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The information on this page has been prepared with reference to published scientific literature, not by a medically qualified expert. It is not medical advice. Any decision to use a supplement or herb-based product is your responsibility. Consult a suitably qualified medical professional, especially if you have underlying conditions. Remember, nothing is for everyone, and not everything sold is what it claims to be. Some things work for some people, some of the time.

Sea Buckthorn - Hippophae rhamnoides

Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) belongs to the family Elaeagnaceae and has been used in traditional medicine systems across Asia and Europe for centuries. This shrub is native to Europe and Asia and is particularly abundant in the Himalayan region, Russia, and China. Other species within the Hippophae genus include H. salicifolia, H. tibetana, and H. neurocarpa, though H. rhamnoides is the most widely studied and utilized medicinally. Common names include sea buckthorn, seaberry, sandthorn, and in some regions, it's known as "Siberian pineapple" or "holy fruit." It should not be confused with common buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica), which is an entirely different plant with different properties.

Active Compounds and Nutritional Profile

Sea buckthorn contains a remarkable array of bioactive compounds, making it one of the most nutritionally dense plant foods. All parts of the plant (berries, leaves, seeds, and bark) contain bioactive substances, though the composition varies significantly between plant parts. The berries are particularly rich in vitamins (A, C, E, K, B complex), minerals (potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron), polyunsaturated fatty acids (omega-3, omega-6, omega-7, omega-9), phytosterols, carotenoids (including beta-carotene, lycopene, zeaxanthin), flavonoids, and phenolic compounds. Sea buckthorn oil can be extracted from both the seeds and the pulp, with different fatty acid profiles in each.

Clinically Validated Health Benefits

According to peer-reviewed research, sea buckthorn has demonstrated efficacy for the following conditions:

• Skin conditions (atopic dermatitis, radiation damage, wound healing)
• Dry eye syndrome
• Gastric ulcers and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• Cardiovascular health (improving lipid profiles, reducing inflammation)
• Metabolic disorders (improving insulin sensitivity)
• Immune system modulation
• Liver protection (hepatoprotective effects)
• Mucous membrane protection and repair (oral, vaginal, intestinal)

Strong Evidence for Clinical Applications

There is particularly strong evidence for sea buckthorn's efficacy in improving dry eye symptoms, promoting wound healing, and managing atopic dermatitis. However, preparation methods and dosing have varied across studies, highlighting the need for standardization. Sea buckthorn oil has demonstrated particular efficacy for dry eye syndrome, with improvements in tear film osmolarity and tear film breakup time observed in multiple clinical trials.

For cardiovascular health, systematic reviews have found that sea buckthorn supplementation can reduce total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels while increasing high-density lipoprotein (HDL).

Recommended Dosages and Standardization

Dosage recommendations vary by preparation and indication:

• Seed or berry oil: 3-5 g daily, typically divided into 2-3 doses
• Berry extract (standardized to contain 50-100 mg of flavonoids): 500-2000 mg daily
• Leaf extract (standardized to 10-20% flavonoids): 300-600 mg daily
• For dry eye syndrome: 1-2 g of oil daily has shown efficacy in clinical trials
• For cardiovascular benefits: 5 g of oil or 500-1000 mg of standardized berry extract daily
• For skin conditions: Both topical applications (creams containing 5-10% sea buckthorn oil) and internal supplementation have shown benefits

Standardization varies considerably between products, but higher-quality supplements typically standardize to total flavonoid content (particularly quercetin and isorhamnetin), fatty acid profile (especially omega-7 palmitoleic acid content), or vitamin C content. The most rigorous clinical studies have used preparations standardized to contain specific levels of these compounds.

Side Effects and Contraindications

Sea buckthorn is generally recognized as safe when used at recommended dosages. Reported side effects are minimal but may include:

• Gastrointestinal discomfort (mild and typically transient)
• Contact dermatitis (rare, when used topically)
• Potential interaction with anticoagulant/antiplatelet medications due to its vitamin K content
• Headache (reported infrequently in higher doses)
• Potential interaction with medications metabolized by cytochrome P450 enzymes (theoretical)

Due to limited safety data, sea buckthorn should be used with caution during pregnancy and lactation. Individuals with bleeding disorders, those preparing for surgery, or those taking blood-thinning medications should consult healthcare providers before use due to potential anticoagulant effects.

High-Dose Studies and Knowledge Gaps

Research on doses significantly exceeding the recommended therapeutic range is limited. A few studies have investigated higher doses (up to 10 g of oil daily) for short periods (4-8 weeks) without reporting serious adverse effects. However, systematic investigation of long-term high-dose consumption is lacking. Animal toxicity studies suggest a wide safety margin, with adverse effects appearing only at extremely high doses unlikely to be consumed by humans.

Significant knowledge gaps exist regarding long-term safety, potential drug interactions, optimal dosing for specific conditions, and the comparative efficacy of different plant parts and extraction methods. Future research should address standardization of preparations to allow for more meaningful cross-study comparisons.

Conclusion

Sea buckthorn offers a promising natural approach for various health conditions, particularly for skin disorders, dry eye syndrome, and cardiovascular health. The strongest evidence supports its use for mucosal integrity, wound healing, and lipid metabolism. However, significant variability in product quality, standardization, and dosing protocols presents challenges for clinical recommendations. When selecting sea buckthorn products, those standardized to specific bioactive compounds provide more reliable results. Further research is needed to establish optimal therapeutic protocols and to address existing knowledge gaps regarding long-term safety and efficacy.

References

Geng, Y., Wang, J., Chen, K., Li, Q., Ping, Z., Xue, R., & Zhang, S. (2022). Effects of sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) on factors related to metabolic syndrome: A systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trial. Phytotherapy Research, 36(11), 4101-4114.

Hao, W., He, Z., Zhu, H., Liu, J., Kwek, E., Zhao, Y., ... & Chen, Z. Y. (2019). Sea buckthorn seed oil reduces blood cholesterol and modulates gut microbiota. Food & Function, 10(9), 5669-5681.

Ma, Q. G., He, N. X., Huang, H. L., Fu, X. M., Zhang, Z. L., Shu, J. C., ... & Wei, R. R. (2023). Hippophae rhamnoides L.: A comprehensive review on the botany, traditional uses, phytonutrients, health benefits, quality markers, and applications. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 71(12), 4769-4788.

Shah, R. K., Idate, A., & Poorva, V. U. (2021). Comprehensive review on sea buckthorn: Biological activity and its potential uses. Pharma Innov, 10, 942-953.

Sun, R., Zhang, M., Zhao, J., Lu, M., Hao, J., Guan, X., & Li, C. (2024). Anti-atherosclerotic effect of sea buckthorn (Hippophae Rhamnoides Linn) and its molecular mechanism. Journal of Functional Foods, 117, 106248.

Wang, K., Xu, Z., & Liao, X. (2022). Bioactive compounds, health benefits and functional food products of sea buckthorn: A review. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, 62(24), 6761-6782.

Yu, W., Du, Y., Li, S., Wu, L., Guo, X., Qin, W., ... & Kuang, H. (2024). Sea buckthorn-nutritional composition, bioactivity, safety, and applications: A review. Journal of Food Composition and Analysis, 106371.