bark on older wood

Root: Deep, spreading root system

Fruit: Small red berry (haw), containing a single seed

Flowering Period: May

Habitat & Distribution

One of the commonest hedgerow and scrub trees of Europe, growing in hedgerows, woodland edges, scrub and pasture on a wide range of soils; native to Europe, North Africa and Western Asia.^[4]

Harvesting

Flowers are picked as they open in May, leaves are picked with the young flowering shoots, and the ripe red berries (haws) are gathered in autumn after the first frosts soften them slightly; all three parts are traditionally combined.^[4]

Parts: Flower, Fruit, Leaf

Season: Flower and leaf in May; fruit in autumn

Key Constituents

Flavonoids (catechins, quercetin, vitexin) and anthocyanins^{[1, 4]}

Principal cardioprotective and antioxidant polyphenols characterised by chemical profiling of leaf, flower and fruit.

FlavonoidsCatechinsQuercetinAnthocyanins

Oligomeric proanthocyanidins^[4]

Contribute to the vasoactive and antioxidant effects, the basis for extract standardisation.

Proanthocyanidins

Pharmacological Actions

Anti-inflammatory^{[4, 15, 16, 17]}

Anticancer (preclinical)^[1]

Antioxidant^{[4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15, 16, 17]}

Sedative / sleep support^{[15, 16, 17]}

Traditional & Indicated Uses

Arthritis / joint pain^{[15, 16, 17]}Preliminary · 1/10

inferred from anti-inflammatory action

Evidence: 1

Label: Arthritis / joint pain

more plants for arthritis / joint pain →detailed sources →

Cancer (anticancer research)^[1]Preliminary · 2/10

inferred from anticancer action

Evidence: 2

Label: Cancer (anticancer research)

more plants for cancer (anticancer research) →detailed sources →

Cardiovascular / heart health^{[15, 16, 17]}Preliminary · 1/10

Evidence: 1

Label: Cardiovascular / heart health

more plants for cardiovascular / heart health →detailed sources →

Inflammation (general)^{[15, 16, 17]}Preliminary · 1/10

inferred from anti-inflammatory action

Evidence: 1

Label: Inflammation (general)

more plants for inflammation (general) →detailed sources →

Insomnia / sleeplessness^{[15, 16, 17]}Preliminary · 1/10

inferred from sedative action

Evidence: 1

Label: Insomnia / sleeplessness

more plants for insomnia / sleeplessness →detailed sources →

Skin irritation^{[15, 16, 17]}Preliminary · 1/10

inferred from anti-inflammatory action

Evidence: 1

Label: Skin irritation

more plants for skin irritation →detailed sources →

Traditional Use & History

Common hawthorn shares the same long cardiovascular and calming tradition as midland hawthorn, used across European herbal medicine as a heart tonic for mild circulatory complaints, palpitations and nervous tension, and remains one of the most clinically studied cardiovascular botanicals.^[4]

Preparations

Standardised extract^[4]

Leaf-and-flower extract standardised to flavonoid or procyanidin content, taken as tablets or capsules; the best-studied clinical form.

Dosage

Standardised extract^[15]

The EU herbal monograph on Crataegus spp., folium cum flore gives dry extracts in divided daily doses of 240-900 mg (single dose 80-450 mg) or, for one quantified extract, 570-1750 mg daily (single dose 190-350 mg), in adults and elderly. If symptoms persist longer than 2 weeks a doctor should be consulted, and hawthorn is never used as a substitute for prescribed heart medication without medical supervision. Educational reference only, not a prescription.

Herbal tea^[15]

The EU herbal monograph gives 1-2 g of the comminuted leaf and flower in 150 mL of boiling water as an infusion, up to 4 times daily (maximum 6 g daily), in adults and elderly. Educational reference only, not a prescription.

