SEA BUCKTHORN (HIPPOPHAE RHAMNOIDES) OIL: PHYTOCHEMISTRY, FRACTIONATION, AND DERMAL-MUCOSAL BIOACTIVITY A NARRATIVE REVIEW

Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L., Elaeagnaceae), a trans-Himalayan and Eurasian shrub, has a documented medicinal history in Sowa-Rigpa (Tibetan/Amchi) medicine dating to the 8th-century rGyud-bZhi, and an increasing role in contemporary Indian formulation science, cosmeceuticals, and nutraceuticals.[5], [6] This narrative review synthesises 33 sources 32 peer-reviewed studies and reviews plus 1 classical/secondary Ayurvedic reference across phytochemistry, dermatological and mucosal pharmacology, transdermal permeation, safety, and traditional use. Phytochemical analysis distinguishes pulp/berry oil, dominated by palmitoleic acid (16:1 ω-7, "Omega-7"; 32–42%, occasionally higher)[3],[4], from seed oil, dominated instead by the essential polyunsaturated pair linoleic and α-linolenic acid in a near 1:1 ratio comprising roughly two-thirds to three-quarters of seed fatty acids.[1], [2] Both fractions carry a dense antioxidant micronutrient load of carotenoids, tocopherols, and phytosterols.[17], [18] Mechanistic review identifies convergent dermal and mucosal bioactivities: accelerated wound and burn re-epithelialisation, corroborated by a randomised triple-blind clinical trial against silver sulfadiazine[7] and controlled burn-model studies[8], [9]; Nrf2-linked antioxidant protection of UV-irradiated keratinocytes and fibroblasts[12]; anti-inflammatory Th1/Th2 rebalancing in an atopic-dermatitis model[15]; and gastroprotective activity across multiple experimental gastric-ulcer models.[21], [22] Transdermal permeation relevance is more equivocal than for lauric-acid-rich carriers: a direct comparative ex-vivo study found sea buckthorn pulp oil did not significantly enhance skin distribution of a model co-permeant, unlike olive or soybean oil[13], positioning the oil primarily as a bioactive antioxidant/regenerative ingredient rather than a classical penetration enhancer. Sea buckthorn's classical textual lineage lies in Sowa-Rigpa rather than the Sanskrit Ayurvedic Samhitas. The review identifies six standardisation and evidence gaps - chiefly pulp-versus-seed-oil conflation.

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