Hawthorn Berry
Also known as: Crataegus, Crataegus pinnatifida, Crataegus monogyna, Crataegus laevigata, hawthorn berry extract, HBE
Effective Dosage
No established dose (insufficient research data)
What the Science Says
Hawthorn berry is a fruit from the Crataegus shrub family, long used in traditional medicine for heart and digestive health. In animal studies, hawthorn berry extract showed antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and lipid-lowering effects that appeared to protect heart tissue from obesity-related damage. One small human trial included hawthorn berry as part of a multi-ingredient nitric oxide supplement that reduced triglycerides, but it is impossible to isolate hawthorn's specific contribution from that combination product.
What It Doesn't Do
Not proven to treat or prevent heart disease in humans on its own. No human trials in the provided data test hawthorn berry alone. Don't assume animal study results translate directly to people. Not a proven cholesterol drug replacement. No evidence it cures or reverses colitis in humans.
Evidence-Based Benefits
In rat models, hawthorn berry extract (HBE) demonstrated antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, hypolipidemic, antiapoptotic, and antifibrotic effects against obesity-induced cardiac injury, reducing markers like IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and improving lipid profiles (PMID: 39689383). In a separate rat colitis model, HBE reduced neutrophil infiltration, lipid peroxidation, and edema, suggesting anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties attributable to compounds like oleanolic and ursolic acid (PMID: 23875899). One human clinical trial included hawthorn berry as part of a multi-ingredient nitric oxide supplement (Neo40 Daily), which significantly increased plasma nitrite/nitrate and reduced triglycerides, but hawthorn's individual contribution cannot be isolated (PMID: 21530799).
Weak EvidenceEffective at: No established dose (insufficient research data)
Source: auto-research
Absorption & Bioavailability
Unknown — no pharmacokinetic or absorption data in the provided studies
Red Flags to Watch For
- All cardiovascular benefit data comes from rat studies, not human clinical trials
- The one human study used hawthorn as part of a multi-ingredient blend, so its individual effect cannot be determined
- Paper 4 (PMID 15364120) used hawthorn in a complex nutraceutical cocktail with EDTA and tetracycline — this is not a hawthorn study and the protocol is highly unconventional
- 1,000+ supplement products on the market contain hawthorn, but the clinical evidence base is extremely thin
- Animal doses (100 mg/kg) do not translate directly to human dosing recommendations
Products Containing Hawthorn Berry
See how Hawthorn Berry is used in these analyzed products:
Research Sources
- PubMed
- NIH DSLD
This information is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any supplement regimen. Last updated: 2026-04-06