Safety, Cautions & Contraindications

Safety note^{[15, 16, 17]}Caution

Generally well tolerated. Hawthorn should not replace prescribed cardiac medications without medical supervision. May potentiate the effects of cardiac glycosides (digoxin), antihypertensive drugs, and coronary dilators. Not recommended during pregnancy and breastfeeding due to insufficient safety data. Mild side effects (nausea, dizziness, GI upset) occasionally reported.

Safety note^{[15, 16, 17, 18]}Caution

Duke (2002) rates hawthorn as +++ - one of the most clinically supported cardiovascular herbs. Clinical evidence (score 2) supports its use for decreasing cardiac output (NYHA functional Stage II heart failure), as recognized by Commission E. Key activities include vasodilation, positive inotropic effects, and antioxidant protection of vascular tissue. Dose: 160–900 mg standardized leaf/flower extract (containing 18.75% oligomeric proanthocyanidins) daily. Duke emphasizes that hawthorn should not replace conventional heart failure therapy, and therapeutic effects may take 4–8 weeks to emerge. Mild interactions with cardiac glycosides (digitalis) are possible (Duke, 2002).

Herb-Drug Interactions

Cardiac Glycosides^{[19, 20, 21]}Caution

Mechanism: Hawthorn has its own positive effect on the heart (a Cochrane review found it improves heart-failure symptoms and exercise tolerance) and shares P-glycoprotein handling with digoxin, so combining it with digoxin or other cardiac-glycoside heart drugs should be supervised even though a controlled study found no major change in digoxin levels.

Reviewed By: Omnia Sana (owner-authorized)

Reviewed Date: 2026-07-03

Antihypertensives^{[20, 21]}Caution

Mechanism: Hawthorn can mildly lower blood pressure and reduce cardiac oxygen demand (a Cochrane meta-analysis found a lower pressure-heart-rate product), which may add to the effect of blood-pressure and heart-failure medicines.

Reviewed By: Omnia Sana (owner-authorized)

Reviewed Date: 2026-07-03

Sedatives Cns Depressants^{[22, 23]}Caution

Mechanism: Hawthorn is traditionally used as a calming, sedative herb; taken with sedatives, sleeping tablets or other central-nervous-system depressants (including alcohol) it may add to drowsiness and slowed reactions.

Reviewed By: Omnia Sana (owner-authorized)

Reviewed Date: 2026-07-03

Harvest Readiness

^{[13, 14]}

Part: flower

Signals: Gather the flowering tops (creamy blossom with the young leaves) in spring, as the blossom opens.

Basis: traditional

Source Quote: an explosion of pretty pale-pink blossom in May

Independent Confirmation: PFAF (REF-3238) 'It is in flower from May to June' independently confirms the Woodland Trust (REF-3237) spring-blossom stage; two independent prisms agree.

Species Confirmed: 1

Notes: Woodland Trust (REF-3237) 'blossom in May' and PFAF (REF-3238) 'in flower from May to June' both place flowering in spring; the flowering tops are gathered as folium cum flore with the young leaf.

^[13]

Part: leaf

Signals: Gather the young leaves in spring as they emerge, among the first of the hedgerow, with the flowering shoots.

Basis: traditional

Source Quote: The pale green leaves of this hedgerow staple are often the first to appear in spring

Species Confirmed: 1

Notes: Woodland Trust (REF-3237); the young leaf is among the first to appear in spring and is gathered with the flowering shoots (folium cum flore). Single source for the leaf specifically -> provisional.

^[14]

Part: fruit

Signals: Gather the haws in autumn as they ripen to deep red, following the flowers.

Basis: traditional

Source Quote: It is in flower from May to June, and the seeds ripen from September to November.

Species Confirmed: 1

Notes: PFAF (REF-3238); the haws ripen in autumn ('seeds ripen from September to November'; 'Hawthorn berries are typically harvested in late Summer to early Autumn'). Woodland Trust gave no fruit-ripening stage. Single source -> provisional.

