Seabuckthorn- A Traditional Versatile Plant Species in Cold Desert Region of India

Sea buckthorn as an ancient economically and ecologically important plant with modern traits recently gained global attention due to its nutritional and therapeutic properties. It is one of the most important, underutilized plants at high altitudes, in the cold desert region of the Spiti Valley which has immense industrial, medicinal, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical importance. Numerous
bioactive chemicals, such as vitamins A, C, and E, unsaturated fatty acids, and phenolic compounds which bestow favorable
effects on the cardiovascular system, may be found in the plant’s leaves, fruits, and oils. Additionally, Sea buckthorn has a lot of potential as a bio-resource for land reclamation because of its ability to bind soil, provide rapid surface cover, fix nitrogen, and endure cold and drought. However, research on sea buckthorn is still limited due to a number of issues, including a lack of meticulous field studies, data gaps, and the difficulty of accessing remote cold desert areas, despite its enormous potential. Due to its multipurpose nature, the plant is widely utilized to obtain different valuable products such as oil, wine, medicinal supplements, and other products. This brief review summarises the current literature, highlights ecological and economic potential, and significant knowledge identified on Sea buckthorn which will give momentum to recognise it as an exceptional plant in the Spiti
Valley.