Search Results (276)

Hippophae rhamnoides subsp. sinensis is extensively found in China, where the annual precipitation ranges from 400 to 800 mm. It is the most dominant species in natural sea buckthorn forests and the primary cultivar for artificial ecological plantations. Additionally, it exhibits significant nutritional and medicinal value, making it a renowned eco-economic tree species. Despite extensive research into its ecological functions and health benefits, the mitochondrial genome of this widespread species has not yet been published, and knowledge of the mitochondrial genome is crucial for understanding plant environmental adaptation, evolution, and maternal inheritance. Therefore, the complete mitochondrial genome was successfully assembled by aligning third-generation sequencing data to the reference genome sequence using the Illumina NovaSeq 6000 platform and Nanopore Prometh ION technologies. Additionally, the gene structure, composition, repeat sequences, codon usage bias, homologous fragments, and phylogeny-related indicators were also analyzed. The results showed that the length of the mitochondrial genome is 454,489 bp, containing 30 tRNA genes, three rRNA genes, 40 PCGs, and two pseudogenes. A total of 411 C-to-U RNA editing sites were identified in 33 protein-coding genes (PCGs), with higher frequencies observed in ccmFn, ccmB, nad5, ccmC, nad2, and nad7 genes. Moreover, 31 chloroplast-derived fragments were detected, accounting for 11.86% of the mitochondrial genome length. The ccmB, nad4L, and nad7 genes related to energy metabolism exhibited positive selection pressure. The mitochondrial genome sequence similarity between H. rhamnoides subsp. sinensis and H. tibetana or H. salicifolia was 99.34% and 99.40%, respectively. Fifteen shared gene clusters were identified between H. rhamnoides subsp. sinensis and H. tibetana. Phylogenetically, the Rosales order showed close relationships with Fagales, Fabales, Malpighiales, and Celastrales. These findings provide fundamental data for exploring the widespread distribution of H. rhamnoides subsp. sinensis and offer theoretical support for understanding the evolutionary mechanisms within the Hippophae genus and the selection of molecular breeding targets. Full article

Common buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica L.) is a small tree that forms dense stands, displacing native plant species and threatening natural forest habitats in its introduced range in North America. Removal via cutting is labor intensive and often ineffective due to vigorous resprouting. Although chemical control methods are effective, they can negatively affect sensitive ecosystems. A mycoherbicide that selectively kills buckthorn would provide an additional method for control. In the present study, fungi were collected from dying buckthorn species (Frangula alnus Mill., Rhamnus cathartica, Ventia alnifolia L’Hér) located at 19 sites across Minnesota and Wisconsin for their potential use as mycoherbicides for common buckthorn. A total of 412 fungi were isolated from samples of diseased tissue and identified via DNA extraction and sequencing. These fungi were identified as 120 unique taxa belonging to 81 genera. Of these fungi, 46 species belonging to 26 genera were considered to be canker or root-rot pathogens of woody plants, including species in Cytospora, Diaporthe, Diplodia, Dothiorella, Eutypella, Fusarium, Hymenochaete, Irpex, Phaeoacemonium, and others. A future study testing the pathogenicity of these putative pathogens of buckthorn is now needed to assess their utility as potential mycoherbicide agents for control of common buckthorn. Full article

