Comparing the biological activity of Elaeagnus rhamnoides (L.) A. Nelson leaf and twig extracts with select berry extracts

Polish researchers investigated the antioxidant and anticoagulant properties of sea buckthorn twig and leaf extracts using various in vitro models. Their findings were published in the journal BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

• Sea buckthorn (Elaeagnus rhamnoides, SBT) is a medicinal plant with a lot of therapeutic potential.
• The various bioactive compounds present in SBT berries are of particular interest for researchers.
• However, SBT leaves, both fresh and dried, are also great sources of nutrients and bioactive compounds, including phenolic compounds.
• For their study, the researchers compared the biological activities of SBT leaf and twig extracts with those of commercial berry extracts, such as a flavonoid-rich SBT berry extract, an Aronia melanocarpa (chokeberry) extract and a grape seed extract.
• They also looked at the effect of the plant extracts on oxidative stress using markers of this process, such as the level of carbonyl groups in proteins.
• Additionally, they analyzed the potential mechanism by which the extracts modulate the hemostatic properties of human plasma.
• The researchers found that both SBT leaf and twig extracts exhibit antioxidant activities against two strong biological oxidants, namely, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and H2O2/Fe (the donor of hydroxyl radicals). These free radicals induce human plasma lipid peroxidation and protein carbonylation.
• They also reported that both SBT extracts have anticoagulant properties.

Based on these findings, the researchers concluded that extracts from different parts of SBT (berries and twigs) are also excellent sources of active substances, such as antioxidants, which can be used for pharmacological and cosmetic applications.

Read the full study at this link.

Journal Reference:

Skalski B, Kontek B, Lis B, Olas B, Grabarczyk L, Stochmal A, Zuchowski J. BIOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF ELAEAGNUS RHAMNOIDES (L.) A. NELSON TWIG AND LEAF EXTRACTS. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 25 June 2019;19(1). DOI: 10.1186/s12906-019-2564-y