2024 Author: Isabella Gilson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:14
The chemical composition and nutritional value of sea buckthorn is useful information to understand how important the fruits of this shrub are for humans. However, not only berries are used for medicinal purposes, but also greens: decoctions are prepared from the leaves. We will analyze how sea buckthorn is useful and how to improve your he alth with it.
General information
Before analyzing the features of the preparation of sea buckthorn, consider what this plant is. The word "sea buckthorn" refers to a bush covered with thorns, the height of which can reach six winds. A distinctive feature that allows you to identify the plant at a glance is its exceptional branching. Ripe fruits are painted in a pleasant shade of orange. The shape depends on the variety, it can be spherical, oval or resembling a cylinder. The size of one berry is within 6-10 mm, the diameter does not exceed 7 mm. One fruit contains one seed.
Recipes for what can be prepared from sea buckthorn are due to the characteristics of the fruits: it is mainly themused for culinary and medicinal purposes. Each berry is covered with an oily film. Mostly the berries are at the tips of the branches, have a sour sweet taste. Some varieties have a bitter taste. The fruits are always very fragrant. The duration of fruiting of one bush is from a decade to twice as long.
Where does it grow?
The residents of European and Asian countries are best aware of the properties and use of sea buckthorn. In our country, the shrub mainly grows in the European zone, is found in Altai, grows in the Siberian regions and Buryatia. It is bred in gardens, planted along river banks, because the root system allows you to strengthen the soil, especially sandy.
Chemistry and botany
The chemical composition of sea buckthorn berries interested scientists, since the benefits of these berries have long been known. Experts wanted to explain the positive qualities of the plant. Studies have shown that each fruit is formed by 4.5% carotenoids, 2.8% consists of organic acids, a little less (2.6%) of water-soluble sugars. The content of fatty oil varies between 4.4-9%. In addition, each berry contains pectins - up to 0.8% of the weight of the fruit. Sea buckthorn is known for its high content of a wide variety of vitamin compounds. Berries contain vitamins C, E, P, carotene, phylloquinone.
As shown by studies designed to determine the chemical composition of sea buckthorn, berries contain a wide variety of triterpene acids. On average, the content of such chemicalsubstances in 0.1 kg of berries - up to 1.2 g. A fruiting plant provides a person with easily digestible B-sitosterol, which is much more abundant in sea buckthorn fruits than in other sources. This compound, as shown by special studies, has anti-sclerotic abilities. Currently, there is no other plant source of this substance that contains it in the same or greater concentration than sea buckthorn.
Benefits and Applications
Thanks to the beneficial properties of sea buckthorn, the use of this plant for culinary and medicinal purposes has become widespread throughout our country and in all other regions of its growth. The classic option is squeezing juice. The berries are placed under the press. On average, one fruit consists of 65-70% juice, about a third of the mass becomes pulp. It is dried and used to make butter. The composition of the dry product is distinguished by an exceptional set of useful components. Approximately 28% of the mass is tocopherols, about 40% is carotenoids, 18-22% remains under fatty oils.
The oil made from sea buckthorn pulp contains about 0.9% phospholipids. For every 100 g of product, there are about 90 mg of fatty acids, up to 215 mg of carotenoids. The amount of tocopherols can reach 154 mg. Fatty acids in the pressed oil are both saturated and non-saturated.
Products and Features
Due to the chemical composition, sea buckthorn is an excellent starting product for the preparation of oils. They can be made directly from fruitpulp without processing it into dried pulp. In this case, the finished oil will contain retinol, alpha-tocopherol. For 100 g of product, on average, there are about 100 mg of carotene, up to 250 mg of carotenoids.
Why useful?
Due to its chemical composition, sea buckthorn has antioxidant properties. The product is known as anti-sclerotic. The oil obtained from the berries promotes the regeneration of damaged organic tissues and is used to treat wounds. It has weak analgesic abilities, bactericidal properties. A positive effect on the activity of the hepatic system is known. The bark of the tree is used to prepare an alcoholic extract. This product, as studies have shown, somewhat slows down the progress of the tumor process, due to which it is used in the oncology course as an aid.
To get the most out of the chemical composition of sea buckthorn, it is recommended to eat fresh fruits whenever possible. In addition, berries are useful frozen, dried. You can cook jelly or juice, cook jam. Sea buckthorn juice is a popular tea addition.
Medicinal use
In pharmacies you can find special fees and formulations that contain sea buckthorn. Instructions for use usually contain recommendations for the use of berries in case of scurvy or other pathological processes due to a lack of vitamins. However, the best results are obtained by drinking fresh fruit or freshly squeezed juice, but this is not an option.each.
