Sea Buckthorn Hippophae rhamnoides Family: Elaeagnaceae

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Photo © Steven Foster

Introduction

Sea buckthorn is a deciduous, hardy, thorny shrub native to Asia and Europe, and typically found on slopes, riverbanks, and seashores.^1,2  It produces yellow-green flowers in the spring followed by yellow and orange fruits that have a passion fruit flavor when sweetened.¹  

History and Cultural Significance

For over a thousand years, preparations made from sea buckthorn have been used medicinally in Mongolia, China and Tibet.²  The first documented benefits of sea buckthorn were recorded in the classic 8th century CE Tibetan medical text rGyud Bzi (The four Books of Pharmacopoeia). Young branches and leaves were used in ancient Greece as horse feed which resulted in weight gain and a healthy shine to the horse’s coat, and accounts for the genus name, Hippophae (shining horse). Russian researchers have investigated active compounds in the plant’s fruits, leaves, and bark since the 1940s. Russian cosmonauts incorporated the fruit into their diet and the oil into a cream in the belief that they would help protect the cosmonauts from solar radiation. Since the early 1980s over 200,000 acres have been planted in China, with about 150 processing plants producing over 200 industrial and consumer products such as pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. Sea buckthorn fruit is an official medicine in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia where it is used internally for expelling phlegm, stopping cough, improving digestion, and promoting blood flow. The oil is used in cosmetic skin-regenerating compositions and as a natural plasticizer and emulsifier.²  Sea buckthorn is high in vitamin A and C,^1,3  protein, fatty acids,⁴  carotene,⁵  and vitamin E.⁶  The fruit is used to make marmalades, syrup, fruit flavored herb teas, liquors and vitamin supplements.

Sea buckthorn also has environmental value. Between 1950 and 1985, 200,000 hectares (just over 494,210 acres) of sea buckthorn were planted in China for erosion control and fuel wood production.⁷  It is being used to reclaim wasteland and mined areas in Canada, Germany, Hungary, Romania and Russia.

Modern Research

Research has shown that sea buckthorn taken internally may help support cardiovascular health.⁸  

Sea buckthorn oil is very stable and has shown promise for external use as a therapeutic skin cream ingredient.⁹  Numerous studies suggest it may help soothe irritated skin.¹⁰  One study has shown it may be useful for prematurely aging skin.¹¹  Both sea buckthorn pulp oil and seed oil taken internally may be helpful in soothing irritated skin.¹²  

Future Outlook

Sea buckthorn occurs in sizable stands across the Eurasian continent and there is some concern about it being invasive although there are natural and chemical ways of controlling its spread.²  Conversely, it is rarely observed in the wild in Hungary and is protected as an endangered species there. Some experts on sea buckthorn think that this protection needs to be extended and that considerable research and development needs to occur to ensure sea buckthorn’s sustainability. Recent awareness of its nutritional and medicinal value has led to exploitation and destruction of sea buckthorn in its natural habitat.²  

Sea buckthorn grows well in certain parts of Canada and is being promoted there as a cash crop. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) estimated in 2002 that there was a potential annual demand for 10,000 kilograms (about 22,000 pounds) of sea buckthorn oil in North America.⁷  To produce this amount of oil, 1.5 million kilograms (about 3,307,000 pounds) of raw fruit would be needed. AAFC also reported that there is potential for a long-term sea buckthorn market in Europe of perhaps 75,000 kilograms (165,000 pounds) of fruit.⁷