# Ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, and pharmacology of sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.): a comprehensive review

## TL;DR

This paper reviews the traditional and modern uses of sea buckthorn, its chemical makeup, and its health benefits, while highlighting challenges and future research needs.

## Contribution

The paper offers a comprehensive and critical synthesis of sea buckthorn’s ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, and pharmacology with a focus on translational challenges.

## Key findings

- Sea buckthorn has ethnopharmacological roots in Tibetan, Mongolian, and Chinese medicine.
- Its phytochemicals show hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, cardioprotective, and neuroprotective effects.
- Standardization and clinical validation remain major challenges for its bioactive compounds.

## Abstract

This review provides a comprehensive synthesis of the ethnopharmacological uses, modern applications, phytochemistry, and pharmacological mechanisms of Hippophae rhamnoides L. (H. rhamnoides) It begins by detailing its foundational role in traditional medical systems within its native range, including Tibetan, Mongolian, and Chinese medicine, as well as its broader Eurasian ethnobotanical applications. The work then systematically outlines the plant’s diverse modern utilizations in nutraceuticals, cosmeceuticals, pharmaceuticals, and environmental remediation. A thorough organ-specific analysis of its phytochemical architecture that identifies key bioactive constituents in berries, seeds and leaves links to demonstrated pharmacological effects, including hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, cardioprotective and neuroprotective activities. A critical discussion on the potential interference of Pan-Assay Interference Compounds (PAINS) is included to provide a necessary caveat for interpreting bioactivity data. Finally, the review identifies persistent challenges including phytochemical standardization and the translational gap between preclinical and clinical research, and proposes future research directions focused on rigorous clinical trials, mechanistic studies and sustainable exploitation within a circular bioeconomy framework.