Comprehensive studies about trophyc, environmental and medicinal importance of two Rromanian horticultural sources: sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) and tamarisk (Tamarix ramosissima)

Abstract

Hippophae rhamnoides (known as sea buckthorn) and Tamarix ramosissima (tamarisk/ salt cedar/ branchytamarisk) are considered important horticultural sources with a major impact on human health due to their richness in nutrients. Sea buckthorn is a bush native to Europe and Asia with yellow or orange berries, used for centuries by local people. Phytochemical profile of sea buckthorn fruits revealed a lot of nutritive compounds such as vitamins (folic acid), mineral elements (Fe, Mg, Ca, etc.), flavonoids, etc. Based on the above-mentioned informations, this fruit can be associated with a lot of benefits and uses food industry (juice, tea, oil, salades, sauces etc), beauty and pharmaceutical (cosmetic emulsions) and for medical purposes (anticancer and cardioprotective effect, antioxidant and antidiabetic activity, etc.) due to their phytochemical profile. Furthermore, these berries were recognised as a functional food ingredient because represent a rich source of phenolic compounds, carotenoids, vitamin C, vitamin A etc. To the best of our knowledge, the chemical composition of sea buckthorn depends on many factors such as: climate region, growing year, species, storage conditions and processing technologies. Regarding tamarisk, records of its presence may be found in a number of different regions: Arizona, Guaymas, New Mexico, Utah, etc. It is considered an invasive species. Due to the phenolic content (hydrolysable tannins, coumarins, and phenolic acids), it has shown antibacterial, antifungal, and antioxidant properties.