TEJOCOTE ROOT: BENEFITS, CONTRAINDICATIONS AND SIDE EFFECTS - NUTRITION - 2024

The tejocote root (Crataegus mexicana) is a product from the tejocote fruit tree. This tree belongs to the Rosaceae family and is located in various regions of Mexico such as Puebla, the State of Mexico and Oaxaca, as well as in parts of Guatemala.

All parts of the tree, including its root, have pharmaceutical properties against different human pathologies, such as heart, neurological, intestinal, kidney and respiratory diseases.

The tejocote is native to Mexico and Guatemala. Source: pxhere.com

For this reason, it has been detected that the root has properties to promote diuresis. However, it has aroused greater interest because it is credited with the benefit of weight loss, an effect that has not really been certified.

Nutritional information

Kidney, intestinal, cardiovascular diseases and diabetes

The tejocote root has been used since pre-Hispanic times by the indigenous Mexicans as a natural remedy against kidney disease, due to its diuretic property.

In heart disorders, it helps the vasodilation of the coronary artery, regulates blood pressure and controls arrhythmias. In the respiratory system, it favors nasal decongestion and calms coughs, asthma and bronchitis.

While in intestinal diseases it relieves abdominal pain and diarrhea. Specifically, it destroys helminth parasites such as Ascaris lumbricoides and pinworms. It also controls dysentery or diarrhea caused by amoebae such as Entamoeba histolytica.

The tannins and flavonoids of the tejocote root have an effect against diabetes. These lower blood sugar levels in the early stages of the disease. For this reason, it is used as a curative and preventive treatment for this pathology.

These antioxidants have lipid-lowering action, that is, they lower the levels of bad cholesterol in the blood and protect against cardiovascular diseases.

Other positive health effects

Among many other benefits, they improve circulation, prevent varicose veins, relax muscles, exert cytotoxic action on cancer cells and are protective of the brain.

Studies of the genus Crataegus highlight other medicinal properties, such as bactericidal, antiviral, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, anticoagulant and gastroprotective effects.

Possible side effects

Some research reports that the consumption of tejocote root is safe because it has good tolerance and few side effects. However, it can cause nausea, headache, excessive sweating, slight disturbances in the digestive system, little rash and mild bradycardia. These effects are short-lived and mild.

Scientists have reported a case of cardiotoxicity in a teenage girl who took the tejocote root supplement to lose weight. This caused symptoms of drowsiness, vomiting and diarrhea. In addition to cardiac disorders such as severe bradycardia and respiratory distress.

For this reason, experts assure that the toxicity of the tejocote root can cause hypopnea, that is, severe drowsiness during the day, cognitive disorders and obstruction of the upper respiratory tract while sleeping.

They also found that the supplement causes erroneous results in the determination of digoxin levels, thus suggesting the presence of cross reactions in the chemical analysis of this compound.

This may be due to the fact that flavonoids alter the function of the P-glycoprotein. This protein is a substrate for digoxin, used against cardiovascular diseases. That is, the flavonoids prevent the glycoprotein from enhancing the action of digoxin.

Contraindications

According to the WHO indications for medicinal plants, tejocote root infusions or its supplements are contraindicated in lactating women. Due to the relaxation effect on the muscle of the uterus, they are considered abortive risk. This justifies its contraindication in pregnancy.

It is also contraindicated in children up to twelve years of age, since it is a drug with sedative and anxiolytic properties. Although it is used to combat insomnia, its ingestion is not recommended in infants and adolescents.

Likewise, it should not be consumed by people with hypersensitivity or allergies to the components of tejocote. Therefore, before unwanted symptoms, its use should be suspended and consult a doctor.

It is also not recommended in patients who are receiving treatments against thrombosis, hypertension, arrhythmias or other cardiac disorders.

This is due to the fact that the interaction of phenolic compounds with the drugs used in these diseases could increase their action and cause adverse effects. For example, people who already have anticoagulant treatment, when consuming supplements or tejocote root infusions, may present risks of bleeding.

In this case, patients receiving therapies for heart and respiratory failure could present severe cardiorespiratory complications.

Other names for the root of tejocote

1. Conafor. Crataegus mexicana Moc, Sessé. Technology Packages. Available at: conafor.gob.mx
2. Franco-Mora O, Aguirre-Ortega S, Morales-Rosales EJ, González-Huerta A, Gutiérrez-Rodríguez F. Morphological and biochemical characterization of tejocote (Crataegus mexicana DC.) Fruits from Lerma and Ocoyoacac, Mexico. Ergo-sum science. Multidisciplinary Scientific Journal of Prospective. 2010; 17 (1): 61-66.
3. Molina A. Medicinal plants in the Libertad market, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico.. University of Guadalajara, Jalisco; 2014. Available at: repositorio.cucba.udg.mx.
4. García-Mateos R, Aguilar-Santelises L, Soto-Hernández M, Nieto-Angel R. Flavonoids and antioxidant activity of flowers of Mexican Crataegus spp. Natural product research. 2013; 27 (9): 834-836. Available at: ib.unam.mx
5. Research center on physiotherapy. Medicinal plants for insomnia. Complutense Editorial. 2008. Available at: infito.com
6. Dinesh K, Vikrant A, Zulfi qar AB, Nisar AK, Deo NP. The genus Crataegus: chemical and pharmacological perspectives. Brazilian Journal of Pharmacognosy. 2012; 22 (5): 1187-1200.
7. Palmer KG, Lebin JA, Cronin MT, Mazor SS, Burns RA. Crataegus mexicana (Tejocote) Exposure Associated with Cardiotoxicity and a Falsely Elevated Digoxin Level. J Med Toxicol. 2019.Available at: link.springer.com