Important Therapeutic Uses of Sea Buckthorn (Hippophae): A Review (2004)

Sea buckthorn is a deciduous species, widely distributed all over world, including Pakistan. It contains different kinds of nutrients and bioactive substances such as vitamins, carotenoids, flavonoids, polyunsaturated fatty acids, free amino acids and elemental components etc. These components vary substantially among populations, origins or subspecies, however their presence is more important for health of individual. The clinical trials and scientific studies during 20th century confirm medicinal and nutritional value of sea buckthorn. The present study describe some areas of research that have been important points, for example in cancer therapy, cardiovascular diseases, treatment of gastrointestinal ulcers, skin disorder and as a li ver protective agent. A lot of research work is still need to clarify mechanism of curing these conditions in molecular and cellular levels. ancient Greeks used it in a diet for racehorses; hence it a clear concept over medicinal importance of gets botanical name Hippophae which means shiny Hippophae for future research. horse. The clinical trials and scientific studies conducted during 20th century in several countries confirm Chemistry and phytochemistry: The wide chemical and medicinal and nutritional value of sea buckthorn. The phytochemical composition of sea buckthorn has recently references to medicinal use of sea buckthorn were found reviewed by Zeb and Beverage and was found to in ancient Greek texts attributed to Theophrastus and varies with origin, climate and method of extraction . Dioskorid and in classic Tibetan medicinal texts, including Indian Summer juice gave an average pH of 3.13 and an the RGyud Bzi (The Four Books of Pharmacopoeia ) average titratable acidity of 1.97% calculated as mali c dated to times of Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD). Herbal acid . In general H. rhamnoides contains vitamin C , remedies made of sea buckthorn are most frequently mineral elements , monosaccharid es sugars , used for treatment of diseases of skin and digestive organic acids , free amino acids , large amount of system . Traditional use of sea buckthorn oil to promote carotenoids and vitamin E , volatile compounds (2) recuperation of skin injuries and support healing (Table 1) and different flavonoids (Table 2), quercetin, of skin diseases, well agrees with data of moder n myricetin and kaempferol , fatty acids , triacylglrcerol, clinical studies. Sea buckthorn oil is widely used to glycerophospholipids , phytosterols , zeaxanthi n promote recovery of various skin conditions, esters , alpha-tocopherol and phenolic compounds . including eczema, burns, bad healing wounds, skin The oil content of whole fresh berries, including damaging effects of sun, therapeutic radiation treatment seeds, varied from 2 to 11% and of seeds from 4 to and cosmetic laser surgery. The preparations from 17%. On an average, only 10-20% of oil is in seeds, berries are also utilized to prevent gum bleeding, to help proportion of which never exceeded that of pulp recuperate mucous membranes of stomach and other oil . A variety of other important nutrients are also organs . The health problems (cancer, digestive ulcers, present in sea buckhorn products, which are beneficial (3,4) skin diseases, cardiovascular symptoms etc) are growing for human health. Further research is needed to explore countries and their therapy by synthetic medicine is very