Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC–MS) and 1H Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR)-Based Profiling and Phytochemical Screening Revealed Industrially Important Metabolites in Wild Seabuckthorn (Hippophae salicifolia D.Don) Berries

In recent years, seabuckthorn (Hippophae spp.) has garnered global interest due to its diverse applications in traditional medicine, nutraceuticals, and cosmeceuticals. This wide applicability is attributed to the plant’s rich composition of bioactive phytochemicals, which may vary significantly based on regional factors affecting plant growth and harvesting. In Uttarakhand (India), the rising demand for herbal products has dramatically increased the trade of plant materials within the state. Despite this surge, seabuckthorn cultivation in the region remains unorganized, and critical ethnobotanical knowledge is at risk of being lost. Recognizing this alarming scenario, the present study aims to explore the unexplored metabolome of Hippophae salicifolia berries collected from three ecologically distinct regions of Uttarakhand: Badrinath, Yamunotri, and Gangotri. This is the first study from the region employing a dual-platform approach—gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS) and proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H NMR)—to achieve comprehensive metabolomic profiling. While most previous studies have relied on a single analytical platform, limiting their coverage of the metabolome, our integrative method enhances analytical breadth and reliability. Phytochemical screening, performed using both qualitative and quantitative approaches, led to the identification of a total of 318 metabolites—305 by GC–MS and 13 by ¹H NMR. Many of these compounds are of significant industrial value, reinforcing the economic and pharmacological importance of H. salicifolia. This study not only enriches the phytochemical database of seabuckthorn but also supports future strategies for its cultivation, sustainable utilization, and germplasm conservation in the Himalayan region. The findings can further contribute to the standardization and quality assessment of seabuckthorn-based products in the food and pharmaceutical industries.