Quality evaluation of sea buckthorn berries

Abstract

Sea buckthorn (Hippophae L.) is a berry bush belonging to the family of dandruff, their normal height ranging from 2 to 10 meters. Sea buckthorn berries are used in the world for a long time. However, only recently the benefits for humans become more known. The focus is now on their use and analysis of therapeutic properties. In Lithuania, sea buckthorn berries are still relatively new in the food industry. The most popular products are jams, juices, tea and oil. All manufactured products have health benefits. More and more food supplements and medications include of sea buckthorn berries or their oils, so we can conclude that sea buckthorn berries are really useful. Sea buckthorn berries are called "vitamin bomb" because they are rich in vitamins C, B1, B2, folic acid, E, K, P and PP, carotenoids and flavonoids, iron, boron, manganese. These berries are rich in micronutrients, fiber, ash, proteins, which help to treat various diseases and protect us prophylactically. Various amino acids are found in sea buckthorn berries. They are very important to the human body because they are responsible for energy production, cell and muscle growth, and for mood and brain function. The aim of research was to evaluate and compare the quality of ecologically cultivated sea buckthorn berries 'Shcherbinka' cultivar and wild sea buckthorn berries. All researches and quality analysis was conducted at the Laboratories of Institute of Agricultural and Food Science of Vytautas Magnus University (previous Aleksandras Stulginskis University). Chemical composition (dry matter, fibre, protein, ashes, micro- and macroelements) of sea buckthorn 'Shcherbinka' and wild sea buckthorn berries were established by standard methods. Colour of buckthorn berries was determined using a spectrophotometer „ColorFlex“ (HunterLab, USA) with CIELab system.[...]