| Hippophae | |
|---|---|
.JPG) | |
| Common sea buckthorn shrub in theNetherlands | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Rosales |
| Family: | Elaeagnaceae |
| Genus: | Hippophae L. |
| Type species | |
| Hippophae rhamnoides | |
| Species | |
See text | |
 | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Hippophae, fromAncient Greek ἵππος (híppos), meaning "horse", and φάος (pháos), meaning "light", is a genus offlowering plants in the familyElaeagnaceae. They aredeciduousshrubs. They are exceptionally hardy plants, able to withstand winter temperatures as low as −43 °C (−45 °F). AsHippophae species develop an aggressive and extensive root system, they are planted to inhibitsoil erosion and used inland reclamation for theirnitrogen fixing properties,wildlife habitat, and soil enrichment.Hippophae berries and leaves are manufactured into various human and animal food andskincare products.[clarification needed]
The shrubs reach 0.5–6 m (1 ft 8 in – 19 ft 8 in) tall, rarely up to 10 metres (33 ft) in central Asia. The leaf arrangement can be alternate or opposite.[1] 'Plants of the World Online[2] includes the following species:
Hippophae is a smallgenus of Elaeagnaceae having a terminaltaxon with sevenspecies recognized, as of 2002.[1]Hippophae rhamnoides is a highly variable species with eight subspecies.[1]
In ancient times, leaves and young branches from sea buckthorn were supposedly fed as a remedy to horses to support weight gain and appearance of the coat, leading to the name of the genus,Hippophae, fromAncient Greek ἵππος (híppos), meaning "horse", and φάος (pháos), meaning "light".[4]
Hippophae rhamnoides, the common sea buckthorn, is the most widespread of the species in the genus, with the ranges of its eight subspecies extending from theAtlantic coasts of Europe across to northwestern Mongolia, northwestern China and Northern Pakistan.[4][5] In western Europe, it is largely confined to sea coasts where salt spray off the sea prevents other larger plants from outcompeting it. In central Asia, it is more widespread in drysemi-desert sites where other plants cannot survive the dry conditions.
In central Europe and Asia, it also occurs as asub-alpine shrub above thetree line in mountains, and other sunny areas such asriver banks where it has been used to stabilizeerosion.[4] They are tolerant ofsalt in the air and soil, but demand full sunlight for good growth and do not tolerate shady conditions near larger trees. They typically grow in dry, sandy areas.
More than 90% or about 1,500,000 ha (3,700,000 acres) of the world's natural sea buckthornhabitat is found in China, Mongolia, Russia, and most parts of Northern Europe.[4]
Sea buckthorn USDAhardiness zones are about 3 through 7.[4]
In some areas it is considered invasive, due to its ability to outcompete smaller native species.[6]
During theCold War, Russian and East German horticulturists developed new varieties with greater nutritional value, larger berries, different ripening months and branches that are easier to harvest. Over the past 20 years, experimental crops have been grown in the United States, one inNevada and one inArizona, and in several provinces of Canada.[7]
A study of nuclearribosomalinternal transcribed spacer sequence data[8] showed that the genus can be divided into threeclades:
A study usingchloroplast sequences and morphology,[5] however, recovered only two clades:
The fruit is an important winter food resource for some birds, notablyfieldfares.[citation needed]
Leaves are eaten by thelarva of the coastal race of theash pug moth and by larvae of otherLepidoptera, includingbrown-tail,dun-bar,emperor moth,mottled umber, andColeophora elaeagnisella.
Sea buckthorn berries are edible and nutritious, thoughastringent,sour, and oily[9] unlessbletted (frosted to reduce the astringency) and/or mixed as a drink with sweeter substances such asapple orgrape juice. Additionally,malolactic fermentation of sea buckthorn juice reduces sourness, enhancing its sensory properties. The mechanism behind this change is transformation ofmalic acid intolactic acid inmicrobial metabolism.[10]
When the berries are pressed, the resulting sea buckthorn juice separates into three layers: on top is a thick, orange cream; in the middle, a layer containing sea buckthorn's characteristic high content ofsaturated andpolyunsaturated fats; and the bottom layer issediment and juice.[4][11] The upper two layers contain fat sources applicable for cosmetic purposes and can be processed for skin creams andliniments, whereas the bottom layer can be used for edible products such assyrup.[11]
Besides juice, sea buckthorn fruit can be used to makepies,jams,lotions,teas,fruit wines, andliquors.[4] The juice or pulp has other potential applications in foods, beverages or cosmetics products such as shower gel.[4] Fruit drinks were among the earliest sea buckthorn products developed inChina. Sea buckthorn-based juice is common inGermany andScandinavian countries. It provides a beverage rich invitamin C andcarotenoids.[4] Sea buckthorn berries are also used to produce rich orange-coloured ice-cream, with a melon-type taste and hints of citrus.[12][13]
For its troops confronting low winter temperatures (seeSiachen), India'sDefence Research and Development Organisation established a factory inLeh to manufacture a multivitamin herbal beverage based on sea buckthorn juice.[14]
The seed and pulp oils have nutritional properties that vary under different processing methods.[15]Sea buckthorn oils are used as a source for ingredients in several commercially availablecosmetic products andnutritional supplements.[4]
Sea buckthorn may be used as alandscaping shrub with an aggressivebasal shoot system used for barrier hedges and windbreaks, and to stabilize riverbanks and steep slopes.[4] They have value in northern climates for their landscape qualities, as the colorful berry clusters are retained through winter.[4][16][17] Branches may be used by florists for designing ornaments.
In northwestern China, sea buckthorn shrubs have been planted on the bottoms of dry riverbeds to increase water retention of the soil, thus decreasing sediment loss.[4] Due to increased moisture conservation of the soil and nitrogen-fixing capabilities of sea buckthorn, vegetation levels have increased in areas where sea buckthorn have been planted.[18][19] Sea buckthorn was once distributed free of charge to Canadian prairie farmers byPFRA to be used inshelterbelts.[20]
Sea buckthorn has been used over centuries in traditional medicine.[4] Although sea buckthorn fruitextracts are under preliminary research for theirpharmacological effects, there is nohigh-quality clinical evidence for the ability ofHippophae products to lower the risk of human diseases.[21] As of 2022, no sea buckthorn products are approved asprescription drugs by any nationalregulatory agency.[21]
Berry oil from seeds or fruit pulp, either taken orally as adietary supplement or appliedtopically, is believed to be a skin softener or medicine, but there is inadequate clinical evidence of its effectiveness.[21] There have been no systematic studies oftoxicity and safety for anyHippophae product.[21]
The International Seabuckthorn Association, formerly the International Center for Research and Training on Seabuckthorn (ICRTS), was formed jointly in 1988 by the China Research and Training Center on Seabuckthorn, the Seabuckthorn Office of the Yellow River Water Commission, and the Shaanxi Seabuckthorn Development Office. From 1995 to 2000, ICRTS published the research journal,Hippophae, which appears to be no longer active.
In 2005–2007, the "EAN-Seabuck" network betweenEuropean Union states, China, Russia andNew Independent States was funded by theEuropean Commission to promote sustainable crop and consumer product development.[22]
In Mongolia, there is an active National Association of Seabuckthorn Cultivators and Producers.[23]
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of November 2024 (link)
