What is the function of hawthorn? Please elaborate.

Hawthorn is a small deciduous tree, mainly distributed in northern China, especially in Shanxi, Henan and Hebei. Hawthorn has important economic and medicinal value. The following are some main values of hawthorn:

1. Food industry: Hawthorn fruit is edible, sweet and sour, and is often used to make candied haws, preserved fruits, jellies, fruit juices, jams, ice cream and other foods. Hawthorn fruit is also rich in vitamin C, minerals and dietary fiber, which has certain nutritional value.

2. Medicinal value: Hawthorn fruit and traditional Chinese medicine contain many active ingredients, such as flavonoids, triterpenoids and organic acids. It has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, blood lipid lowering, blood pressure lowering and other biological activities. In traditional medicine in China, hawthorn is often used to treat dyspepsia, loss of appetite, abdominal distension and other symptoms.

3. Garden viewing: Hawthorn tree has beautiful tree shape, white or reddish flowers in spring and numerous fruits in autumn, which has high ornamental value. Therefore, hawthorn trees are often planted as ornamental trees in parks, courtyards and roads.

4. Ecological value: Hawthorn tree has strong adaptability to the environment, can grow in poor soil and has good soil and water conservation function. At the same time, hawthorn can absorb pollutants in the air, which has a certain effect on improving air quality.

5. Economic value: The demand for hawthorn fruit and market demand for hawthorn products provide farmers with certain economic income. In addition, hawthorn wood can also be used to make furniture and farm tools.

In a word, hawthorn has many values, including edible, medicinal, ornamental, ecological and economic, which is of great significance to human production and life.