Sea buckthorn bioactive metabolites and their pharmacological potential in digestive diseases

Author: mycolabadmin
9/23/2025
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Summary

Sea buckthorn is an ancient medicinal plant containing hundreds of bioactive compounds that show promise in treating digestive diseases like stomach ulcers, colitis, and liver problems. This comprehensive review of 85 scientific studies found that sea buckthorn’s active ingredients work through multiple mechanisms including reducing inflammation, fighting harmful bacteria, protecting the intestinal lining, and balancing gut bacteria. The research suggests sea buckthorn could become a valuable natural supplement for digestive health, though more clinical trials are needed to confirm optimal doses and long-term effectiveness in humans.

Background

Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) is a botanical drug with a long history of medicinal use in treating digestive diseases. It contains nearly 200 known bioactive metabolites and has been used in traditional medicine for over 1000 years. Sea buckthorn is classified as a food with medicinal and edible homology by the Chinese National Health Commission.

Objective

This review examines the main bioactive metabolites of sea buckthorn and discusses their pharmacological effects and mechanisms in treating digestive diseases. The study highlights bioactive metabolites isolated from sea buckthorn, their effects on inflammation, cancer, anti-Helicobacter pylori, radiation, and gut microbiota, and their molecular mechanisms of action in clinical applications.

Results

The literature search identified 1181 records, with 85 original research studies included in the final analysis. Sea buckthorn demonstrated beneficial effects across multiple digestive diseases including ulcerative colitis, gastric precancerous lesions, liver fibrosis, and viral diarrhea. Key bioactive compounds included 30 metabolites with therapeutic potential, including flavonoids, phenolic acids, fatty acids, vitamins, carotenoids, phytosterols, and polysaccharides.

Conclusion

Sea buckthorn bioactive metabolites show significant pharmacological potential for preventing and treating digestive diseases through anti-inflammatory, anticancer, microbiota-regulating, and intestinal protective properties. The research supports the development of sea buckthorn-based applications and encourages further academic research in this area. Future clinical trials and translational studies are needed to establish optimal dosing and efficacy in human populations.

Published in:Frontiers in Pharmacology,
Study Type:Systematic Review,
Source: PMID: 41064454, PMC: PMC12500570, DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2025.1637676