The new generation of food packaging should not only be biodegradable, but also provide additional protective properties for packaged products, extending their shelf life. In this paper, we present the results of research on cast-extruded poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) films coated with hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) modified with CO₂ extract from sea buckthorn (ES) or its ethosomes (ET) at amounts of 1 or 5 pph per HPMC. In addition, the developed films were exposed to accelerated aging (UV radiation and elevated temperature) to determine its effect on the films’ properties. Based on SEM, it can be concluded that accelerated aging results in the uncovering of the extract and ethosomes from the coating’s bulk. GPC showed a decrease in the molecular weight of PBS after treatment, additionally amplified by the presence of HPMC. However, the addition of ES or ET in low concentrations reduced the level of polyester degradation. The presence of the modified coating and its treatment increased the oxygen barrier (a decrease from 324 cm³/m² × 24 h for neat PBS to 208 cm³/m² × 24 h for the coated and modified PBS ET5). Despite the presence of colored extract or ethosomes in the coating, the color differences compared with neat PBS were imperceptible (ΔE < 1). The addition of 5 pph of sea buckthorn extract or its ethosomes in combination with accelerated aging resulted in the complete inhibition of the growth of E. coli and S. aureus, which was not observed in non-aged samples. The results obtained demonstrate an improvement in bioactive properties and protection against the negative effects of UV radiation on the film due to the presence of ET or ES in the coating. The developed systems could be used in the food industry as active packaging. Full article

High-acidity fruit wines, such as sea buckthorn wine, are valued for their nutritional benefits but often suffer from excessive tartness and limited aroma complexity, which restrict their consumer acceptance. The application of non-Saccharomyces yeasts with acid tolerance and flavor-enhancing potential offers a promising strategy to address these challenges. In this study, a highly acid-tolerant yeast strain, Pichia kudriavzevii GAAS-JG-1, was isolated from a naturally fermented apricot system and systematically characterized in terms of its taxonomy, physiological properties, and fermentation potential. The experimental results demonstrated that Pichia kudriavzevii GAAS-JG-1 maintained robust growth activity (OD₆₀₀ = 1.18 ± 0.09) even under extremely acidic conditions (pH 2.0). Furthermore, the strain exhibited a strong tolerance to high ethanol concentrations (16%), elevated sugar levels (350 g/L), and substantial sulfur dioxide exposure (500 mg/L). Optimal growth was observed at 35 °C (OD₆₀₀ = 2.21 ± 0.02). When co-fermented with Saccharomyces cerevisiae in sea buckthorn wine, the ethyl acetate content increased significantly from 303.71 μg/L to 4453.12 μg/L, while the ethyl propionate levels rose from 5.18 μg/L to 87.75 μg/L. Notably, Pichia kudriavzevii GAAS-JG-1 also produced novel flavor compounds such as methyl acetate and ethyl 3-methylthiopropionate, which were absent in the single-strain fermentation. These findings highlight the potential of Pichia kudriavzevii GAAS-JG-1 as a valuable non-Saccharomyces yeast resource with promising applications in the fermentation of high-acidity specialty fruit wines. Full article

Garvin Heights Park in southeastern Minnesota, USA, is a 12 ha mosaic of bluff prairie, oak savanna, and oak–hickory woodland co-owned by the City of Winona and Winona State University, with a 40+ year history of encroachment by non-native woody invasives, especially buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica) and honeysuckles (Lonicera spp.). Habitat restoration was initiated in the early 1990s, but management gaps and a seedbank of invasives compromised initial efforts. More consistent and sustainable restoration activities since 2016 have included cutting and chemical treatment of invasives, managed goat browsing, targeted reseeding and plug planting with native species, and more regular prescribed fires. Throughout the restoration process, we assessed changes in buckthorn densities in response to various management practices, assessed the restored savanna tree community, and documented the presence of blooming plants across all park habitats. Manual clearing of woody invasives and repeated goat browsing significantly reduced buckthorn and honeysuckle abundance in prairies and savannas. Park plant communities responded to the combination of management strategies with reduced densities of woody invasives and expanding diversity (currently >220 species present) of forbs and grasses, including a large and growing population of state-threatened Great Indian Plantain (Arnoglossum reniforme). Prescribed fires have benefitted prairies but have done little to improve savanna plant communities, due largely to excessive tree canopy coverage causing a lack of burnable fuels (i.e., dry forbs and grasses). Improved partnerships between landowners and dedicated volunteers are working to expand restoration efforts to include other portions of the park and adjacent woodlands. Full article

