Vol. 7, Issue 5 (2018)

Author(s):
Subhash Chandra, Rana Zafar, Pradeep Dwivedi, LP Shinde and Borkar Prita

Abstract:
Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) also known as sea buckthorn is an ancient plant with modern virtues, due to its nutritional and medicinal value. It is a deciduous species, widely distributed all over the world, including India. It contains different kinds of nutrients and bioactive substances such as vitamins, carotenoids, flavonoids, polyunsaturated fatty acids, free amino acids and elemental components etc. The fruit is the main component of value, although the leaves are occasionally made into sea buckthorn tea. The juice from the fleshy tissue and seed as a single seed from each berry provides a nutritious beverage, high in suspended solids and very high in vitamin C and carotenes. Medicinally, it has been proven to possess various pharmacological activities such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, antifungal, metabolic disorders, immunostimulatory activity, hepatoprotectant and anticancer activity. Several studies reveals the presence of various phytochemical constituents viz., flavonoids (isorhamnetin, quercetin, myricetin, kaempferol and their glycoside compounds), carotenoids (β and δ-carotene, lycopene, Zeaxanthin), few essential amino acids, sitosterol, triterpene, fatty acids, tannin acid, 5-hydroxytryptamine, umbelliferone, antioxidant vitamins and minerals in various parts of this plant. Studies on human and animals suggested that sea buckthorn may have various beneficial effects: cardioprotective, anti-atherogenic, antioxidant, anti-cancer, immunomodulatory, anti-bacterial, antiviral, and wound healing and anti-inflammatory. It could also be used for human and animal nutrition. Therefore, it would be worthwhile to perform more scientific research on this medicinal plant and to promote its large-scale utilization