Buckthorn Invasive Species

Abstract

Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.), an ancient crop with modern virtues has recently gained worldwide attention, mainly for its nutritional and medicinal value as the berries contain different kinds of nutrients and bioactive compounds including vitamins, fatty acids, free amino acids and elemental components. This review briefly summarises the current literature and discusses its potential as a crop and its post harvest processing. The available compositional data regarding sea buckthorn berries is tabulated to produce a comprehensive source of recent information on chemical and medicinally important constituents of different origin and varieties. The presence of valuable chemicals and nutritionally important constituents in sea buckthorn berries, and from the scientific knowledge of their importance, it is clear that sea buckthorn berry is one of the most important sources of these constituents, and should be used as alternative nutritional sources in the commercial market. Similarly in depth investigation on the effect of processing on the total nutrient content of sea buckthorn berries species growing in different agro-ecological regions needs to be carried out. Thus, several important knowledge gaps identified in this paper would give impetus to new academic and R&D activities, in turn generating innovative job profile in food and cosmoceutical industries.

Table of Contents

Abstract2

Introduction4

Methods5

Result6

Discussion7

Works Cited10

Buckthorn Invasive Species

Introduction

Common buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica) was introduced to North America from Eurasia in the mid- 1800s as an ornamental shrub often used for hedges. Common buckthorn grows in full sun and dense shade, allowing it to invade woodlands, savannas, prairies, abandoned fields, pastures and roadsides. While listed as a noxious weed and prohibited in six states, there were no restrictions on common buckthorn in Missouri as of June 2011. Common buckthorn is a shrub or small tree reaching heights of 10 to 25 feet.

The bark is grayish brown with white narrow lines (lenticels), and is rough in texture at maturity. Elongated, dark buds are closely pressed against the twig. The terminal bud is often modified into a spine. Leaves are nearly opposite to opposite, smooth, egg-shaped, rounded at the tip, and finely toothed along the margins. The leaves contain three to five pairs of leaf veins that are curved along the margins of the leaf. Common buckthorn's leaves appear very early in spring and are retained late into autumn. Flowers are produced in May, with male and female flowers produced on separate plants.

Flowers form in clusters with four small, yellowish-green petals. Common buckthorn has small black fruits up to ¼ inch in diameter, which contain three to four seeds. These seeds are readily eaten by birds, but are poisonous to humans. Seeds are primarily spread when eaten by birds during harsh winter months. The severe laxative effect of the fruit causes the seeds to be readily distributed.

It has been well established in the literature that berries and seeds contain high amounts of natural antioxidants including ascorbic acid, tocopherols, carotenoids, flavonoids, as well as health beneficial fatty acids. In spite of several importance of whole sea buckthorn plant, the most important part are ...