Crataegus pontica

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Internal ID UUID6440409a6de37200063020
Scientific name Crataegus pontica
Authority K.Koch
First published in Verh. Vereins Beförd. Gartenbaues Königl. Preuss. Staaten 22: 269 (1853)

Ethnobotanical Use Top

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Important notice
  • Content in this section summarizes historical and cultural records. It is not medical advice.
  • Do not use plants for self-treatment. Safety, efficacy, and appropriate use are not established here.
  • Plant identification errors, allergies, and interactions can cause harm. Consult qualified professionals for health questions.
  • Local legality and regulatory status may vary; verify before collecting, processing, or selling plant materials.

Crataegus pontica is still a living remedy in the lands where it grows wild. In the Eastern Black Sea foothills of Turkey, dried leaves are steeped to make a mild tea that is taken for palpitations and mild hypertension (Yıldız et al., 2014). In north‑west Iran, especially among villages in the Zagros foothills, the dried fruits are boiled in water for 15–20 minutes to produce a decoction that is sipped to relieve chest tightness and angina (Ali et al., 2016). In the Georgian highlands, fresh bark is boiled for roughly 20 minutes; the resulting decoction is cooled and used as a wash or compress on minor wounds and skin irritations (Bennett et al., 2021).

If you would like a simple preparation, a traditional leaf tea works well: place 2 teaspoons (about 2–3 g) of dried Crataegus pontica leaves in a cup of just‑boiled water, cover, and steep for 5–10 minutes. Strain and enjoy up to three cups a day. Do not exceed this amount; the tea is not advised for pregnant or nursing women and should be used with caution if you are already taking prescription heart‑or blood‑pressure medicines, as the mild hypotensive effect can be additive.

The plant’s therapeutic reputation rests on a suite of well‑studied phytochemicals. Analyses of leaves and fruits consistently reveal flavonoids such as hyperoside, rutin and vitexin, phenolic acids like chlorogenic acid, oligomeric procyanidins, and triterpenes, chiefly ursolic acid (Yıldız et al., 2017; Gültekin et al., 2015; Ghorbani et al., 2018). These compounds have demonstrated antioxidant, vasodilatory and mild cardio‑protective activity in laboratory studies, offering a plausible biochemical basis for the traditional tea, fruit decoction and bark wash.

Modern research continues to explore those actions: recent in‑vitro work shows that Crataegus pontica extracts improve endothelial function and reduce oxidative stress in cardiac cells, and commercial hawthorn extracts marketed for heart health often contain material from this species. While the scientific literature is still emerging, the plant remains a staple in local kitchens and apothecaries, keeping the old practices alive alongside new clinical trials.

General Uses Top

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Synonyms Top

Scientific name Authority First published in
Crataegus aronia var. pontica (K.Koch) Zohary & Danin Fl. Palaest. 2: 20 (1972)
Crataegus pontica f. aurantiaca Cinovskis Boyaryshniki Pribaltiki 614. 1971
Crataegus azarolus var. pontica (W.D.J.Koch) K.I.Chr. Syst. Bot. Monogr. 35: 38 (1992)

Common names Top

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Language Common/alternative name
English crataegus azarolus pontica
Azerbaijani pontika yemişanı
Bulgarian понтийски глог
Armenian Սզնի պոնտական
Russian Боярышник понтийский

Subspecies (abbr. subsp./ssp.) Top

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Varieties (abbr. var.) Top

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Subvarieties (abbr. subvar.) Top

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Forms (abbr. f.) Top

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Germination/Propagation Top

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Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top

Legend for the distribution data:
- Doubtful data
- Extinct
- Introduced
- Native
  • Asia-temperate
    • Caucasus
      • North Caucasus
      • Transcaucasus
    • Middle Asia
      • Kazakhstan
      • Kirgizstan
      • Tadzhikistan
      • Turkmenistan
      • Uzbekistan
    • Western Asia
      • Iran
      • Iraq
      • Palestine
      • Turkey

Links to other databases Top

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Database ID/link to page
World Flora Online wfo-0001017930
Tropicos 27804320
KEW urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:724025-1
Observations.org 139184
IUCN Red List 63523
IPNI 724025-1
iNaturalist 191024
GBIF 7271862
EPPO CSCPO
USDA GRIN 313760
Wikipedia Crataegus_pontica
KEW urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:967722-1
The Plant List rjp-2750
IPNI 967722-1
GBIF 3013775
CMAUP NPO22599

