Historical Review on the Identification of Mesifurane, 2,5-Dimethyl-4-methoxy-3(2 H)-furanone, and Its Occurrence in Berries and Fruits.

Mesifurane, 2,5-dimethyl-4-methoxy-3(2 H)-furanone, is a natural compound used a worldwide as a flavoring for foods, beverages, and cosmetics. Global sales of mesifurane are around $100 million. Its significance as a flavor-impact compound in some Nordic berries was discovered in the early 1970s in Finland. Synthesized mesifurane was used as a key compound in aroma mixes exploited in a Finnish patent. Mesifurane is a significant flavorant in arctic brambles, mangoes, strawberries, and many other fruits and berries and is an enzymatic methylation product of 2,5-dimethyl-4-hydroxy-3(2 H)-furanone. Because of the obscurity of the information on the history of the commonly used trivial name, mesifurane, it is time to lift the veil and reveal the background of the present situation. The key player was a northern berry, arctic bramble ( Rubus arcticus), the Finnish name of which is mesimarja. Forty years ago, aroma research was limited by technical factors, but nowadays there is a surplus of information.

Red/Green Currant and Sea Buckthorn Berry Press Residues as Potential Sources of Antioxidants for Food Use.

The potential for using extracts of press residues from black, green, red, and white currants and from sea buckthorn berries as sources of antioxidants for foods use was investigated. Press residues were extracted with ethanol in four consecutive extractions, and total Folin-Ciocalteu (F-C) reactive material and authentic phenolic compounds were determined. Radical quenching capability and mechanisms were determined from total peroxyl radical-trapping antioxidant capacity (TRAP) and oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) assays and from diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH) kinetics, respectively; specific activities were normalized to F-C reactive concentrations. Levels of total F-C reactive materials in press residue extracts were higher than in many fruits and showed significant radical quenching activity. Black currant had the highest authentic phenol content and ORAC, TRAP, and DPPH reactivity. Sea buckthorn grown in northern Finland showed extremely high total specific DPPH reactivity. These results suggest that berry press residues offer attractive value-added products that can provide antioxidants for use in stabilizing and fortifying foods.

Effects of Insect Herbivory on Bilberry Production and Removal of Berries by Frugivores.

The evolutionary purpose of a fleshy fruit is to attract seed dispersers and get the seeds dispersed by frugivorous animals. For this reason, fruits should be highly rewarding to these mutualists. However, insect herbivory can alter plant reproductive success e.g. by decreasing fruit yield or affecting the attractiveness of the fruits to mutualistic seed dispersers. Under natural conditions, we tested the effects of experimental larval-defoliation on berry ripening and consumption of a non-cultivated dwarf shrub, the bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.), which produces animal-dispersed berries with high sugar and anthocyanin concentration. Bilberry ramets with high fruit yield were most likely to have their berries foraged, indicating that frugivores made foraging choices based on the abundance of berries. Moreover, the probability for berries being foraged was the lowest for non-defoliated ramets that grew adjacent to larval-defoliated ramets, even though larval-defoliation did not affect the biochemical composition (total concentrations of anthocyanins, sugars and organic acids) or the probability of ripening of berries. We hypothesise that the lower probability for berries being foraged in these ramets may be a consequence of rhizome- or volatile-mediated communication between ramets, resulting in a priming effect of the herbivore defence and lower attractiveness of the non-defoliated ramets.

Triacylglycerol biosynthesis in developing Ribes nigrum and Ribes rubrum seeds from gene expression to oil composition.

