ITS BRIGHT orange berries and menacing thorns mark it out as a plant to remember on Scotland's coastline.
Originally from the Himalayas, the sea buckthorn has colonised large tracts of land along the fringes of the firths of Forth and Moray.
But now scientists claim the colourful shrub could spawn a new Scottish health and beauty industry because of i
ts in-built properties.
Researchers at Queen Margaret University (QMU) in Edinburgh say sea buckthorn has, until now, been largely considered an undesirable, invasive plant.
But it could be used to help tackle conditions as diverse as heart disease, gastro-intestinal disorders and psoriasis.
Tests are being done in the north of Scotland on how to harvest the prickly plant on a commercial basis to help create a lucrative industry in rural areas, making a range of products from jams to cosmetic creams.
Dr Mary Warnock, the lecturer in dietetics, nutrition and biological sciences at QMU who led the sea buckthorn research project, said: "With Scotland's high incidence of heart disease, obesity, diabetes and lung, colon and skin cancers, this little known shrub, which the Scots have actually not paid much attention to over the years, may prove to be of great assistance. It grows extremely well in certain areas of Scotland and almost all of it is suitable for consumption and topical application."
Warnock analysed research papers from around the world to find a remarkably consistent track record. "It's a fascinating shrub with exceptional nutritional and medicinal properties," she said, adding that the berries were a rich source of substances that protect against heart disease.
"Oil containing highly unsaturated fats could be extracted from the seed, flesh and peel of the fruit while the leaves contained high levels of vitamins, minerals, protein and anti-inflammatory compounds." The Chinese have been using hand-harvested buckthorn berries to produce natural remedies for hundreds of years. Similar small-scale industries have also developed in Russia and parts of Scandinavia.
But its food-producing and medicinal qualities have so far been ignored in Scotland and other parts of the UK.
It is not known for certain whether sea buckthorn was originally introduced to Britain as a decorative curiosity by 19th-century plant collectors or whether it is a native species.
Its main use until now has been to stabilise sand dune systems or provide an impenetrable protective barrier.
Trials on cultivating the plant are now to be conducted by the Midlothian Innovation Centre, which is trying to persuade crofters that sea buckthorn could be a lucrative addition to their income. David Miskin, head of the Food Innovation Institute, said his team would be trying to answer a series of questions including where the bushes will grow best, how much they will yield and what is the most productive variety for the Scottish climate.
"We're researching the optimal growing conditions for sea buckthorn cultivars. This includes the soil type, shade, drainage and other environmental factors that may affect berry yield and quality. While some berries in certain places are very astringent, in others they are very sweet.
"We are now looking at growing plants for plots of land in the north and north-east. It may not be a primary industry but it could provide a good secondary income for people like crofters. "At the moment we are looking at its use in the food production industry for relishes and jams – we already have an order for 100kg – but we know it makes a good cream for cosmetics and products like sun tanning lotions."
One of the main problems was harvesting the crop, Miskin said. "It's not called buckthorn for nothing. It has serious thorns. Thornless varieties are a possibility but the problem is the berries may not be as good and they are very vulnerable to rabbits and deer."
Various methods of harvesting will now be tested. "The Chinese do it manually but that is unlikely to happen in Scotland. So we have to look at other methods such as a vibration system that shakes the berries off. What we want is a commercially viable industry and we think it could be."
BOG MYRTLE: Traditionally used to flavour beer and repel insects, bog myrtle was recently hailed as a natural remedy for acne and skin ageing. There are plans to increase production of the plant in the Borders, Moray and Aberdeenshire after Boots claimed it could be four times more effective than tea tree oil for troubled skin.
PLANTAGO: Prominent in the Hebrides, plants of the Plantago species (also known as plantains) have been used for their antiseptic properties in preventing infection on cuts and scratches, while tradition holds that plantains can be used to counteract the venom of snakes. Today it is commonly employed to treat sinus and ear problems.
ST JOHN'S WORT: The medicinal properties of this yellow-flowering herb, found throughout Scotland, were known for centuries, with its applications ranged from the treatment of insect bites to use as a sedative. Recent studies have suggested that St John's Wort may be as effective as conventional antidepressants in treating mild to moderate depression.
RAGWORT: This wild flower is abundant in the machair landscapes of north-western Scotland. It was used from the medieval period to combat ulcers and rheumatism, but was classified as an injurious weed in 1959 due to its poisonous, potentially lethal effects on animals. Nonetheless, it continues to be used in herbal medicine, and has been investigated by anti-cancer researchers interested in its potential to inhibit cell division.
