Crataegus tanacetifolia : A Medicinal Plant from Turkey

Abstract

Species of Crataegus are investigated intensively because of their positive activities on cardiovascular system. Our studies on Crataegus tanacetifolia breed which grows naturally on middle-north Anatolia have been continuing since 1999. Our first study which we conducted with leaf extract of this plant was about the investigations of acute and chronic effects of the plant on blood pressure, blood biochemistry and body ion balance of normal animals. In our recent study we investigated blood pressure, serum lipid levels, body weight, coronary artery wall histopathology and kidney functions on experimentally hypertensive animal models. In addition we studied NOS activities in coronary artery and kidney tissue intended for mechanism of influence. After determining an increase on kidney tissue NOS activity, effective mechanism on bioactivities of Crataegus tanacetifolia was investigated intensively. We started our last study which was more detailed research for determination of NOS activity types.