External Identifiers

GBIF ›Wikidata ›

References & Sources

Ez-Zahra Amrati, F., Mssillou, I., Boukhira, S., Djiddi Bichara, M. et al (2024) 'Phenolic Composition of Crataegus monogyna Jacq. Extract and Its Anti-Inflammatory, Hepatoprotective, and Antileukemia Effects', Pharmaceuticals (Basel), 17(6), pp. 786. doi:10.3390/ph17060786 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/ph17060786
Lis, M., Szczypka, M., Suszko-Pawłowska, A., Sokół-Łętowska, A. et al (2019) 'Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) Phenolic Extract Modulates Lymphocyte Subsets and Humoral Immune Response in Mice', Planta Medica, 86(2), pp. 160-168. doi:10.1055/a-1045-5437 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1055/a-1045-5437
Paun, G., Neagu, E., Albu, C., Alecu, A. et al (2024) 'Antioxidant and Antidiabetic Activity of Crataegus monogyna L. and Cornus mas Fruit Extracts', Molecules, 29(15), pp. 3595. doi:10.3390/molecules29153595 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29153595
Nabavi, S.F., Habtemariam, S., Ahmed, T., Sureda, A., Daglia, M. and Sobarzo-Sanchez, E (2015) 'Polyphenolic Composition of Crataegus monogyna Jacq.: From Chemistry to Medical Applications', Nutrients, 7(9), pp. 7708-7728. doi:10.3390/nu7095361 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.3390/nu7095361
Belabdelli, F., Bekhti, N., Piras, A., Benhafsa, F.M., Ilham, M. and Adil, S (2021) 'Chemical composition, antioxidant and antibacterial activity of Crataegus monogyna leaves' extracts', Natural Product Research, 36(12), pp. 3234-3239. doi:10.1080/14786419.2021.1958215 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1080/14786419.2021.1958215
Jalali, A.S., Hasanzadeh, S. and Malekinejad, H (2012) 'Crataegus monogyna aqueous extract ameliorates cyclophosphamide-induced toxicity in rat testis: stereological evidences', Acta Medica Iranica, 50(1), pp. 1-8. Preclinical
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Crataegus%20monogyna%20aqueous%20extract%20ameliorates%20cyclophosphamide-induced%20toxicity%20in%20rat%20testis%3A%20stereological%20evidences
Martin-Garcia, B., Razola-Diaz, M.D.C., Gomez-Caravaca, A.M., Benitez, G. and Verardo, V (2021) 'Setup of an Ultrasonic-Assisted Extraction to Obtain High Phenolic Recovery in Crataegus monogyna Leaves', Molecules, 26(15), pp. 4536. doi:10.3390/molecules26154536 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26154536
Arslan, R., Bektas, N., Bor, Z. and Sener, E (2014) 'Evaluation of the antithrombotic effects of Crataegus monogyna and Crataegus davisii in the carrageenan-induced tail thrombosis model', Pharmaceutical Biology, 53(2), pp. 275-279. doi:10.3109/13880209.2014.914957 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3109/13880209.2014.914957
Edwards, J.E., Brown, P.N., Talent, N., Dickinson, T.A. and Shipley, P.R (2012) 'A review of the chemistry of the genus Crataegus', Phytochemistry, 79, pp. 5-26. doi:10.1016/j.phytochem.2012.04.006 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phytochem.2012.04.006
Jarzycka, A., Lewinska, A., Gancarz, R. and Wilk, K.A (2013) 'Assessment of extracts of Helichrysum arenarium, Crataegus monogyna, Sambucus nigra in photoprotective UVA and UVB; photostability in cosmetic emulsions', Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology B: Biology, 128, pp. 50-57. doi:10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2013.07.029 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2013.07.029
Lucconi, G., Chlapanidas, T., Martino, E., Gaggeri, R., Perteghella, S. and Rossi, D (2013) 'Formulation of microspheres containing Crataegus monogyna Jacq. extract with free radical scavenging activity', Pharmaceutical Development and Technology, 19(1), pp. 65-72. doi:10.3109/10837450.2012.752387 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3109/10837450.2012.752387
Zorniak, M., Szydlo, B. and Krzeminski, T.F (2017) 'Crataegus special extract WS 1442: up-to-date review of experimental and clinical experiences', Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology, 68(4), pp. 521-526. Meta-analysis / review