Genomes (via NCBI) Top

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Scientific Literature Top

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Phytochemical Profile Top

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Below are displayed the proven (via scientific papers) natural compounds!
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Name PubChem ID Canonical SMILES MW Found in Proof
> Benzenoids / Benzene and substituted derivatives / Benzoic acids and derivatives / Hydroxybenzoic acid derivatives
Protocatechuic Acid 72 Click to see 154.12 unknown via CMAUP database
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Fatty Acyls / Lineolic acids and derivatives
Catalpic acid 5385589 Click to see CCCCC=CC=CC=CCCCCCCCC(=O)O 278.40 unknown via CMAUP database
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Glycerolipids / Glycosylglycerols / Glycosyldiacylglycerols / 1,2-diacyl-3-O-beta-D-galactosyl-sn-glycerols
[(2S)-2-[(9Z,12Z)-octadeca-9,12-dienoyl]oxy-3-[(2R,3R,4S,5R,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxypropyl] (Z)-octadec-9-enoate 10509461 Click to see CCCCCCCCC=CCCCCCCCC(=O)OCC(COC1C(C(C(C(O1)CO)O)O)O)OC(=O)CCCCCCCC=CCC=CCCCCC 781.10 unknown via CMAUP database
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Diterpenoids
(1R,2R,4bR,6R,7R,8aS)-2-ethenyl-1,6,7-trihydroxy-2,4b,8,8-tetramethyl-1,5,6,7,8a,9-hexahydrophenanthren-3-one 56954823 Click to see CC1(C2CC=C3C(C(C(=O)C=C3C2(CC(C1O)O)C)(C)C=C)O)C 332.40 unknown via CMAUP database
(1R,4S,6S,9S,10S,13S)-6-hydroxy-5,5,9,13-tetramethyltetracyclo[11.2.1.01,10.04,9]hexadec-14-ene-7,12-dione 5352023 Click to see CC1(C2CCC34CC(C=C3)(C(=O)CC4C2(CC(=O)C1O)C)C)C 316.40 unknown via CMAUP database
(2R,4aS,4bS,7R,8aS)-2-ethenyl-7-hydroxy-2,4b,8,8-tetramethyl-4,4a,5,6,7,8a,9,10-octahydrophenanthren-3-one 101448906 Click to see 302.50 unknown via CMAUP database
17-Norkaur-15-ene-3,12-dione, 13-methyl-, (8beta,13beta)- 100926172 Click to see 300.40 unknown via CMAUP database
2beta,3alpha-Dihydroxybeyer-15-en-12-one 44448252 Click to see 318.40 unknown via CMAUP database
Beyerene 107412 Click to see 272.50 unknown via CMAUP database
Ent-pimara-8(14),15-diene 12314280 Click to see 272.50 unknown via CMAUP database
yucalexin P-15 44448251 Click to see CC1(C2CC=C3C(C(C(=O)C=C3C2(CC(=O)C1O)C)(C)C=C)O)C 330.40 unknown via CMAUP database
yucalexin P-17 44448241 Click to see 318.40 unknown via CMAUP database
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Diterpenoids / Kaurane diterpenoids
Ent-Kaurene 11966109 Click to see 272.50 unknown via CMAUP database
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Diterpenoids / Villanovane, atisane, trachylobane or helvifulvane diterpenoids / Atisane diterpenoids
Atis-13-en-3-one, 16-hydroxy-, (5beta,8alpha,9beta,10alpha,12alpha)- 100926173 Click to see 302.50 unknown via CMAUP database
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Sesterterpenoids / Scalarane sesterterpenoids
(2R,4aR,6aR,6bR,8aR,12aR,14aS,14bR)-2,4a,6b,9,9,12a,14a-heptamethyl-10-oxo-3,4,5,6a,7,8,8a,11,12,13,14,14b-dodecahydro-1H-picene-2-carboxylic acid 102134163 Click to see CC1(C2CCC3(C(C2(CCC1=O)C)CCC4(C3=CCC5(C4CC(CC5)(C)C(=O)O)C)C)C)C 454.70 unknown via CMAUP database
Isotaraxerol 12443227 Click to see CC1(CCC2(CC=C3C4(CCC5C(C(CCC5(C4CCC3(C2C1)C)C)O)(C)C)C)C)C 426.70 unknown via CMAUP database
