Anais do Simpósio Latino Americano de Ciências de Alimentos
Anais do 13º Simpósio Latino Americano de Ciência de Alimentos

Hawthorn is a plant utilized in Europe and USA as an adjuvant for
the treatment of congestive heart failure. Additionally, studies have shown that
it may also protect against gastrointestinal disorders due to its
antiinflammatory effects. Considering that, the objetives of this study were to
characterize a extract from hawthorn and later investigate, for the first time, its
effects on an experimental model of Cronh’s disease (CD), an inflammatory
bowel disease. For this study, an aqueous extract of the flowering tops of
Crataegus oxyacantha was produced, freeze-dried and analyzed regarding its
phenolic composition. For the experiment, 29 male Wistar rats were utilized
during three weeks. Animals received, via gavage, during the whole period,
hawthorn extract (100mg/kg) or water. After two weeks, rats received, via
rectal, 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS) or saline solution.
Additionally, one group received, via gavage, mesalazine (100mg/kg) as a
treatment for CD. The severity of the disease was assessed during the onset
of symptoms. Colon weight/length ratio and lesions were evaluated after
euthanasia. Hawthorn extract had approximately 156mg/g of total phenolics,
14mg/g of procyanidins and 18mg/g of flavonoids, indicating a rich
concentration of those, similar to described in literature. The extract provided
daily 4mg of total phenolics per rat. Regarding the CD model, TNBS was able
to induce weight loss, softening of stools and increased colon weight/length
ratio and necrosis (p<0,01). Hawthorn partially prevented this scenario, since
rats that received it presented diminished length (0.96±0.22 vs.
2.38±0.17cm;p<0,001) and width (1.05±0.28 vs. 2.04±0.31cm;p<0,05) of
necrotic lesions. Mesalazine also provided a reduction in lesions and
furthermore, a percentage weight recovery (2.83±1.50% vs. -6.39±2.71%;p<0,05). No differences were found between the effects of
hawthorn and mesalazine. Such preliminary results indicate that, besides
mesalazine, hawthorn also possess anti-necrotic properties, even at low
dosage. These effects are probably related to its rich phenolic content