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Crataegus%20special%20extract%20WS%201442%3A%20up-to-date%20review%20of%20experimental%20and%20clinical%20experiences
Woodland Trust 'Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna)'. Available at: https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/british-trees/a-z-of-british-trees/hawthorn/ Traditional / reference
https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/british-trees/a-z-of-british-trees/hawthorn/
Plants For A Future 'Crataegus monogyna (Common Hawthorn, Oneseed Hawthorn)'. Available at: https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Crataegus+monogyna Traditional / reference
https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Crataegus+monogyna
European Medicines Agency (2016) 'European Union herbal monograph on Crataegus spp., folium cum flore'. Traditional / reference
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=European%20Union%20herbal%20monograph%20on%20Crataegus%20spp.%2C%20folium%20cum%20flore
Pittler, M.H., Guo, R. and Ernst, E (2008) 'Hawthorn extract for treating chronic heart failure'. Traditional / reference
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Hawthorn%20extract%20for%20treating%20chronic%20heart%20failure
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (n.d.). Available at: https://powo.science.kew.org Traditional / reference
https://powo.science.kew.org
Duke, J.A (2002) 'Handbook of Medicinal Herbs, Second Edition'. Traditional / reference
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Handbook%20of%20Medicinal%20Herbs%2C%20Second%20Edition
Tankanow, R., Tamer, H.R., Streetman, D.S., Smith, S.G., Welton, J.L., Annesley, T., Aaronson, K.D. and Bleske, B.E (2003) 'Interaction study between digoxin and a preparation of hawthorn (Crataegus oxyacantha)', Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 43(6), pp. 637-642. doi:10.1177/0091270003253417 Randomized trial
https://doi.org/10.1177/0091270003253417
Pittler, M.H., Guo, R. and Ernst, E (2008) 'Hawthorn extract for treating chronic heart failure', Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2008(1), pp. CD005312. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD005312.pub2 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD005312.pub2
Pittler, M.H., Guo, R. and Ernst, E (2008) 'Hawthorn extract for treating chronic heart failure', Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2008(1), pp. CD005312. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD005312.pub2 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD005312.pub2
Ghasemzadeh Rahbardar, M. and Hosseinzadeh, H (2024) 'Therapeutic potential of hypnotic herbal medicines: A comprehensive review', Phytotherapy Research, 38(6), pp. 3037-3059. doi:10.1002/ptr.8201 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.8201
Block, K.I., Gyllenhaal, C. and Mead, M.N (2004) 'Safety and efficacy of herbal sedatives in cancer care', Integrative Cancer Therapies, 3(2), pp. 128-148. doi:10.1177/1534735404265003 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1177/1534735404265003

Selected studies & references

ReviewTherapeutic potential of hypnotic herbal medicines: A comprehensive review source↗ (2024)

ReviewCrataegus special extract WS 1442: up-to-date review of experimental and clinical experiences source↗ (2017)

ReviewPolyphenolic Composition of Crataegus monogyna Jacq.: From Chemistry to Medical Applications source↗ (2015)

ReviewA review of the chemistry of the genus Crataegus source↗ (2012)

ReviewHawthorn extract for treating chronic heart failure source↗ (2008)

ReviewSafety and efficacy of herbal sedatives in cancer care source↗ (2004)

RctInteraction study between digoxin and a preparation of hawthorn (Crataegus oxyacantha) source↗ (2003)

All 22 studies in the Knowledge Finder →

Educational use only. This profile summarises traditional and scientific sources for reference. It is not medical advice and not a substitute for a qualified practitioner. Some plants carry safety cautions and drug interactions - always check before use.
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