Dry sea buckthorn berries (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) - fatty acid and carotene content in pericarp and seed oil

Abstract

Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L., Elaeagnaceae), is a thorny bush or small tree, native to Europe and Asia. Sea buckthorn fruit is rich in oil and carotenes which are found both in pericarp and seeds. Fruit and seed oils have significantly different fatty acid profiles and carotene levels. Previously reported data on the content of fatty acids and the carotenes in the oil are based on the fresh fruits. However, sea buckthorn fruits for traditional herbal use are available commonly in dry form. The goal of work was to analyze the content of fatty acids and carotenes in the fruit pericarp oil and seed oil obtained from dry sea buckthorn fruits. Physical and Chemical constants of the oils were also determined. It was found that the oil yield from pericarp and seeds were 18,8 and 7,4 respectively (expressed in g of oil per 100 g of dry plant material). The composition of fatty acids was determined by GC in the methyl ester form. The main fatty acids in pericarp oil were palmitic, palmitoleic, and oleic acids (35,2 %, 28,5 %, and 29,9 % respectively). Seed oil was, on the other hand, rich in oleic, linoleic and alpha-linolenic acids (23,7 %, 37,6 %, 20,5 % respectively). The content of carotenes in oil obtained from fresh sources varies extremely within different subspecies and it is influenced strongly by methods of oil isolation. The common reported levels of carotenes in pericarp and seed oil obtained from fresh fruits are 100-500mg/100g and 20-100 mg/100 g respectively. Our findings have significantly lower values then the average reported data, which points that dehydration of sea buckthorn berries influences negatively upon the content of carotenes, and then fatty oil content remains roughly the same as in fresh fruits. From medical point of view and dried fruits are a valuable source of polyunsaturated fatty acids and monounsaturated you have a favorable effect primarily on the cardiovascular system.