As the ecological security barrier in northwestern China, understanding how natural grassland (NG) utilization pattern transformation in the northern Qilian foothills affects soil quality and ecosystem multifunctionality supports regional ecosystem management. The study compared soil chemical and biological properties, soil quality index (SQI), and soil ecosystem multifunctionality (SMF) among four grassland utilization patterns in the northern foothills of the Qilian Mountains, Gansu Province, China. Soil samples were collected in early October 2024 following crop harvest from the following systems: traditionally grazed NG, monocropping Hordeum vulgare (barley; MHV), monocropping Avena sativa (oat; MAS), and Hippophae rhamnoides shrubland (sea buckthorn; HRS). The results showed that compared with NG, SQI was decreased by 52.69% (p = 0.000059) under MHV treatment and by 18.78% (p = 0.03) under MAS treatment, while HRS did not have a significant reduction in SQI. Under the three patterns of transformative utilization of NG, SMF followed the order of HRS (0.11) > MAS (−0.06) > MHV (−0.51). Overall, the establishment of restoration vegetation (sea buckthorn shrubland) retained SQI under different grassland utilization patterns in the study area, whereas long-term monocropping resulted in significant reductions in SQI and SMF due to compromised chemical and biological properties. Full article

In recent years, agricultural by-products have become more valued due to the growing emphasis on sustainable agriculture and circular economies. This study concentrated on sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) by utilizing its residual leaves and twigs—traditionally discarded or composted—as a source of high-value bioactive compounds. Aqueous and alcohol extraction was applied to sea buckthorn biomass using varying cycle numbers and extraction durations. The resulting extracts were analyzed for total phenolic content (TPC), proanthocyanidins (PACs), and antioxidant activity. The findings revealed that leaf extracts tended to have higher TPC, with the peak value in Leaves extract_4 (61.22 ± 0.26 mg_GAE/g), whose extraction was performed using 60 cycles of 10 min duration. Sea buckthorn twig water extracts demonstrated higher concentrations of PACs compared to leaf extracts, with the highest value observed in Twigs extract_5 (52.79 ± 0.21 mg_CE/g) whose extraction was performed using 60 cycles of 5 min duration. The antioxidant activity assessed via DPPH revealed significant functional potential, with sea buckthorn leaf extracts (aqueous and ethanolic) showing 82–90% activity, and twig extracts 77–90%. Environmental impacts of the tested extraction scenarios, assessed using a life-cycle assessment methodology, confirmed that extraction scenarios yielding higher concentrations of bioactive compounds from the same biomass were associated with lower environmental burdens. Full article

Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) is a valuable plant rich in biologically active compounds, mainly found in its berries and leaves. The harvesting process, which includes pruning, freezing, and shaking, leaves behind large amounts of biomass and juice-pressing residues, typically composted. The aim of this study is to expand knowledge of the valorization of sea buckthorn secondary raw materials by applying an innovative pressure cyclic solid–liquid (PCSL) extraction method and to develop value-added functional food products. Extraction was performed in 20 and 60 cycles, each lasting from 2 to 10 min. The highest concentrations of proanthocyanidins (5.51 g_CE/L) and total phenolics (12.42 g_GAE/L) were obtained under prolonged conditions, but the L-4 extract (20 cycles × 2 min) was selected for kombucha production due to its favorable balance between efficiency and sustainability. Microbial safety evaluation showed that kombucha with sea buckthorn leaf extract exhibited significantly stronger antimicrobial activity against tested pathogens compared to green tea kombucha. Additionally, sensory analysis revealed higher consumer acceptability of beverages enriched with sea buckthorn extracts. Shotgun metagenomic analysis identified high microbial diversity in the M. gisevii MI-2 starter culture and fermented kombucha products (227 bacteria and 44 eukaryotes), most of which (92.5% bacteria, 77.8% eukaryotes) remain viable and contribute to fermentation dynamics. New biotechnological strategies and genetic modifications raise concerns about the safe use of microorganisms in food production. To address these issues, these findings provide a foundation for future strategies aimed at the safe application of beneficial microorganisms in food biotechnology and support the long-term goals of the European Green Deal by promoting sustainable biomass valorization and circular economy advancement in the food sector. Full article

