Sea Buckthorn
*Hippophae rhamnoides*
Evidence Rating
D Fair
Confidence Level
Low
Growing clinical evidence base with several RCTs for skin health and mucosal dryness, but studies are small and results are mixed. The unique omega-7 (palmitoleic acid) content provides pharmacological plausibility. No European regulatory monograph has been published. Evidence for individual indications is preliminary.
Traditions
Western TCM
Last Updated
2/21/2026
Summary
Sea buckthorn is a thorny shrub native to Europe and Asia whose berries and seeds yield oils with a distinctive nutritional profile, notably rich in the rare omega-7 fatty acid (palmitoleic acid), along with vitamins C and E, carotenoids, flavonoids, and phytosterols. Used in both Traditional Chinese Medicine (Sha Ji) and European folk medicine, it has a long history for skin conditions, wound healing, and mucosal health. Clinical trials show benefits for skin hydration, elasticity, and epithelial integrity, with a notable RCT demonstrating improved vaginal epithelial integrity in postmenopausal women (though effects on vaginal dryness symptoms themselves were not significant). The oil contains over 190 bioactive compounds. No Commission E, ESCOP, or EMA monograph exists. Current evidence is preliminary but growing, with the unique omega-7 content and broad bioactive profile supporting continued investigation for dermatological and mucosal applications.
Regulatory Status
| Regulatory Body | Status |
|---|---|
| Commission E (Germany) | — |
| ESCOP (European) | — |
| EMA/HMPC (EU) | — |
Metadata
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Common Names (English) | Sea Buckthorn, Seaberry |
| Common Names (German/Chinese) | Sanddorn / Sha Ji (沙棘) |
| Botanical Name | Hippophae rhamnoides L. (syn. Elaeagnus rhamnoides) |
| Plant Family | Elaeagnaceae (Oleaster family) |
| Part Used | Berry pulp oil, seed oil, whole fruit; leaves used in some traditional preparations |
| Key Constituents | Fatty acids: palmitoleic acid (omega-7, 16-40% of pulp oil), palmitic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, alpha-linolenic acid; vitamins: C (very high, 200-2500 mg/100g), E (tocopherols and tocotrienols), A (as carotenoids); flavonoids: isorhamnetin, quercetin, kaempferol glycosides; carotenoids: beta-carotene, lycopene, zeaxanthin; phytosterols: beta-sitosterol, stigmasterol |
| Major Standardized Extracts | Pulp oil (omega-7-rich), seed oil (omega-3/6-rich); supercritical CO2 extracts; no single dominant standardized product |
| Evidence Quality Rating | Preliminary — growing clinical evidence for skin and mucosal health; no regulatory monographs |
Approved Indications
Commission E (Germany)
- No Commission E monograph has been published for Hippophae rhamnoides
ESCOP
- No ESCOP monograph has been published for Hippophae rhamnoides
EMA/HMPC (European Medicines Agency)
- No EMA/HMPC monograph has been published for Hippophae rhamnoides
Agreement/Disagreement Between Bodies
- No regulatory approval: None of the major European herbal regulatory bodies have published a monograph for sea buckthorn
- Notable: Sea buckthorn is increasingly recognized in nutritional and cosmeceutical research, but the absence of formal regulatory assessment reflects the relatively recent emergence of clinical evidence
- TCM context: Sea buckthorn (Sha Ji) has official pharmacopoeial status in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia and is used in TCM for promoting blood circulation, removing blood stasis, and treating cough with phlegm
- Russian/Central Asian tradition: Extensively used and researched in Russia, Mongolia, and Central Asian countries, with a strong tradition of use for burns, wounds, and radiation injury
Conditions Treated
Primary (Moderate Evidence)
- Skin health and hydration: Clinical studies show improvements in skin moisture, elasticity, and overall appearance with oral sea buckthorn oil supplementation
- Mucosal epithelial integrity: An RCT in postmenopausal women showed improved vaginal epithelial integrity with oral sea buckthorn oil (3 g/day)
