CHARACTERIZATION OF SEA BUCKTHORN FRUITS AND COPSES IN TERMS OF SEROTONIN AND MICROELEMENTS

The content of microelements in sea buckthorn fruits, leaves and copses was determined through neutron activation. Also, the content from fruits and leaves was analyzed by atomic absorption, for 11 sea buckthorn bio-types. The content in the dry matter was analyzed from the ashes of the sea buckthorn, depending on the harvesting time. The variation in serotonin content was analyzed depending on the origin of the fruits (three geographic regions). Estimations were made regarding: • ways of processing different plant organs; • biological effects of sea buckthorn; • perspective for serotonin as an immune inductor in different diseases The effects of sea buckthorn are the consequece of a large number of active physiologic substances, like hydro- and lyposoluble vitamins, hormones and phytohormones, amino-acids (including the essentials), provitamins A, carotenoides, serotonin, melatonin. Most of our study was done with research centers: industrials, medical and production units. Serotonin’s effects are well known: immune-inductor, energizing, anti-depressive, chemical mediator, involved in disabilities like insufficiency in transmitting the information through the nervous system to the organs