Oils with sufficient contents of fatty acids, which can be metabolized into precursors of anti-inflammatory eicosanoids, have potential health effects. Ribes sp. seed oil is rich in α-linolenic, γ-linolenic and stearidonic acids belonging to this fatty acid group. Only a few previous studies exist on Ribes sp. gene expression. We followed the seed oil biosynthesis of four Ribes nigrum and two Ribes rubrum cultivars at different developmental stages over 2 years in Southern and Northern Finland with a 686 km latitudinal difference. The species and the developmental stage were the most important factors causing differences in gene expression levels and oil composition. Differences between cultivars were detected in some cases, but year and location had only small effects. However, expression of the gene encoding Δ(9)-desaturase in R. nigrum was affected by location. Triacylglycerol biosynthesis in Ribes sp. was distinctly buffered and typically followed a certain path, regardless of growth environment.

Proanthocyanidins and Their Contribution to Sensory Attributes of Black Currant Juices.

Black currant juices from five different cultivars were analyzed for composition, content, and mean degree of polymerization (mDP) of proanthocyanidins (PA) by UPLC-MS/MS. Juices contained both procyanidins (PC) and prodelphinidins (PD), but the PC-% varied significantly, from 28 to 82% of the total PA. In addition, high PD-% was related to high mDP and total PA content. Enzyme-assisted processing increased significantly total PA (5-14-fold), PD-% (12-65%), and mDP (1.8-6.2-fold) in the juices of all cultivars. Enzymatic treatment increased the contents of large PAs more than those of small PAs. The contents of PA and mDP were positively associated with the mouth-drying and puckering astringent characteristics. However, the PA content did not contribute to the bitter taste. Juices from the most bitter cultivars had the lowest contents of proanthocyanidins regardless of the processing method. This finding indicates the existence of other bitter compounds in black currants in addition to PA.

Effects of sea buckthorn oil intake on vaginal atrophy in postmenopausal women: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

BACKGROUND: Vaginal atrophy, the thinning and drying of vaginal mucosa, is associated with menopause. The standard estrogen treatment is not suitable for all women. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of oral sea buckthorn (SB) oil supplementation on vaginal atrophy. METHOD: A total of 116 postmenopausal women experiencing symptoms of vaginal dryness, itching or burning were randomized to this placebo-controlled, double-blind study. Ninety-eight participants completed the intervention of three months, during which they consumed 3g of SB or placebo oil daily. At the beginning and end, factors of vaginal health were scored by a gynecologist, vaginal pH and moisture were measured and vaginal health index was calculated. Symptoms of atrophy and menopause were evaluated at study visits and by daily logbooks. Serum samples were collected for the analysis of circulating lipids, liver enzymes and C-reactive protein. RESULTS: Compared to placebo, there was a significantly better rate of improvement in the integrity of vaginal epithelium in the SB group when both compliant and noncompliant participants were included (odds ratio (OR)=3.1, 95% CI 1.11-8.95). A beneficial trend was observed when only the compliant participants were included (OR=2.9; 95% CI 0.99-8.35). There was a tendency (P=0.08) toward better improvement of vaginal health index from baseline to the end in the SB group [(0.8 (SD 2.8)] compared to placebo [-0.1 (SD 2.0)]. CONCLUSIONS: SB oil showed beneficial effects on vaginal health, indicating it is a potential alternative for mucosal integrity for those women not able to use estrogen treatment for vaginal atrophy.

Coordinate changes in gene expression and triacylglycerol composition in the developing seeds of oilseed rape (Brassica napus) and turnip rape (Brassica rapa).

Crop production for vegetable oil in the northern latitudes utilises oilseed rape (Brassica napus subsp. oleifera) and turnip rape (B. rapa subsp. oleifera), having similar oil compositions. The oil consists mostly of triacylglycerols, which are synthesised during seed development. In this study, we characterised the oil composition and the expression levels of genes involved in triacylglycerol biosynthesis in the developing seeds in optimal, low temperature (15 °C) and short day (12-h day length) conditions. Gene expression levels of several genes were altered during seed development. Low temperature and short day treatments increased the level of 9,12,15-octadecatrienoic acid (18:3n-3) in turnip rape and short day treatment decreased the total oil content in both species. This study gives a novel view on seed oil biosynthesis under different growth conditions, bringing together gene expression levels of the triacylglycerol biosynthesis pathway and oil composition over a time series in two related oilseed species.

