Research progress of sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) in prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease

Abstract

Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) contains a variety of biologically active compounds, including flavonoids, terpenoids, polysaccharides, organic acids, volatile oils, and vitamins. It has been demonstrated to be effective in the treatment of cardiovascular disorders. In this paper, we evaluated the pharmacological effects of sea buckthorn in cardiovascular diseases through preclinical studies, and revealed the mechanism of action of the active components in sea buckthorn in cardiovascular diseases, including anti-inflammatory, lipid oxidation regulation, antioxidant, vascular function modulation, anti-platelet aggregation, autophagy, intestinal microorganism regulation, and cell apoptosis reduction. In clinical trials, sea buckthorn was proven to be effective in managing lipid metabolism, blood pressure, and blood glucose levels in patients. We also extensively reviewed the safety of sea buckthorn medicine and its toxicity to numerous organs. To summarize, sea buckthorn has a beneficial effect on cardiovascular disease and may give a novel strategy for clinical intervention and therapy. This paper summarizes the phytochemistry, pharmacology, clinical applications, safety, and toxicity of sea buckthorn in order to better understand the mechanism of action of the various bioactive components in sea buckthorn, investigate its medicinal potential, and provide more options for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases.

Keywords: cardiovascular disease; clinical application; pharmacology; phytochemistry; sea buckthorn.

Figure 1

Anti-inflammatory mechanism of action of the active components of sea buckthorn. TFH, sea buckthorn flavonoids; ISO, isorhamnetin; LPS, lipopolysaccharides; TLR4, toll-like receptor 4; STAT3, signal transducers and activators of transcription 3; IκBα, inhibitor kappa B alpha; IL-1β, interleukin-1 beta; IL-18, interleukin-18; IL-6, interleukin-6; CD36, cluster of differentiation 36; ox-LDL, oxidized low-density lipoprotein; SAPK/JNK, stress-activated protein kinase/c-Jun N-terminal kinase; NO/PGE2, nitric oxide/Prostaglandin E2; AP-1, activating protein-1; NF-κB, nuclear factor kappa B; iNOS/COX-2, inducible nitric oxide synthase/cyclooxygenase-2; NLRP3, NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain associated protein 3; ASC, apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD; Pro-Caspase-1, pro-cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase-1; ICAM-1, intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1; VCAM-1, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1.

Figure 2

Mechanisms of action of active components of sea buckthorn in regulating lipid metabolism (A), antioxidant (B) and regulating vascular function (C). SBSO, sea buckthorn seed oil; HSFP, sea buckthorn freeze-dried powder; SBFO, sea buckthorn fruit oil; SBP, sea buckthorn procyanidins; SVP, sea buckthorn berries; AMPK/SIRT1, adenosine 5′-monophosphate-activated protein kinase/silent information regulator 1; ACAT2, acetyl-CoA acetyltransferase 2; MTP, microsomal triacyglycerol transport protein; ABCG8, ATP-binding cassette transporter subfamily G member 8; PPARα/γ, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α/γ; LXRα, liver X receptor α; CPT1A, carnitine palmitoyltransferase1; SREBP-2, sterol-regulatory element binding protein 2; LDLR, low-density lipoprotein receptor; SCFAs, short-chain fatty acids; PI3K/AKT, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B; Nrf2, nuclear factor-erythroid 2 related factor 2; HO-1, heme oxygenase 1; ROS, reactive oxygen species; p38MAPK, p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase; eNOS, endothelial nitric oxide synthase; LOX-1, lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor 1; ROC, receptor-operated calcium channels; VDC, voltage-dependent calcium channels.

Figure 3

Mechanisms of action of anti-platelet aggregation (A), regulation of autophagy (B), regulation of intestinal flora (C) and reduced apoptosis (D) of sea buckthorn active ingredients. PAR-1, protease-activated receptor-1; FAS, fatty acid synthase; SREBP-1, sterol-regulatory element binding protein 1; ACC, acetyl-CoA carboxylase; LC3, light chain 3; Bcl2, B-cell lymphoma-2.