REVIEW article
Front. Pharmacol.
Sec. Ethnopharmacology
Ethnopharmacology, Phytochemistry, and Pharmacology of Sea Buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.): A Comprehensive Review
Mingqi Liu
Tiantian Yu
Ulipan Nurlan
Zeyu Wu
Jin Zhao
The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, China
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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.
Summary
Keywords
Ethnopharmacology, Hippophae rhamnoides, Pharmacology, phytochemistry, sea buckthorn
Received
03 December 2025
Accepted
22 January 2026
Copyright
© 2026 Liu, Yu, Nurlan, Wu and Zhao. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
*Correspondence: Zeyu Wu; Jin Zhao
Disclaimer
All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.