Tandem mass spectrometric analysis of human milk triacylglycerols from normal weight and overweight mothers on different diets.

The composition and structures of TAGs in the human milk from mothers with different food choices and prepregnancy body mass index were determined with two tandem mass spectrometric methods (negative APCI-MS/MS and positive UHPLC/ESI-MS/MS) at the infant's age of three months. The normal weight mothers with recommended food choices had more 18:3n-3 and less 18:0 in their milk than normal weight mothers with non-recommended food choices. A significant difference between the normal weight mothers on the non-recommended food choices and the other groups was seen in acyl carbon number: number of double bond (ACN:DB)-groups 54:6, 54:5, 54:3 and 54:2. In ACN:DB 52:7 and 52:6 the two recommended food choices-groups differed significantly from the two non-recommended food choices-groups. The regioisomerism of TAGs varied little despite differences in mother's weight and diet with sn-18:1-16:0-18:1 as the most prevalent regioisomer in the milk (13.8±2.7%). The results of this study highlight the importance of structure specific human milk substitutes and the careful selection of the MS/MS methods for analysis of mixtures of several isobaric TAGs.

Effects of sea buckthorn and bilberry on serum metabolites differ according to baseline metabolic profiles in overweight women: a randomized crossover trial.

BACKGROUND: Berries are associated with health benefits. Little is known about the effect of baseline metabolome on the overall metabolic responses to berry intake. OBJECTIVE: We studied the effects of berries on serum metabolome. DESIGN: Eighty overweight women completed this randomized crossover study. During the interventions of 30 d, subjects consumed dried sea buckthorn berries (SBs), sea buckthorn oil (SBo), sea buckthorn phenolics ethanol extract mixed with maltodextrin (SBe+MD) (1:1), or frozen bilberries. Metabolic profiles were quantified from serum samples by using (1)H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. RESULTS: All interventions induced a significant (P < 0.001-0.003) effect on the overall metabolic profiles. The effect was observed both in participants who had a metabolic profile that reflected higher cardiometabolic risk at baseline (group B: P = 0.001-0.008) and in participants who had a lower-risk profile (group A: P < 0.001-0.009). Although most of the changes in individual metabolites were not statistically significant after correction for multiplicity, clear trends were observed. SB-induced effects were mainly on serum triglycerides and very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) and its subclasses, which decreased in metabolic group B. SBo induced a decreasing trend in serum total, intermediate-density lipoprotein (IDL), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and subfractions of IDL and LDL in group B. During the SBe+MD treatment, VLDL fractions and serum triglycerides increased. Bilberries caused beneficial changes in serum lipids and lipoproteins in group B, whereas the opposite was true in group A. CONCLUSION: Berry intake has overall metabolic effects, which depend on the cardiometabolic risk profile at baseline. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT01860547.

Postprandial metabolism of docosapentaenoic acid (DPA, 22:5n-3) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5n-3) in humans.

The study of the metabolism of docosapentaenoic acid (DPA, 22:5n-3) in humans has been limited by the unavailability of pure DPA and the fact that DPA is found in combination with eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5n-3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n-3) in natural products. In this double blind cross over study, pure DPA and EPA were incorporated in meals served to healthy female volunteers. Mass spectrometric methods were used to study the chylomicron lipidomics. Plasma chylomicronemia was significantly reduced after the meal containing DPA compared with the meal containing EPA or olive oil only. Both EPA and DPA were incorporated into chylomicron TAGs, while there was less incorporation into chylomicron phospholipids. Lipidomic analysis of the chylomicron TAGs revealed the dynamic nature of chylomicron TAGs. The main TAG species that EPA and DPA were incorporated into were EPA/18:1/18:1, DPA/18:1/16:0 and DPA/18:1/18:1. There was very limited conversion of DPA and EPA to DHA and there were no increases in EPA levels during the 5h postprandial period after the DPA meal. In conclusion, EPA and DPA showed different metabolic fates, and DPA hindered the digestion, ingestion or incorporation into chylomicrons of the olive oil present in the meal.

