REVIEW ARTICLE
Neurology
doi: 10.25005/2074-0581-2025-27-3-703-711
THE NEUROPROTECTIVE EFFECTS OF HAWTHORN-BASED MEDICATIONS

V.A. KURKIN1, N.V. KUDASHKINA2, N.A. ZARIPOV3, O.E. PRAVDIVTSEVA1, E.N. ZAYTSEVA4, S.R. KHASANOVA2

1Department of Pharmacognosy with Botany and Fundamentals of Phytotherapy, Samara State Medical University, Samara, Russian Federation
2Department of Pharmacognosy and Botany, Bashkir State Medical University, Ufa, Russian Federation
3Department of Neurology, Psychiatry and Medical Psychology named after Professor M.G. Gulyamov, Avicenna Tajik State Medical University, Dushanbe, Republic of Tajikistan
4Department of Pharmacоlogy named after Professor A.A. Lebedev, Samara State Medical University, Samara, Russian Federation

The purpose of this review is to summarize and organize the existing literature data on the antidepressant activity of drugs derived from plants in the genus Crataegus L. For this article, over 50 sources from the PubMed abstract database and the scientific information network eLibrary.ru were consulted, covering the period from 1999 to 2024. The keywords used in the search included "hawthorn", "Crataegus L.", "neuroprotective activity", and "antidepressant activity". Only studies that specifically addressed the neuroprotective activity and antidepressant properties of hawthorn-based medications were included. At the same time, articles on the use of hawthorn in other areas of medicine were excluded.

Herbal medicines with neuroprotective effects, some of which also act as antidepressants, are used in global medical practice. Currently, from the perspective of evidence-based medicine, the most widely recognized herbal antidepressant is Hypericum perforatum (St. John's Wort).

Given that one of the active components in this plant is the flavonoid hyperoside, it is essential to focus on the fruits, flowers, and leaves of various hawthorn species (Crataegus L.) as they also contain this compound. Additionally, hawthorn plant materials are known to contain other flavonoids, such as procyanidins and vitexin, along with their derivatives, which are noteworthy for their neuroprotective activity. Hawthorn-based medications are presently used as cardiotonic agents. Continued research in this area could lead to the development of new and effective treatments for both nervous and cardiovascular diseases in humans.

Keywords: Hawthorn, Crataegus L., neuroprotective activity, antidepressant activity, flavonoids.

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References
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Authors' information:

Kurkin Vladimir Aleksandrovich,
Doctor of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Full Professor, Head of the Department of Pharmacognosy with Botany and the Basics of Phytotherapy, Samara State Medical University
Researcher ID: L-7663-2015
Scopus ID: 25023727600
ORCID ID: 0000-0002-7513-9352
SPIN: 1974-5537
Author ID: 55891
E-mail: v.a.kurkin@samsmu.ru

Kudashkina Nataliya Vladimirovna,
Doctor of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Full Professor, Head of the Department of Pharmacognosy and Botany, Bashkir State Medical University
Researcher ID: Q-1655-2015
Scopus ID: 57207299733
ORCID ID: 0000-0002-0280-143Х
SPIN: 4256-5502
Author ID: 637292
E-mail: phytoart@mail.ru

Zaripov Nurali Abdurakibovich,
PhD, Assistant of the Department of Neurology, Psychiatry and Medical Psychology named after Professor M.G. Gulyamov, Avicenna Tajik State Medical University
ORCID ID: 0000-0001-5494-1218
SPIN: 8489-6082
Author ID: 1054132
E-mail: nur.tj-94@mail.ru

Pravdivtseva Olga Evgenievna,
Doctor of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Full Professor, Professor of the Department of Pharmacognosy with Botany and the Basics of Phytotherapy, Samara State Medical University
Scopus ID: 14323814100
ORCID ID: 0000-0003-3318-3168
SPIN: 8639-6831
Author ID: 55887
E-mail: o.e.pravdivtseva@samsmu.ru

Zaytseva Elena Nikolaevna,
Doctor of Medical Sciences, Associate Professor, Head of the Department of Pharmacology named after Professor A.A. Lebedev, Samara State Medical University
Researcher ID: Р-6647-2015
Scopus ID: 56735950700
ORCID ID: 0000-0001-5689-2077
SPIN: 8679-2730
Author ID: 197699
E-mail: e.n.zaitceva@samsmu.ru

Khasanova Svetlana Rashitovna,
Doctor of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Full Professor, Professor of the Department of Pharmacognosy and Botany, Bashkir State Medical University
Researcher ID: DWR-9689-2022
Scopus ID: 57212514163
ORCID ID: 0000-0001-7000-8014
SPIN: 7027-0676
Author ID: 465615
E-mail: svet-khasanova@yandex.ru

Information about support in the form of grants, equipment, medications

The research was carried out in accordance with the research plan of Samara State Medical University (state registration number – АААА-А19-119051490148-7). The authors did not receive financial support from manufacturers of medicines and medical equipment

Conflicts of interest: No conflict

Address for correspondence:

Kurkin Vladimir Aleksandrovich
Doctor of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Full Professor, Head of the Department of Pharmacognosy with Botany and the Basics of Phytotherapy, Samara State Medical University

443099, Russian Federation, Samara, Chapaevskaya str., 89

Tel.: +7 (927) 6058797

E-mail: v.a.kurkin@samsmu.ru


This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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