Omnia SanaCommon names in 31 European languages →
The complete database record: 3 documented constituents, 7 pharmacological actions, 12 traditional / indicated uses, with 19 cited sources.
Botanical Description
Thorny, deciduous shrub or small tree with narrow, silvery-grey, willow-like leaves. The plant is dioecious (separate male and female plants); female plants bear dense clusters of small, bright orange-yellow berries tightly packed along the branches, giving a striking display in autumn.[4]
Habitat & Distribution
Grows on coastal dunes, riverbanks and disturbed, nutrient-poor or sandy soils; native across temperate Europe and Asia, tolerant of harsh, exposed conditions and cold climates, notably widespread in the Himalayan and Tibetan plateau region.[4]
Harvesting
Berries are hand-picked (often by cutting whole fruiting branches, given the thorns and fragile fruit) in late summer to autumn once ripe; leaves are picked through the growing season, and seeds are separated from pressed fruit for seed oil.[4]
Key Constituents
Sea buckthorn berries are among the richest natural sources of vitamin C, along with beta-carotene and other carotenoids.
A distinctive fatty-acid profile, particularly rich in palmitoleic acid (omega-7), the basis of the oil's skin- and mucous-membrane-healing reputation.
Antioxidant flavonoids contributing to the plant's anti-inflammatory activity.
Pharmacological Actions
Traditional & Indicated Uses
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
inferred from antidiabetic action
more plants for blood sugar / diabetes support →detailed sources →
inferred from vulnerary action
inferred from anticancer action
more plants for cancer (anticancer research) →detailed sources →
more plants for cardiovascular / heart health →detailed sources →
inferred from immunomodulator action
inferred from emollient action
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
inferred from antidiabetic action
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
inferred from vulnerary action
Traditional Use & History
Sea buckthorn has a long Tibetan, Mongolian and traditional Chinese medicine history as a nutritive and healing tonic for respiratory, digestive and skin complaints, and the berries are exceptionally rich in vitamin C and carotenoids; the oil, from both fruit and seed, has a particular traditional and modern reputation for soothing and healing irritated or damaged skin and mucous membranes.[1, 4]
Preparations
Cold-pressed oil from the berry pulp or seed, applied topically for skin healing or taken orally as a nutritional/antioxidant supplement.
Safety, Cautions & Contraindications
Berries and juice are safe as food. Seed oil is safe topically and orally in moderate amounts. May have mild anticoagulant effects. May lower blood pressure and blood sugar - use caution with medications. Allergic reactions are rare.
Duke (2002) rates sea buckthorn as +++ and notes antioxidant, hepatoprotective, antiulcer, and vulnerary activities at the experimental level (score 1). The berries are exceptionally rich in vitamins C (one of the highest natural sources) and E, carotenoids, flavonoids, and omega-7 fatty acids (palmitoleic acid). Duke recommends sea buckthorn as a 'food farmacy' - consumed as part of the regular diet for its nutritional-medicinal benefits. Its radioprotective properties have been studied, though without strong clinical validation. No significant safety concerns at food doses (Duke, 2002).
Harvest Readiness
[15]
[15]
External Identifiers
References & Sources
- Liu, L., Wen, T., Xiao, Y., Chen, H. et al (2024) 'Sea buckthorn extract mitigates chronic obstructive pulmonary disease by suppression of ferroptosis via scavenging ROS and blocking p53/MAPK pathways', Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 336, pp. 118726. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2024.118726 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2024.118726 - Wen, P., Zhao, P., Qin, G., Tang, S. et al (2018) 'Genotoxicity and teratogenicity of seabuckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) berry oil', Drug and Chemical Toxicology, 43(4), pp. 391-397. doi:10.1080/01480545.2018.1497047 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1080/01480545.2018.1497047 - Gong, G., Guan, Y.Y., Zhang, Z.L., Rahman, K. et al (2020) 'Isorhamnetin: A review of pharmacological effects', Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, 128, pp. 110301. doi:10.1016/j.biopha.2020.110301 Traditional / reference
