Next Hot Super Fruit: Sea buckthorn

On 2013 China Antioxidant Berry & Super Fruit Summit, General manager Zhang from HaoTian Bio-engineering Technology gave a presentation on Sea buckthorn. He said, "Sea buckthorn is potential to be the next hot super fruit."

With long usage history and wide cultivation, Sea buckthorn is globally accepted and applied in pharmaceuticals, supplements, food, beverage and others. The individual ingredients and more comprehensive nutrition make Sea buckthorn competitive among other super fruits.

History

This herb originated in Himalayan Mountains and has been used for 4000 more years. It rescued a dying horse and so was praised as "Bright Tree for Horse" in the ancient Greek time. That's how its Latin name, Hippophae rhamnoides Linn, came. Early in the 18th century, its medicinal properties and nutrition are reported in TIBETAN MEDICAL THANGKA. It has been used as traditional medicine for 500 years in India. In 1950s, it is listed in Russian pharmacopoeia. In 1977, it is listed in Chinese Pharmacopoeia. In 1988, Sea buckthorn beverage was an authorized drink in the Olympic Games in Seoul.

Distribution

The first five countries on Sea buckthorn development are Russia, German, France, Belgium and America. It is most widely used in Russia and Europe, followed by China and America. The herb is mainly grown in China, Mongol, India, Nepal, Russia, Ukraine, England, Sweden and Norway. Only the define antioxidant benefits enable Sea buckthorn as one super fruit. The level of Vitamin C in the fruit is up 200 to 250mg per 100 g. The mean level of palmitoleic acid in Sea buckthorn reaches 40 percent, largely higher than that in olive oil, Macadamia Oil and milk. There are over 40 kinds of flavone in the fruit.

Ingredients and Application

Seabuckthorn is the second best one in terms of antioxidant level among super fruits, 2.3 times of Goji, following Acai berry. The vitamin C level just follows that of Camu fruit, Acerola cherry, Roxburgh and Rosa laevigata. The Vitamin E level is the highest among super fruits and the second highest in plant kingdom. Most important, the palmitoleic acid level is largely higher than other herbs. And its many benefits associate with Omega-7. The ratio of Isorhamnetin, Quercetin and Kaempferol is close to that of Ginkgo, which ensures its benefits for heart and blood vessels. Besides rich carotenoid, the carotene level is equal to that of Goji, which enable splendid benefits for eye health. Sea buckthorn juice is applied in sport drink and health beverage. The pulp is processed to jam for beverage and bear. The oil is used in pharmaceuticals, supplements and cosmetics. The marc is for feed production.

Outlook and Advice

On the number of clinical trials and health claims submitted to EFSA, Cranberry, Noni, Pomegranate and Sea buckthorn gain the highest score. Sea buckthorn can be developed as frozen fruit, dry fruit, fruit powder, oil and extract. The process brings no waste. The combination of individual ingredients, benefits, claims, clinical results and popularization makes Sea buckthorn potential to be the next hot super fruit. But it needs large investment to build industry chain, so small firms are not advised to enter the industry.

Copyright:Herbridge Media