What Is Sea Buckthorn? Other Names: Ananas de Sibérie, Argasse, Hippophaë rhamnoides

What is Sea Buckthorn?

This post was written with Consensus AI Academic Search Engine – please read our Disclaimer at the end of this article. Sea buckthorn (Hippophaë rhamnoides) is a deciduous shrub known for its bright orange berries. It has been traditionally used in various cultures, particularly in China and Russia, for its medicinal properties. The plant is rich in vitamins, antioxidants, and fatty acids, making it a valuable resource for both nutritional and therapeutic applications. Other names include: Ananas de Sibérie, Argasse, Argousier, Argousier Faux-Nerprun, Bourdaine Marine, Buckthorn, Chharma, Dhar-Bu, Épine Luisante, Épine Marrante, Espino Armarillo, Espino Falso, Faux Nerprun, Finbar, Grisset, Hippophae rhamnoides, Meerdorn, Oblepikha, Olivier de Sibérie, Purging Thorn, Rokitnik, Sallow Thorn, Sanddorn, Saule Épineux, Sea Buckhorn, Sceitbezien, Sea-Buckthorn, Seedorn, Star-Bu, Tindved, White Sea Buckthorn.

Nutritional Composition

Sea buckthorn berries are a powerhouse of nutrients. They contain high levels of vitamins C and E, carotenoids, flavonoids, fatty acids, plant sterols, lignans, and minerals10. These components contribute to the plant’s antioxidant properties, which are beneficial for various health conditions.

Health Benefits of Sea Buckthorn

Skin Health

Sea buckthorn seed and pulp oils have been used to treat skin diseases such as atopic dermatitis. A study showed that dietary supplementation with these oils can slightly alter the fatty acid composition of skin glycerophospholipids, potentially benefiting skin health1.

Glycemic Control

Sea buckthorn has shown promise in managing blood sugar levels. In a study involving overweight and obese male subjects, sea buckthorn improved the glycemic profile and delayed the insulin response following a sucrose-containing meal2. Another study indicated that sea buckthorn fruit puree could slightly reduce fasting plasma glucose in individuals with impaired glucose regulation4.

Liver Health

Sea buckthorn may also have protective effects on the liver. Clinical studies have demonstrated its potential in reducing liver fibrosis markers and improving liver function in cirrhotic patients3. Additionally, animal studies have shown that sea buckthorn extract can protect against liver injury induced by a high-fat diet7.

Cardiovascular Health

The antioxidant properties of sea buckthorn may contribute to cardiovascular health. A study found that sea buckthorn juice supplementation resulted in a moderate decrease in the susceptibility of LDL to oxidation, which is a risk factor for atherosclerosis8. Moreover, sea buckthorn berries have been shown to reduce serum C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations, a marker of inflammation and cardiovascular risk5.

Applications in Animal Health

Poultry

In poultry, sea buckthorn fruit residues have been found to improve egg production and yolk color without significantly affecting other aspects of egg quality or hen performance6.

Equine Health

Sea buckthorn has also been studied for its effects on gastric ulcers in horses. While it did not show efficacy in treating nonglandular ulcers, it significantly reduced the number and severity of glandular ulcers in horses subjected to intermittent feeding10.

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Adverse Effects of Sea Buckthorn

Impact on Animal Performance

Broilers and Laying Hens: Sea buckthorn fruit residues negatively affected the performance of broilers, leading to lower body weight, poorer feed conversion ratio, and higher mortality rates compared to control groups3. In laying hens, while sea buckthorn improved egg yolk color, it did not significantly affect overall hen performance or egg quality6.

Sheep: High inclusion rates of sea buckthorn pomace in sheep diets decreased nutrient digestibility, although it improved metabolizable protein supply and average daily gain7.

Human Studies

Glycemic Control: In individuals with impaired glucose regulation, sea buckthorn fruit puree showed a slight reduction in fasting plasma glucose but also increased glycated serum protein levels during the intervention period2. Another study found that sea buckthorn decreased and delayed insulin response in overweight and obese males, but did not affect postprandial glucose levels5.

Liver Health: Sea buckthorn extract showed protective effects against liver injury in mice fed a high-fat diet, reducing liver coefficient and serum levels of harmful lipids and enzymes8. However, in cirrhotic patients, while sea buckthorn reduced certain fibrosis markers, it also increased levels of inflammatory cytokines TNFalpha and IL-69.

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How has Sea Buckthorn Improved Patient Outcomes?

Periodontitis

Sea buckthorn has been effective as an adjunct to nonsurgical therapy in periodontitis patients. It significantly improved clinical parameters such as plaque index, gingival bleeding index, pocket depth, and clinical attachment level, as well as reduced levels of periodontal pathogens1.

Liver Diseases

Liver Fibrosis

In cirrhotic patients, sea buckthorn extract significantly reduced serum levels of liver fibrosis markers (LN, HA, collagen types III and IV) and improved liver function tests, suggesting its potential in preventing and treating liver fibrosis2.

Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD)

Sea buckthorn treatment in NAFLD patients resulted in significant improvements in serum lipids, liver enzymes, and liver stiffness measurements, indicating its efficacy in managing this condition3.

Traumatic Injuries

Tympanic Membrane Perforations

Sea buckthorn oil patches significantly increased the healing rate and reduced the healing time for traumatic tympanic membrane perforations compared to standard treatment4.

Burns

In patients with second-degree burns, sea buckthorn cream reduced the healing period more effectively than 1% silver sulfadiazine, demonstrating its superior efficacy in wound healing6.

Psoriasis

Sea buckthorn extract improved Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI) and Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) scores in patients, indicating its potential as a low-adverse effect treatment for psoriasis5.

Cardiovascular Health

Hypercholesterolemia

Sea buckthorn puree showed anti-inflammatory and anti-hypertensive effects in hypercholesterolemic patients, although it did not significantly affect lipid markers8.

General Cardiovascular Risk

Sea buckthorn juice supplementation moderately decreased the susceptibility of LDL to oxidation and increased HDL-C and triacylglycerol concentrations, suggesting some cardiovascular benefits10.

Glycemic Control

Sea buckthorn improved the glycemic profile by decreasing and delaying the insulin response in overweight and obese male subjects, which could be beneficial for managing postprandial glycemia9.

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Sea Buckthorn Mechanisms of Action

Antioxidant Properties

Sea buckthorn is rich in antioxidants, including vitamin C, alpha-tocopherol, beta-carotene, and flavonoids, which help reduce oxidative stress. This antioxidant activity can decrease the susceptibility of LDL to oxidation, which is beneficial for cardiovascular health2. Additionally, sea buckthorn sterol enhances the activities of antioxidant enzymes like superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), reducing lipid peroxidation and protecting liver cells from damage6.

Modulation of Glucose Metabolism

Sea buckthorn has been shown to improve glycemic profiles by decreasing and delaying insulin response. It reduces plasma insulin concentrations and the maximal increase in plasma insulin following a meal, which can be beneficial for managing postprandial glycemia in overweight or obese individuals1. In individuals with impaired glucose regulation, sea buckthorn fruit puree consumption led to a slight reduction in fasting plasma glucose levels3. Additionally, in diabetic rats, sea buckthorn seed residues exhibited hypoglycemic effects by lowering serum glucose and improving insulin sensitivity8.

Anti-inflammatory Effects

Sea buckthorn reduces inflammation by decreasing serum levels of inflammatory markers such as TNF-alpha and IL-6. It also lowers serum C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations, which is a marker of inflammation and a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases4 5. In liver injury models, sea buckthorn sterol reduced inflammatory lesions and regulated metabolic disorders, contributing to liver protection6.

Other Effects

Liver Protection: Sea buckthorn extract has shown protective effects against liver fibrosis and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease by improving liver function and reducing aminotransferase levels4 7.

Skin Health: Sea buckthorn seed and pulp oils can slightly modify the fatty acid composition of skin glycerophospholipids, which may benefit conditions like atopic dermatitis10.

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Common Complaints Associated with Sea Buckthorn Use

Digestive Issues

Digestive Tract Infections (DTI): In a study involving 254 healthy volunteers, there were no significant differences in the number or duration of digestive tract infections between the sea buckthorn and placebo groups, indicating that sea buckthorn does not prevent these infections1.

Skin Reactions

Atopic Dermatitis: In a study on patients with atopic dermatitis, sea buckthorn seed oil slightly altered the fatty acid composition of skin glycerophospholipids, but the changes were minimal and the levels of other fatty acids remained stable. This suggests that while sea buckthorn oil is used traditionally for skin conditions, its effects are not dramatic in the short term2.

Liver Function

Liver Enzymes and Fibrosis: In a clinical study on cirrhotic patients, sea buckthorn extract significantly reduced serum levels of liver fibrosis markers and shortened the duration for normalization of aminotransferases. However, the serum levels of inflammatory cytokines (TNFalpha, IL-6) were higher in the sea buckthorn group compared to the control group, indicating a potential inflammatory response3.

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Disclaimer

The content presented in this blog is generated by Consensus, an AI-powered academic search engine, and is based on publicly available scientific literature. While every effort is made to provide accurate, up-to-date, and well-researched information, the content is intended for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making any decisions regarding medical conditions, treatments, or medications. The AI system’s analysis may not cover all perspectives, emerging research, or individual cases, and it is not a substitute for professional expertise. Neither the blog publisher nor the developers of the AI-powered search engine are responsible for any actions taken based on the information provided in this content. Use of this information is at your own risk. Citations to the original scientific studies are included for reference, but these studies should be reviewed in full and interpreted with the guidance of a healthcare or research professional.

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