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopha.2020.110301 - Suryakumar, G. and Gupta, A (2011) 'Medicinal and therapeutic potential of Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.)', Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 138(2), pp. 268-278. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2011.09.024 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2011.09.024 - Pundir, S., Garg, P., Dviwedi, A., Ali, A., Kapoor, V.K., Kapoor, D., Kulshrestha, S., Lal, U.R. and Negi, P (2021) 'Ethnomedicinal uses, phytochemistry and dermatological effects of Hippophae rhamnoides L.: a review', Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 266, pp. 113434. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2020.113434 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2020.113434 - Chen, Y., He, W., Cao, H., Wang, Z., Liu, J., Wang, B. and Wang, C (2024) 'Research progress of sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) in prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease', Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine, 11, pp. 1477636. doi:10.3389/fcvm.2024.1477636 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.3389/fcvm.2024.1477636 - Ganju, L., Padwad, Y., Singh, R., Karan, D., Chanda, S., Chopra, M.K., Bhatnagar, P., Kashyap, R. and Sawhney, R.C (2005) 'Anti-inflammatory activity of seabuckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) leaves', International Immunopharmacology, 5(12), pp. 1675-1684. doi:10.1016/j.intimp.2005.03.017 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.intimp.2005.03.017 - Yasukawa, K., Kitanaka, S., Kawata, K. and Goto, K (2009) 'Anti-tumor promoters phenolics and triterpenoid from Hippophae rhamnoides', Fitoterapia, 80(3), pp. 164-167. doi:10.1016/j.fitote.2009.01.006 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fitote.2009.01.006 - Zhu, Y., Wu, M., Li, X., Wang, Y., Li, M. and Zhou, H (2023) 'Flash extraction, characterization, and immunoenhancement activity of polysaccharide from Hippophae rhamnoides Linn', Chemistry & Biodiversity, 20(3), pp. e202200776. doi:10.1002/cbdv.202200776 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1002/cbdv.202200776 - Zuchowski, J (2023) 'Phytochemistry and pharmacology of sea buckthorn (Elaeagnus rhamnoides; syn. Hippophae rhamnoides): progress from 2010 to 2021', Phytochemistry Reviews, 22(1), pp. 3-33. doi:10.1007/s11101-022-09832-1 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11101-022-09832-1 - Ciesarova, Z., Murkovic, M., Cejpek, K., Kreps, F., Tobolkova, B., Koplik, R., Belajova, E., Kukurova, K., Dasko, L., Panovska, Z., Revenco, D. and Burcova, Z (2020) 'Why is sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) so exceptional? A review', Food Research International, 133, pp. 109170. doi:10.1016/j.foodres.2020.109170 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodres.2020.109170 - Ma, X., Yang, W., Kallio, H. and Yang, B (2022) 'Health promoting properties and sensory characteristics of phytochemicals in berries and leaves of sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides)', Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, 62(14), pp. 3798-3816. doi:10.1080/10408398.2020.1869921 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1080/10408398.2020.1869921 - Dvorska, D., Sebova, D., Kajo, K., Kapinova, A., Svajdlenka, E., Goga, M., Frenak, R., Treml, J., Mersakova, S., Strnadel, J., Mazurakova, A., Baranova, I., Halasova, E., Brozmanova, M., Biringer, K., Kassayova, M., Dankova, Z., Smejkal, K., Hornak, S., Mojzis, J., Sadlonova, V., Brany, D., Kello, M. and Kubatka, P (2025) 'Chemopreventive and therapeutic effects of Hippophae rhamnoides L. fruit peels evaluated in preclinical models of breast carcinoma', Frontiers in Pharmacology, 16, pp. 1561436. doi:10.3389/fphar.2025.1561436 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2025.1561436 - Ling, N., Tian, H., Wang, Q., Gao, M., Xu, G., Sun, Y., Song, D., Li, W. and Ji, C (2024) 'Advance in Hippophae rhamnoides polysaccharides: extraction, structural characteristics, pharmacological activity, structure-activity relationship and application', International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 270, pp. 132420. doi:10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.132420 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.132420 - Plants For A Future 'Hippophae rhamnoides (Sea Buckthorn)'. Available at: https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Hippophae+rhamnoides Traditional / reference
https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Hippophae+rhamnoides - Chodak, A (2014) 'Sea buckthorn — values and medicinal properties', 21(1), pp. 72--75. Traditional / reference
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Sea%20buckthorn%20%E2%80%94%20values%20and%20medicinal%20properties - Rousi, A (1971) 'The genus Hippophae L.: a taxonomic study', 8(3), pp. 177--227. Traditional / reference
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=The%20genus%20Hippophae%20L.%3A%20a%20taxonomic%20study - Zuñiga-López, M.C. et al (2021) 'Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) polysaccharides', 26(19). Traditional / reference
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Sea%20buckthorn%20%28Hippophae%20rhamnoides%20L.%29%20polysaccharides - Duke, J.A (2002) 'Handbook of Medicinal Herbs, Second Edition'. Traditional / reference
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Handbook%20of%20Medicinal%20Herbs%2C%20Second%20Edition
Selected studies & references
All 18 studies in the Knowledge Finder →
This profile is assembled automatically from the Omnia Sana plant database, which we curate by hand. How this site is built.