Bioactive Compounds in Hawthorn Leaves (Crataegus spp.)—Extraction, Functionality, and Future Perspectives: From Waste to Wealth
Kulaipbekova A. Nabiyeva Z. Assembayeva E. Song F. Su Y. Bekbayev K. Zhu X. Ai N.
February 2026Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI)
Agriculture (Switzerland)
2026#16Issue 3
The transition to a circular bioeconomy enhances the valorization of agricultural by-products. Hawthorn leaves (Crataegus spp.), generated in large quantities from orchard maintenance, represent a promising yet underutilized biomass. This comprehensive narrative review synthesizes recent advances regarding their bioactive compounds, extraction methods, and applications. A systematic literature search was conducted to identify relevant studies. The analysis reveals that hawthorn leaves are rich in polyphenols (e.g., flavonoids, procyanidins), with their content often exceeding that found in fruits. Modern “green” extraction techniques (e.g., ultrasound- and microwave-assisted) demonstrate superior efficiency in recovering these thermolabile compounds compared to conventional methods. The broad spectrum of associated biological activities—including antioxidant, cardioprotective, neuroprotective, antimicrobial, and insecticidal effects—underpins their potential in nutraceuticals, cosmetics, and functional foods. Crucially, this review highlights the significant promise of hawthorn leaf extracts as a source for developing natural, plant-based biopesticides, aligning with sustainable agriculture and integrated pest management principles. To fully realize this “waste-to-wealth” potential, future research should prioritize the scaling of eco-friendly extraction, field trials for crop protection efficacy, and the standardization of extracts.
agricultural by-products , bioactive compounds , biopesticides , circular bioeconomy , crop protection , extraction , hawthorn leaves (Crataegus spp.)
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Department of Food Technology, Almaty Technological University, Almaty, 050012, Kazakhstan
Key Laboratory of Geriatric Nutrition and Health, Ministry of Education, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing, 100048, China
Research Institute of Food Safety, Almaty Technological University, Almaty, 050012, Kazakhstan
School of Light Industry Science and Engineering, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing, 100048, China
Research School of Food Engineering, Shakarim University, Semey, 071410, Kazakhstan
State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China
Department of Food Technology
Key Laboratory of Geriatric Nutrition and Health
Research Institute of Food Safety
School of Light Industry Science and Engineering
Research School of Food Engineering
State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests
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