A reproductive screening test of hawthorn.
OBJECTIVE
Hawthorn (Crataegus) has a long history as a medicine. The current clinical use of hawthorn as a heart medicine dates back to the late 19th century. It is well tolerated clinically yet contraindicated in pregnancy.


METHODS
To determine the safety of hawthorn to the developing fetus, pregnant rats were dosed daily by gavage using 56 times the human dose of hawthorn on either gestation days (GD) 1-8 or GD 8-15. On GD 20, fetuses were weighed and examined for signs of external, internal or skeletal malformations. Rat fetuses were also explanted on GD 10.5 and cultured with hawthorn extract for 26 h.


RESULTS
Hawthorn did not have an adverse effect on embryonic development in vivo or in vitro.


CONCLUSIONS
While the results suggest that hawthorn, taken at the recommended dose would have no adverse effects on embryonic development this may be due to the low bioavailability of some hawthorn constituents when taken orally. Pharmacokinetic studies are required to determine the extent of absorption of hawthorn from the small intestine in healthy adults in order to verify its safety.
Yao
Mei
M
Faculty of Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, University of Sydney, Lidcombe, NSW, Australia.
Ritchie
Helen E
HE
Brown-Woodman
Patricia D
PD
D000014:Abnormalities, Drug-Induced / Q000209:etiology; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D001682:Biological Availability; D027825:Crataegus / Q000737:chemistry*; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D051381:Rats; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D013997:Time Factors; D018675:Toxicity Tests
D010936:Plant Extracts