This article sheds light on the historical dyeing traditions of rural inhabitants of the Eastern Baltic region. The 19th- and early 20th-century Estonian archival sources mention that rotted alder buckthorn (Frangula alnus Mill.) bark was used to dye woollen yarn red. The bark was rotted by leaving it outside for weeks or months before dyeing. Although dyeing red with alder buckthorn bark by fermenting it in wood ash lye is well known, the combination of rotting the bark and using the boiling method to dye red has not been reported. Practical experiments testing shorter and longer-term rotting of alder buckthorn bark both on and under the ground were conducted. Woollen yarns were dyed with rotted bark using the boiling method and were tested for lightfastness and alkaline pH sensitivity, and analysed using HPLC-DAD. The results show that rotting alder buckthorn bark has a strong effect on the achievable colours and that woollen yarns can be dyed different shades of red. The colours were sensitive to alkaline pH and their light fastness varied from very low to good. HPLC-DAD analysis showed that the pretreatment of the bark affected not only the colour but also the dye composition of the dyed wool. Full article

Due to their antioxidant and other beneficial properties, polyphenol-rich plants are important functional foods. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the content of two polyphenols—ellagic acid and quercetin—in fruits of wild medicinal plants of Polish origin, as potential sources of these compounds. The research material was chosen considering both the popularity of the fruits and their recognized medicinal and pharmaceutical properties. All selected fruits—barberry (Berberis vulgaris), blackthorn (Prunus spinosa), chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa), elderberry (Sambucus nigra), hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna), lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea), rowanberry (Sorbus aucuparia), and sea-buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides syn. Elaeagnus rhamnoides)—are known for therapeutic use in Polish folk medicine. Extracts were analyzed for ellagic acid and quercetin content using UHPLC-ESI-MS/MS. Quantitative results revealed that barberries, blackthorn, and sea-buckthorn contained the highest amounts of ellagic acid, up to 3.29 ± 0.24, 3.50 ± 0.16, and 4.80 ± 0.18 μg/g dw, respectively, while lingonberry provided up to 196.20 ± 3.10 μg/g dw of quercetin, making it a valuable dietary source of this flavonoid. The study confirms that Polish wild medicinal plants are valuable reservoirs of key polyphenols relevant to human health and support their potential inclusion in dietary strategies for disease prevention. Full article

Eogystia hippophaecola (Hua, Chou, Fang & Chen, 1990) is a major borer pest of sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.), and during its four-year growth period, its feeding site shifts progressively from the trunks to the roots, establishing a complex mutualistic relationship with the host. The factors driving the host-shifting behavior of E. hippophaecola larvae remain unclear. In this study, we compared the nutrient composition of the roots and trunks, measured the activity of metabolizing enzymes in E. hippophaecola, and analyzed secondary metabolites in both the roots and trunks following infestation using LC-MS. Sugars, proteins, fats, and free amino acids were more abundant in the roots, and larvae feeding on this part exhibited a stronger resistance. Non-targeted metabolomics identified 8493 metabolites in total. The trunks exhibited 394 DEMs compared to the roots (223 up-regulated and 171 down-regulated). Lipids and lipid-like molecules represented more than two-thirds of the total, primarily involved in steroid biosynthesis, linoleic acid metabolism, and glycerophospholipid metabolism. The significant down-regulation of key compounds, such as lecithin and linoleate, suggests that resistance metabolism is less pronounced in the trunks compared to the roots. In summary, the host-shifting behavior of E. hippophaecola larvae is primarily driven by a combination of the host’s nutritional conditions and defense mechanisms. Full article

Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) fruits were evaluated at three harvest dates, both in terms of ease of harvesting and nutritional value, with attention paid to the visual effect in the form of the color of the harvested fruits. The high values of the ratio of fruit bonding strength to individual fruit mass indicated the challenges of effectively harvesting common sea buckthorn using mechanical shakers. However, a decrease in this measure was observed with later harvest dates, as well as differentiation in fruit bonding strength among the tested sea buckthorn cultivars in the seventh and eighth years of plantation growth. As the harvest date was delayed, antioxidant properties and total polyphenol content decreased, while sugar content, individual fruit mass, and fruit length increased. Across the analyzed harvest dates, color differences were more pronounced between cultivars than between individual harvest dates. The numerous interactions observed between sea buckthorn cultivars and harvest dates highlight the need for further research, particularly by increasing the number and frequency of harvest dates for this species. Full article

Functional foods are products that have clinically evidenced health benefits for consumers due to one or more of their ingredients. While research indicates that consumers are highly interested in these products and are often willing to pay premium prices to buy them, stories of market failure are frequent for the specific category. Hence, a critical question is what determines consumers’ willingness to purchase functional food products. A hypothesis confirmed by many studies is that health concerns are positively associated with purchasing intentions. Nevertheless, other factors may also positively or negatively affect consumers’ willingness to buy functional foods. Our work examines this contention by focusing on a novel functional food product: yogurt enriched with sea buckthorn. The product, which is developing in the framework of an ongoing project, is expected to combine the health benefits of yogurt with the medicinal properties of sea buckthorn. Full article

Chemotherapy is a common treatment method for cancer that is often associated with strong side effects. To reduce these, research on extracts from medicinal plants and their active ingredients has been conducted. Although sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) is a well-established medicinal plant, little is known about the chemical components responsible for its putative anticancer activity. This study focuses on both chemical and medical analyses of methanolic sea buckthorn root extracts. Cell viability measurements were performed on head and neck cancer cell lines, as well as non-tumorigenic control cells. Microwave and classical extractions under reflux were used to prepare the methanolic extracts. LC/MS and NMR were used to determine the structures of the molecules contained within these extracts. The aqueous phase of one sea buckthorn root extract reduced the viability of cancer cells, whereas the viability of non-tumorigenic control cells remained unaltered. The cell cycle phases of cancer cells treated with the extract shifted in comparison to control treatment. After 24 h, the number of cells in proliferative phases had increased. Two fractions of the extract that evoked alterations were identified. After a 48 h treatment, one of the fractions showed a higher number of apoptotic cells than the control. LC/MS and NMR analyses were conducted to attempt to identify the active compounds. We propose that the bioactivity of this extract is caused by a mixture of 2′-hydroxyflavone isomers. Full article

Sea buckthorn pomace (SBP) is a rich source of flavonoid compounds with potential healthy properties. This study optimized ultrasonic-enzymatic-assisted extraction (UEAE) of flavonoids from SBP and investigated its chemical composition and biological activities. Under the optimal conditions (pectinase addition of 1500 U/g, ultrasonic power of 300 W, ethanol concentration of 48%, liquid–solid ratio of 34:1, extract temperature of 50 °C, and extraction time of 28 min), the yield of SBP flavonoid extracts (SBFEs) was 21.57 ± 0.45 mg/g, well-matched with the predicted value (21.72 mg/g). The chemical composition was detected by ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF-MS^E) and mainly including isorhamnetin, kaempferol, and quercetin’s derivatives. After purification with AB-8 macroporous resin, the purified product (PSBFE) exhibited a significantly enhanced scavenging capability for 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl radical (DPPH) and 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) (947.17 ± 3.85 and 427.33 ± 0.67 μmol Trolox/g, respectively) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (2.68 ± 0.01 mmol FeSO₄·7H₂O/g). Moreover, PSBFE possessed a pronounced inhibitory rate on α-glucosidase and α-amylase, with the IC₅₀ at 52.89 ± 0.09 and 97.81 ± 0.42 μg/mL, respectively. These findings indicate that it is a reliable, optimal extraction method to obtain potential antioxidant and hypoglycemic flavonoids from SBP for comprehensive development in functional food. Full article