Oil obtained from sea buckthorn has found its application in gynecological practice. The product is used as part of a therapeutic course, if cervicitis is established, it is necessary to combat uterine cervical erosion. Ophthalmologists prescribe a drug for ulcerative processes in the eye cornea. It is allowed to use the composition for eczema, skin burns, with an ulcer in the gastrointestinal tract. The oil has proven itself in the fight against inflammation in the throat, nasopharynx, and nasal cavity.
Application features
Studies to determine the properties and contraindications of sea buckthorn have found that the product helps to cure diseases of the intestinal tract. For such purposes, it is recommended to use oil. With its use, rectal suppositories are made. Medicines are prescribed for patients with hemorrhoids, proctitis, enterocolitis.
It is known that the components contained in the plant stimulate the functionality of the respiratory system and liver. It is recommended to use sea buckthorn for hemorrhages, blood diseases. The product is used to relieve symptoms after severe radiation exposure, with low blood pressure and diabetes. It is recommended to use fruits for metabolic failures.
Unique and useful
Among other berries and fruits available for cultivation in garden plots in our country, it is sea buckthorn that is the most carotene-rich crop. For 0.1 kg of the product, there are up to 20 mg of cardboard, which exceeds its content in carrots. If we compare fruits by availabilityphyloquinone with other cultures, we have to admit: in sea buckthorn it is three times more on average. Ascorbic acid for every 100 g accounts for up to 0.6 g.
Despite the positive properties, sea buckthorn also has contraindications. You should avoid using the product with a tendency to diarrhea, cholecystitis, occurring in an acute form. Fruits are not recommended for pancreatitis and other pathological processes that disrupt the functionality of the pancreas.
Biochemistry and the human body
For human he alth, the fruits of the considered shrub are the most valuable. Mostly they are formed by the pericarp, the bone accounts for only one tenth of the weight. The humidity of the fruit can reach 85%. In fatty oil, triglycerides of various acids are present in abundance. Drying, they generate linoxin - a kind of film resembling resin. This ability of triglycerides has found application in dermatology. Sea buckthorn oil is widely used for skin diseases. Doctors note that the drug is used externally, which eliminates the possibility of a systemic effect. Such a drug is harmless and available to everyone.
Together with triglycerides in the fruits of the plant there are substances that always accompany them, namely lipid-soluble vitamins. Among them, for a person, carotene is considered the most significant, due to which sea buckthorn has its attractive orange hue. Currently, industry uses methods for obtaining pure carotene from sea buckthornfruits. This confirms the fact of the increased content of the element in the berries.
Features of chemical interaction
Carotene, once in the human body, is transformed into retinol. The lack of this vitamin is associated with impaired growth and a decrease in the body's ability to resist disease. In addition, retinol deficiency causes night blindness. Carotene can be obtained from various plants, but the most important sources are carrots, sea buckthorn.
From fruits you can also get tocopherol, which is necessary to stabilize cell membranes. This vitamin positively corrects the metabolism of fats in the body. Common use of sea buckthorn berries in hepatic cirrhosis, atherosclerosis.
Not berries alone
In folk medicine, the use of sea buckthorn leaves for the preparation of infusions, decoctions and teas is recommended. The leaves of the plant are harvested and used both fresh and dried. Such drinks can increase the body's ability to resist diseases, and are also used by patients with diabetes to relieve unwanted symptoms of the disease. Doctors advise people suffering from joint diseases to make it a habit to drink sea buckthorn tea, as the drink contains substances that reduce the tendency of tissues to edema.
Vitamin compounds
Sea buckthorn is a source of vitamin K. The substance belongs to the category of fat-soluble. In medicine, it is considered to be an antihemorrhagic factor. Sufficient amount of this vitamincirculatory system - the key to a normal level of blood clotting. When the body receives reasonable amounts of this substance, internal regenerative processes are stimulated.
In the fruits of sea buckthorn in a high concentration there are vitamins of group B, soluble in water. Particularly important are the first, second and ninth elements of this group. Sea buckthorn is a source of ascorbic acid, essential for human he alth. This compound is not generated in the human body, so it can only be obtained from an external source. Vitamin is characterized by reduced resistance to external factors, it is quickly destroyed under the influence of ultraviolet radiation, heat and oxygen. Vitamin breaks down upon contact with iron molecules, copper. The substance belongs to the class of antiscorbutic, necessary for oxidation and reduction reactions.
Healing qualities and chemistry
Sea buckthorn fruit is a source of numerous compounds beneficial to human he alth. These include choline, betaine. The berries of the shrub provide the human body with tartaric acid, malic acid. Together with the product, a person receives di-, monosaccharides, flavonoids. In the composition of sea buckthorn berries, tannins were found in a small concentration.
P-active components - this is one of the most important parts of the composition of the fruits of the plant. This class includes such natural compounds, thanks to which the ability of the vascular system to absorb the compounds necessary for cellular performance is stabilized. Sufficient concentration of these substancesin the body helps to prevent atherosclerosis and increases the effectiveness of its treatment program.
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