Secondary (Limited Evidence)
- Wound healing: Traditional use and preclinical evidence for accelerated wound healing; topical application enhances collagen synthesis and tissue repair
- Atopic dermatitis: Preliminary evidence for symptom improvement through oral supplementation with seed oil
- Dry eye syndrome: Emerging evidence for improvement with oral sea buckthorn oil supplementation
- Vaginal atrophy (postmenopausal): Improved epithelial integrity demonstrated, though subjective symptom improvement was not statistically significant
Traditional/Historical (Limited Evidence)
- Burns and radiation injury (Russian medical tradition; used clinically for burns in Soviet/Russian hospitals)
- Gastric ulcers and GI mucosal protection (TCM and Russian tradition)
- Cough with phlegm (TCM indication; Sha Ji is classified as a cough suppressant and expectorant)
- Cardiovascular protection (preliminary evidence for lipid modulation)
- Liver protection (preclinical data)
- UV skin protection (topical traditional use)
Mechanism of Action
Primary Mechanisms
Skin Barrier and Mucosal Protection (Omega-7):
- Palmitoleic acid (omega-7) is a major component of human skin and mucosal epithelial tissue, making sea buckthorn pulp oil uniquely relevant to skin and mucosal health
- Oral supplementation with omega-7-rich oil may support the structural integrity of epithelial membranes by providing building blocks for membrane phospholipids
- Palmitoleic acid also has anti-inflammatory properties, reducing NF-kB pathway activation in skin cells
Wound Healing:
- Sea buckthorn oil promotes collagen synthesis and fibroblast proliferation at wound sites
- The combination of vitamin C (essential cofactor for collagen synthesis), vitamin E (antioxidant protection), and carotenoids (antioxidant, anti-inflammatory) provides synergistic support for tissue repair
- Beta-sitosterol contributes anti-inflammatory effects that may reduce excessive inflammation during wound healing
Anti-inflammatory and Antioxidant:
- Flavonoids (isorhamnetin, quercetin) provide potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity
- Carotenoids (beta-carotene, lycopene, zeaxanthin) scavenge reactive oxygen species and protect against oxidative damage to tissues
- The combined antioxidant capacity of sea buckthorn is among the highest of any fruit
Secondary Mechanisms
| Compound | Activity |
|---|---|
| Palmitoleic acid (omega-7) | Epithelial membrane support, anti-inflammatory (NF-kB inhibition), insulin sensitizing (preclinical) |
| Isorhamnetin | Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer (preclinical); the most abundant flavonoid in sea buckthorn |
| Quercetin | Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, capillary-protective |
| Beta-carotene / Carotenoids | Provitamin A, antioxidant, photoprotective, immunomodulatory |
| Vitamin C | Collagen synthesis cofactor, antioxidant, immune support; sea buckthorn berries contain 5-10 times more vitamin C than oranges |
| Vitamin E (tocopherols) | Lipophilic antioxidant, membrane stabilizer, anti-inflammatory |
| Beta-sitosterol | Anti-inflammatory, cholesterol-lowering (preclinical), wound healing promotion |
| Linoleic/Alpha-linolenic acids (seed oil) | Essential fatty acids; skin barrier function; anti-inflammatory through prostaglandin modulation |
Two Distinct Oils
- Pulp/berry oil: Rich in palmitoleic acid (omega-7, 16-40%), palmitic acid, and carotenoids; deep orange color; unique fatty acid profile
- Seed oil: Rich in linoleic acid (omega-6) and alpha-linolenic acid (omega-3) in approximately equal proportions; lighter in color; more typical plant oil profile
- These two oils have different compositions and may have different clinical applications
Clinical Evidence Summary
Volume of Evidence
- Growing but still limited. Several RCTs have been published for dermatological and mucosal applications, but most are small. No comprehensive systematic review integrating all clinical evidence has been published.
Key Studies
Vaginal Atrophy and Mucosal Health
| Study | Design | N | Key Finding |
|---|---|---|---|
| Larmo et al. 2014 | RCT, DB, PC | 116 | 3 g/day sea buckthorn oil for 3 months in postmenopausal women with vaginal dryness: significantly improved vaginal epithelial integrity vs placebo; however, no significant improvement in vaginal pH, maturation index, elasticity, fluid volume, moisture, or subjective symptoms of dryness/burning/itching |
Skin Health
| Study | Design | N | Key Finding |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hwang et al. 2012 | RCT, DB, PC | 49 | Oral sea buckthorn pulp oil improved skin moisture and elasticity after 8 weeks of supplementation |
| Jaroszewska et al. 2022 | Observational | Various | Topical sea buckthorn oil improved wound healing and skin hydration in clinical settings |
Atopic Dermatitis
| Study | Design | N | Key Finding |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yang et al. 1999 | RCT, DB | 49 | Oral sea buckthorn seed oil (5 g/day for 4 months) showed trends toward improvement in atopic dermatitis symptoms, though differences were not statistically significant |
Dry Eye
| Study | Design | N | Key Finding |
|---|---|---|---|
| Larmo et al. 2010 | RCT, DB, PC | 86 | 2 g/day sea buckthorn oil for 3 months reduced redness and burning of eyes during the cold season, but did not significantly affect tear film osmolarity or Schirmer’s test |
Evidence Gaps
- No European regulatory assessment
- Most studies are small (N < 120) and of short duration (2-4 months)
- Inconsistency in the type of oil used across studies (pulp oil vs seed oil vs blends)
- Lack of standardization of omega-7 content in clinical trial preparations
- Limited data on dose-response relationships
- No large-scale or long-term safety studies
- The distinction between pulp oil and seed oil effects is poorly characterized in clinical studies
European vs US/Anglophone Consensus
| Aspect | European Consensus | US/Anglophone Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Regulatory status | No formal regulatory monograph; recognized in Russian and Chinese pharmacopoeias but not in EU regulatory frameworks; available as food supplement | Dietary supplement; widely marketed for skin health and as an omega-7 source; no FDA therapeutic claims |
| Medicinal use | Growing interest in dermatological and nutritional applications; significant research base in Northern Europe (Finland, Germany); long tradition in Russia and Central Asia | Niche but growing market for skin health supplements; omega-7 supplements increasingly popular |
| Traditional context | European folk medicine tradition in Nordic and Eastern European countries; extensively used in Russian clinical medicine for burns | TCM tradition recognized; Russian clinical use for burns and radiation injury acknowledged in integrative medicine |
| Research interest | Active research in Nordic countries (Finland especially) and Germany; cosmeceutical applications being explored | Growing research interest, particularly for dry eye and women’s health applications |
| Nutritional recognition | Recognized as a nutrient-dense berry; juice and oil products available in health food stores | Growing recognition as a “superfruit”; omega-7 content as a unique selling point |
Safety Profile
Contraindications
- Known hypersensitivity to Hippophae rhamnoides or Elaeagnaceae plants
- Caution in individuals with bleeding disorders (see drug interactions)
Drug Interactions
- Anticoagulants/Antiplatelet drugs (warfarin, aspirin, clopidogrel): Sea buckthorn oil has been reported to inhibit platelet aggregation in preclinical studies; theoretical additive anticoagulant effect. Clinical significance is not established, but monitoring is advisable
- Antihypertensive medications: Some preclinical evidence of blood pressure-lowering effects; additive hypotension is theoretically possible
- Antidiabetic medications: Preliminary evidence of blood sugar-lowering effects; monitor for hypoglycemia
- No clinically documented serious drug interactions have been reported at standard doses; the interactions listed above are theoretical and based on preclinical data
Side Effects
- Generally very well tolerated at recommended doses
- Mild gastrointestinal upset (nausea, diarrhea) at higher doses
- Loose stools (due to the oil content, particularly at doses above 3 g/day)
- Orange discoloration of skin (carotenodermia) with very high intake (harmless and reversible)
- Allergic reactions are rare but possible
Pregnancy/Lactation
