Sea Buckthorn in Siguniang Mountain

Sea Buckthorn in Siguniang Mountain

　　The Siguniang Mountain scenic area and its surrounding regions are rich in sea buckthorn, which contains various vitamins, especially a high level of Vitamin C.

　　Chinese sea buckthorn, in terms of fruit color, basically falls into two types: orange-yellow and orange. It is a deciduous shrub or small tree, growing 1–5 meters tall, and up to 18 meters in humid, shaded areas. Young leaves are densely covered with scales or star-shaped hairs, while older branches are grayish-brown, with many thick, sturdy spines that grow terminally or laterally. Simple leaves are nearly opposite, lanceolate or broadly ovate-lanceolate, 2–7.5 cm long and 0.2–1 cm wide.

　　Beverages processed from sea buckthorn fruits are highly nutritious. Drinking them can enhance heart function, prevent scurvy, inhibit the formation of the carcinogen methylnitrosamine, relieve fatigue, and boost energy. Processed sea buckthorn juice contains 500–1500 mg of Vitamin C per 100 g, which is 2.3 times that of kiwi and 20 times that of hawthorn. It is hailed by the scientific community as the “third-generation fruit,” the “king of vitamins,” and “one of the most promising health products of the 21st century.”

　　Sea buckthorn has been included in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia as a medicinal plant. The Ministry of Health has designated it as a “dual-use resource for food and medicine.” Modern science has discovered that sea buckthorn fruits contain over 190 types of bioactive substances, making comprehensive development, utilization, and deep processing research viable. The entire fruit can be utilized. Meanwhile, separating and extracting its biochemical components allows for their application in the production of medicines, health products, anti-aging products, cosmetics, and more, greatly enhancing the economic value of sea buckthorn. Its leaves, fruits, and seeds contain all 18 essential amino acids required by the human body, along with abundant vitamins, various trace elements, and hundreds of bioactive substances—all crucial nutrients for maintaining normal metabolism and life activities, thus offering significant health benefits.

　　Due to its unique climate and geographical conditions, Xiaojin produces sea buckthorn fruits that, after processing, are highly favored for their superior quality and color. Solid beverages such as sea buckthorn crystals and sea buckthorn honey are made from carefully selected wild sea buckthorn pulp, juice, high-quality sugar, and honey. They help prevent cancer, clear heat, promote saliva and refresh the spirit, relieve constipation, and improve appetite. In line with macro-strategic development research and the strategic principle of prioritizing ecology in the western development initiative, sea buckthorn resources have been listed as one of the key protected development projects among our county’s wild resources.