Sea Buckthorn: Importance, Distribution, Medicinal Benefits & Nutritional Value

Q: In which parts of India does sea buckthorn grow?

Sea buckthorn grows naturally in 5 Himalayan states at an altitude between 2,000 to 4,300 meters.

Q: What are the major health benefits of sea buckthorn?

Sea buckthorn oil can help in healing burns, protect skin against harmful effects of UV rays, slow down the aging process, reduce cholesterol, improve cardiovascular health, and act as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent.

The Sea Buckthorn is not an animal but a fruit plant which is a deciduous, thorny shrub native to Eurasia and the Himalayas. The sea buckthorn is also referred to as sea berry or gold of ladakh and also siberian pineapple because of its bright orange-yellow fruits. It is a rich source of natural nutrition and traditional herbal medicine. In addition, the sea buckthorn is a good soil stabilizer and can flourish in difficult conditions.

Importance of Sea Buckthorn

Sea buckthorn is an important plant in the process of soil stabilisation.
It stops soil erosion, controls river silting and encourages floral diversity.
This plant has a deep and extensive root system which helps to bind the soil and keep it stable.
Sea buckthorn can be used in the process of soil improvement through its symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria.
The plant has high medicinal values due to its use since ancient times in traditional medicine. It is composed of more than 100 bioactive components such as vitamin A, C, E, omega 3, 6, 7, 9 fatty acids, flavonoids, and antioxidants.
It possesses antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects and is useful in the treatment of burns, skin conditions and liver ailments.
The sea buckthorn has been a commercial crop in India.
The local and tribal communities grow sea buckthorn crops for consumption and medicinal purposes.
The people collect the berries which is an income-generating activity for poor rural communities and helps prevent desertification.
In India, sea buckthorn is considered as a priority plant species by the Indian government.

Geographic Distribution of Sea Berry

The detailed geographical distribution of sea buckthorn are given in the table below.

S.No.	Region	Distribution Details
1	Indian Himalayas	It is native to Himalayan region. It grows at 2,000 to 4,300 metres of altitude.
2	Asia	It is distributed throughout temperate zones. China is major native habitat and also found in Mongolia, Nepal, Russia's Siberia
3	Europe	It is native to the east coast of England. It is also found in France, Denmark, Netherlands, Germany, Poland, Finland, Norway, Spain, Scandinavia.
4	North America	It is found in the cold temperate zones of the North American continent.
5	Global Range	The Sea Buckthorns are distributed between 27° to 69° N latitude and 7°W to 122° E longitude from Nepal or India (southern Himalayas) to Scandinavia or Norway (Atlantic coast). Also from Inner Mongolia (east) to Spain (Mediterranean)
6	Most Concentrated Areas Globally	European continent, China's Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, Altai Mountains, Russia's Siberia region

Medicinal Benefits of this Fruit Plant

The Sea Buckthorn has many essential medicinal benefits. Some of them are mentioned below.

Burns Treatment: The cream which contains the sea buckthorn provides a useful remedy for faster burn wound healing.
Skin Protection: It is effective in offering protection from UV rays, aging, and preventing dryness and wrinkles.
Healthy Heart: The Sea buckthorn oil is rich in omega-3, 6, 7, and 9 fatty acids. It can also reduce the cholesterol levels and inflammation in the heart.
Protection of Liver: The sea buckthorn provides a protective liver in animals. It accelerates fast tissue repair and prevents the accumulation of fats.
Anti-oxidant and Anti-inflammatory benefits: Sea Buckthorn has more than 100 active components with high anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-carcinogenic properties.

Nutritional Value of Sea Buckthorn

S.No.	Nutrient Category	Components
1	Calories	Energy
2	Macronutrients	Carbohydrates, Protein, Fat, Fiber, Cholesterol
3	Vitamins	Vitamin A, C, Vitamin B1 (Thiamine), Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin), Vitamin B6, Vitamin E, Beta-carotene
4	Fatty Acids	Omega-3,6,7,9, Palmitoleic acid, Gamma-linolenic acid
5	Minerals	Potassium, Calcium, Iron, Sodium
6	Antioxidants	Flavonoids, Polyphenols, Carotenoids, Lipophilic antioxidants, Hydrophilic antioxidants
7	Other Compounds	Bioactive compounds, Amino acids

FAQs about Sea Buckthorn

What is sea buckthorn?

Sea buckthorn is an orange berry plant or shrub.

In which parts of India does sea buckthorn grow?

Sea buckthorn grows naturally in 5 himalayan states at an altitude between 2,000 to 4,300 meters.

What makes sea buckthorn nutritionally unique?

It has over 100 bioactive substances such as omega-7 fatty acid, very high vitamin C with complete fatty acids omega-3, 6, 7, 9 all together.

What are the major health benefits of sea buckthorn?

The sea buckthorn oil can help in healing burns, protect skin against harmful effects of UV rays, slow down aging process, reduce cholesterol, improve cardiovascular health and act as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent.