Hippophae rhamnoides Health Dictionary

Linn.

Family: Elaeagnaceae.

Habitat: North-west Himalayas at 2,350-5,000 m.

English: Seabuckthorn, Sand Thorn.

Folk: Dhurchuk, Chumaa, Tarwaa (Uttar Pradesh), Sirmaa (Punjab, Ladakh).

Action: Fruit—astringent, anti- diarrhoeal, stomachic, antitussive, antihaemorrhagic.

Sea Buckthorn preparations are used internally for stomach ulcer, duodenal ulcer and other illnesses of the alimentary organs; externally in cases of burns, bedsores and other skin complications induced by the treatment with X-rays and other radiations.

The berries contain polyphenols, 3,4-dihydroxy benzoic acid and p- coumaric acid. They are an important source of vitamins for people living in cold, long winter regions; contain high concentration of vitamin A (carotene 30-40 mg), B1, B2, B6, C (50-600 mg) and E (160 mg/100 g).

The plant is an effective antioxidant and shows protective effect on smooth muscles of rabbits in vitro. The methanolic extract of the berry showed scavenging activity on chemically generated superoxide radicals.

The leaves contain flavonoids, iso- rhamnetin and astragalin; the bark gave serotonin.