- Pregnancy: Insufficient safety data for medicinal doses. Sea buckthorn is consumed as a food in many cultures during pregnancy without reported adverse effects, but therapeutic doses of concentrated oil have not been studied. Consult a healthcare provider before use
- Lactation: Insufficient safety data for medicinal doses. Dietary consumption of sea buckthorn berries or juice is likely safe, but concentrated oil supplements have not been studied during breastfeeding
- Children: No specific contraindication; sea buckthorn juice and berries are consumed as food by children in many countries. However, therapeutic use of concentrated oil preparations in children has not been studied
Clinical Dosage
Standard Dosage Forms
| Form | Preparation | Daily Dose | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pulp/berry oil (capsules) | Supercritical CO2 extract or cold-pressed pulp oil | 1-3 g daily | Rich in omega-7 (palmitoleic acid); the form most relevant to skin and mucosal applications |
| Seed oil (capsules) | Cold-pressed seed oil | 1-3 g daily | Rich in omega-3 and omega-6; different fatty acid profile from pulp oil |
| Combined oil (capsules) | Blend of pulp and seed oil | 2-3 g daily | Some products combine both oils; composition varies |
| Berry juice | Fresh or pasteurized juice | 20-50 mL daily | Nutritional use; provides vitamin C, carotenoids, and flavonoids |
| Topical oil | Pulp oil or seed oil applied to skin | Apply to affected area 1-2 times daily | Traditional wound healing and skin care use |
| Dried berry powder | Freeze-dried or air-dried berries | 5-10 g daily | Nutritional supplement form |
Clinical Trial Doses
- Larmo et al. 2014 (vaginal atrophy): 3 g/day sea buckthorn oil (3 capsules twice daily) for 3 months
- Larmo et al. 2010 (dry eye): 2 g/day sea buckthorn oil for 3 months
- Yang et al. 1999 (atopic dermatitis): 5 g/day sea buckthorn seed oil for 4 months
- Typical supplemental range: 1-3 g/day of oil (pulp, seed, or blend) with meals for 8-12 weeks
Duration
- Clinical trials have typically lasted 2-4 months
- Effects on skin hydration may become apparent within 4-8 weeks
- Long-term supplementation appears safe based on food use history, but controlled long-term safety data are limited
Sources
- Larmo PS, et al. Effects of sea buckthorn oil intake on vaginal atrophy in postmenopausal women: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Maturitas. 2014;79(3):316-321
- Larmo PS, et al. Effects of sea buckthorn berries on infections and inflammation: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2008;62(9):1123-1130
- Larmo PS, et al. Oral sea buckthorn oil attenuates tear film osmolarity and symptoms in individuals with dry eye. J Nutr. 2010;140(8):1462-1468
- Bal LM, et al. Sea buckthorn berries: a potential source of valuable nutrients for nutraceuticals and cosmeceuticals. Food Res Int. 2011;44(7):1718-1727
- Gao X, et al. Phytochemistry, health benefits, and food applications of sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.): a comprehensive review. Food Chem X. 2022;16:100487
- Zielinska A, Nowak I. Abundance of active ingredients in sea-buckthorn oil. Lipids Health Dis. 2017;16(1):95
- Ito H, et al. The impact of sea buckthorn oil fatty acids on human health. Lipids Health Dis. 2019;18(1):145
- Yang B, et al. Effects of oral supplementation of sea buckthorn seed and pulp oils on the fatty acid composition of skin glycerophospholipids in patients with atopic dermatitis. J Nutr Biochem. 1999;10(6):363-369
- Chinese Pharmacopoeia Commission. Pharmacopoeia of the People’s Republic of China. Entry on Sha Ji (Fructus Hippophae)
Connections
- Compare with Calendula for wound healing applications; calendula has stronger European regulatory support (Commission E, EMA) for topical wound healing but a different mechanism (anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial vs. fatty acid/nutritional)
- Compare with Aloe Vera for skin health and wound healing; aloe has a much larger evidence base and broader clinical use for dermatological conditions
- Related to Evening Primrose Oil as a therapeutic fatty acid supplement for skin conditions; evening primrose provides gamma-linolenic acid (omega-6) whereas sea buckthorn provides the unique omega-7 palmitoleic acid
- Compare with Gotu Kola for wound healing; gotu kola acts through stimulation of collagen synthesis via asiaticoside, a different mechanism from sea buckthorn’s fatty acid-based epithelial support
- The omega-7 content distinguishes sea buckthorn from all other commonly used medicinal plant oils and represents its unique pharmacological contribution to skin and mucosal health
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