Evaluation of the phytoconstituents and bioactivity potentials of Sea buckthorn (Hippophae sp.) leaves using GC-MS, HPLC-PDA and ICP-MS: a gender-based comprehensive metabolic profiling

To comprehend the selection of sea buckthorn (Hippophae sp.) leaves as a potential substrate for tea and/or nutraceutical formulations based on gender and species, this study was undertaken to assess comparative bioactive functionalities of male and female leaves of two sea buckthorn species i.e., Hippophae rhamnoides and Hippophae salicipholia. Key components such as gallic acid, epigallocatechin, sesamin, epigallocatechin-gallate, rutin and quercetin were observed to be present significantly in male leaves, unlike female. Consequently, male leaves exhibited better antioxidant activity as the ranges of IC50 and ferrous reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) values of the males and females were 1.21-3.86 and 1.32-5.09 mu g/mL, 303.45-407.33 and 233.45-356.92 mg BHT/g dry weight, respectively. However, aroma-producing components like linalool and geraniol were only detected in female leaves. Moreover, the mineral concentrations including Mg, K, Ca, Cr, Fe, Cu, and Zn varied in two species and between the genders. For better understanding the relationships between phytoconstituents (classified based on their bioactivities) identified using GC-MS and the factors (gender, species, and extraction methods) considered in this study, principal component analysis (PCA) based on correlation coefficients established a significant difference (p < 0.05) between the species, gender and extraction methods. Hereafter, the comprehensive characterization of phytocomponents establishes the preferred extraction method along with gender and species for the formulation of nutraceuticals and nutritionally rich flavoured tea based on investigated bioactive functionalities.