Sea Buckthorn: Applications, Treatments, Health Benefits

Sea buckthorn is a deciduous plant of the family Elaeagnaceae, widespread in Europe and Asia. The shrubs, usually 1- 6 meters high, prefer sandy soil and require full sunlight.

Occurrence and cultivation of sea buckthorn

Exclusively the female sea buckthorn plants produce the characteristic orange 6-9 mm, oblong-oval berry fruits. Common buckthorn is the most widespread species of the genus, growing in Western Europe predominantly along seashores enriched by salt spray. More than 90 percent of the world’s commercial sea buckthorn plantations are now in China, where the plant was initially established for erosion control and water pollution control purposes. The silvery-green lance-shaped leaves are densely arranged on branches studded with thorns. Exclusively the female sea buckthorn plants produce the characteristic orange 6-9 mm oblong-oval berry fruits, which are juicy and rich in oils. The rapidly spreading root system of the sea buckthorn plant enriches the soil with nitrogen.

Application and use

The harvest and processing of sea buckthorn is very laborious due to the thorny plant growth and is mostly done by machine. In the recovery process, mainly the berry components are separated to filter the main products of juice, dried fruit, nutrient extracts and oil. The residues are processed as valuable animal feed. The fruits of sea buckthorn are rich in vitamin C, vitamin E and other nutrients such as flavonoids. The oil contains mainly essential fatty acids. Even the leaves can be used for making tea, as they contain triterpenes with antimicrobial activity. Leaves and twigs are also a source of vegetable protein (11-22%). 100 grams of fresh sea buckthorn berries contain on average:

Flavonoids and oils of sea buckthorn are the ingredients preferably extracted for medicinal use. Flavonoid extracts usually contain 80% flavonoids and 20% residual oils, vitamin C and other components. In the preparation of sea buckthorn oil, the unsaturated fatty acids are of greatest interest, so the extracted oils contain hardly any flavonoids or vitamin C.

Juice and fruit puree of the sea buckthorn are also refined and can be found in the market as diluted fruit juices, syrup, jam, liqueur or sweets. The rich ingredients of sea buckthorn are also used in the manufacture of cosmetic products (e.g., anti-aging creams) and dietary supplements.

Importance for health, treatment and prevention

Sea buckthorn has a strong antioxidant effect due to its high content of flavonoids and vitamin C, which are used for the following applications:

  • Cancer therapy
  • Long-term therapy to reduce cardiovascular risk factors.
  • Treatment of gastrointestinal ulcers
  • Internal and topical therapy for a variety of skin conditions
  • Use as a liver preparation (detoxification) and remedy for cirrhosis of the liver.

Especially in Asia, sea buckthorn is used in the medical field. However, since there are hardly any clinical studies in the European area, sea buckthorn currently still falls into the field of folk medicine. In the context of Chinese studies, for example, a sea buckthorn preparation was successfully injected into the bone marrow of cancer patients to protect it from damage by radiation. At the same time, the extract is able to promote faster recovery of bone marrow cells. The use of sea buckthorn in cardiovascular diseases lowers cholesterol levels and improves heart functions and the risk of angina. Flavonoids extracted from sea buckthorn are also able to reduce pathogenic thrombosis.A combination of active ingredients of sea buckthorn flavonoids, safflower oil and licorice (Ai Xin Bao) is now used in the treatment of coronary heart disease and the effects of a heart attack or stroke to improve blood circulation and restore heart function. When used for the stomach and liver, sea buckthorn seed oil has anti-inflammatory and normalizing effects. The nourishing palmitoleic acid contained in the oil has a healing effect in the treatment of burns and open wounds, as well as systemic skin diseases such as neurodermatitis. As an ingredient in sunscreens, the UV-blocking activity of sea buckthorn has a beneficial effect.