Hawthorn, adverse effects

An animal study indicated no adverse effects of an ethanol extract of hawthorn leaf administered at a dose of 2.8 g/kg, noted as 56 times the human dose, daily on days 1-8 or 8-15 of gestation (Yao et al 2008). No adverse effects of hawthorn leaf and flower on pregnancy or fetal development have been observed in a limited number of additional animal studies (ESCOP 2003 Manolov and Daleva 1969). 

In a study with rats orally administered 2.8 g/kg daily of an ethanol extract of hawthorn leaf on gestational days 1-8 or 8-15, examination of fetuses showed no adverse effects on fetal development. The dose used was calculated as 56 times the recommended human dose (Yao et al. 2008). 

No adverse effects were observed in offspring of mice fed a flavonoid mixture obtained from the leaf of hawthorn at a dose of 100 mg/kg daily for 1 month (Manolov and Daleva 1969). No teratogenic effects were observed in pregnant rats and rabbits orally administered 1.6 g/kg of a hydroethanolic extract of hawthorn leaf and flower. The same study showed no postnatal toxicity in rats or their offspring (ESCOP 2003). 

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