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Biochemical
characterization of sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides
L. spp. turkestanica) seed
Alam Zeb* and Ijaz Malook
Department
of Biotechnology, University of Malakand, Chakdara, N-W.F.P,
Pakistan.
*Corresponding author. E-mail: Alamzeb01@yahoo.com.
Tel: +92 (945) 764131- (ext 3027). Fax: +92 (945) 763491.
Accepted
10 January, 2009 |
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Sea buckthorn is
a valuable medicinal plant, cultivated and naturally
grown in northern Pakistan. The plant produces berry with
small hard seed in the centre. The seed is the source of all
nutrients and phytochemcials. However, there is lack of
literature regarding the biochemical and physico-chemical
quality of the seed. This study consists of evaluation of the physiochemical
parameters; elemental components, seed storage protein
profile and anatomical structure of sea buckthorn ssp
turkestanica seed. Results showed that ash content was
2.05%, moisture content 5.5%, thousand seed mass value 10.20
g; sodium 47.65 ppm, potassium 88.0 ppm, phosphorus 0.43 ppm,
magnesium 758.0 ppm, calcium 912.0 ppm, zinc 96.50 ppm, iron
290.25 ppm and silver 3.10 ppm. Seed storage protein
electrophoresis reveals the presence of only low molecular
weight proteins. SEM analysis shows that seed was 4.3 mm
long and 2.4 mm wide with 0.1 - 0.2 nm thicken seed coat.
The study provides a good source of information of sea
buckthorn seed of Pakistani origin and its potential for
cultivation in various parts of the world.
Key
words:
Hippophae, physiochemical parameters, elements, seed storage
proteins, anatomy. |