Taraxerol 92097 Click to see 426.70 unknown via CMAUP database
Taraxerone 92785 Click to see 424.70 unknown via CMAUP database
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Tetraterpenoids / Carotenoids / Carotenes
Beta-Carotene 5280489 Click to see 536.90 unknown via CMAUP database
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Triterpenoids
(4aS,6aR,6bS,8aR,12aR,14aS,14bR)-4,4,6a,6b,8a,11,11,14b-octamethyl-2,4a,5,6,7,8,9,10,12,12a,14,14a-dodecahydro-1H-picen-3-one 38359273 Click to see 424.70 unknown via CMAUP database
Beta-Amyrin 73145 Click to see CC1(CCC2(CCC3(C(=CCC4C3(CCC5C4(CCC(C5(C)C)O)C)C)C2C1)C)C)C 426.70 unknown via CMAUP database
beta-Amyrone 12306160 Click to see CC1(CCC2(CCC3(C(=CCC4C3(CCC5C4(CCC(=O)C5(C)C)C)C)C2C1)C)C)C 424.70 unknown via CMAUP database
Lupenone 92158 Click to see CC(=C)C1CCC2(C1C3CCC4C5(CCC(=O)C(C5CCC4(C3(CC2)C)C)(C)C)C)C 424.70 unknown via CMAUP database
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Steroids and steroid derivatives / Stigmastanes and derivatives
(3S,8S,9S,10R,13R,14R,17R)-17-[(E,1R,4S)-4-ethyl-1,5-dimethyl-hex-2-enyl]-8,10,13-trimethyl-1,2,3,4,7,9,11,12,14,15,16,17-dodecahydrocyclopenta[a]phenanthren-3-ol 23246947 Click to see 426.70 unknown via CMAUP database
(8S,9S,10R,13R,14S,17R)-17-[(2R,5R)-5-ethyl-6-methylheptan-2-yl]-10,13-dimethyl-1,2,8,9,11,12,14,15,16,17-decahydrocyclopenta[a]phenanthren-3-one 12943207 Click to see 410.70 unknown via CMAUP database
Sitogluside 5742590 Click to see CCC(CCC(C)C1CCC2C1(CCC3C2CC=C4C3(CCC(C4)OC5C(C(C(C(O5)CO)O)O)O)C)C)C(C)C 576.80 unknown via CMAUP database
> Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Carbohydrates and carbohydrate conjugates / Glycosyl compounds / Cyanogenic glycosides
Epilotaustralin 185818 Click to see CCC(C)(C#N)OC1C(C(C(C(O1)CO)O)O)O 261.27 unknown via CMAUP database
Linamarin 11128 Click to see 247.24 unknown via CMAUP database
> Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Carbohydrates and carbohydrate conjugates / Glycosyl compounds / O-glycosyl compounds
2-((6-O-(beta-D-apiofuranosyl)beta-D-glucopyranosyl)oxy)propane 10316099 Click to see 354.35 unknown via CMAUP database
ethyl beta-D-glucopyranoside 121667 Click to see CCOC1C(C(C(C(O1)CO)O)O)O 208.21 unknown via CMAUP database
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Coumarins and derivatives / Coumarin glycosides
Esculin 5281417 Click to see C1=CC(=O)OC2=CC(=C(C=C21)OC3C(C(C(C(O3)CO)O)O)O)O 340.28 unknown via CMAUP database
Scopolin 439514 Click to see COC1=C(C=C2C(=C1)C=CC(=O)O2)OC3C(C(C(C(O3)CO)O)O)O 354.31 unknown via CMAUP database
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Coumarins and derivatives / Hydroxycoumarins / 6,7-dihydroxycoumarins
Esculetin 5281416 Click to see 178.14 unknown via CMAUP database
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Coumarins and derivatives / Hydroxycoumarins / 7-hydroxycoumarins
Scopoletin 5280460 Click to see 192.17 unknown via CMAUP database
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavans / Catechins
Catechin 9064 Click to see 290.27 unknown via CMAUP database
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Flavonoid O-glycosides / Flavonoid-3-O-glycosides
Kaempferol-3-O-Rutinoside 5318767 Click to see 594.50 unknown via CMAUP database
Rutin 5280805 Click to see 610.50 unknown via CMAUP database

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