Lipidomic profiling of chylomicron triacylglycerols in response to high fat meals.

Using lipidomic methodologies the impact that meal lipid composition and metabolic syndrome (MetS) exerts on the postprandial chylomicron triacylglycerol (TAG) response was examined. Males (9 control; 11 MetS) participated in a randomised crossover trial ingesting two high fat breakfast meals composed of either dairy-based foods or vegetable oil-based foods. The postprandial lipidomic molecular composition of the TAG in the chylomicron-rich (CM) fraction was analysed with tandem mass spectrometry coupled with liquid chromatography to profile CM TAG species and targeted TAG regioisomers. Postprandial CM TAG concentrations were significantly lower after the dairy-based foods compared with the vegetable oil-based foods for both control and MetS subjects. The CM TAG response to the ingested meals involved both significant and differential depletion of TAG species containing shorter- and medium-chain fatty acids (FA) and enrichment of TAG molecular species containing C16 and C18 saturated, monounsaturated and diunsaturated FA. Furthermore, there were significant changes in the TAG species between the food TAG and CM TAG and between the 3- and 5-h postprandial samples for the CM TAG regioisomers. Unexpectedly, the postprandial CM TAG concentration and CM TAG lipidomic responses did not differ between the control and MetS subjects. Lipidomic analysing of CM TAG molecular species revealed dynamic changes in the molecular species of CM TAG during the postprandial phase suggesting either preferential CM TAG species formation and/or clearance.

The fiber and/or polyphenols present in lingonberries null the glycemic effect of the sugars present in the berries when consumed together with added glucose in healthy human volunteers.

This study was undertaken on the broad hypothesis that lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea L.) has potential to reduce postprandial glycemic and lipemic response. More specifically, 2 postprandial crossover studies with healthy normal-weight male subjects were conducted to study the influence of commercial lingonberry powder on postprandial glycemia and lipemia. The test meals contained fat-free yoghurt with either glucose (50 g) or triacylglycerols (35 g) with or without (control) the lingonberry powder. The lingonberry powder provided the meals with a known amount of fiber and a known amount and composition of sugars, and it was a rich source of polyphenols. Postprandial glucose, insulin, and triacylglycerol responses were analyzed. There were no significant differences in the postprandial glucose concentration between the meals in the glycemia trial despite the fact that the lingonberry meal contained more glucose and fructose. When the meal did not contain added sugar but, instead, added triacylglycerol, no glycemia or lipemia-lowering effect was detected. On the contrary, there were indications of higher glycemic and insulinemic effect after the lingonberry meal. The results of this study indicate that the fibers and/or polyphenols present in lingonberries null the glycemic effect of the sugars present in the berries when consumed together with added glucose. By contrast, the lingonberry powder did not affect the postprandial lipemic response.

Effects of oral sea buckthorn oil on tear film Fatty acids in individuals with dry eye.

PURPOSE: Evaporative dry eye is associated with meibomian gland dysfunction and abnormalities of the tear film lipids. Dry eye is known to be affected positively by intake of linoleic and γ-linolenic acids and n-3 fatty acids. Oral sea buckthorn (Hippophaë rhamnoides) (SB) oil, which contains linoleic and α-linolenic acids and antioxidants, has shown beneficial effects on dry eye. The objective was to investigate whether supplementation with SB oil affects the composition of the tear film fatty acids in individuals reporting dry eye. METHODS: One hundred participants were randomized to this parallel, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, which 86 of them completed. The participants daily consumed 2 g of SB or placebo oil for 3 months. Tear film samples were collected at the beginning, during, and at the end of the intervention and 1 to 2 months later. Tear film fatty acids were analyzed as methyl esters by gas chromatography. RESULTS: There were no group differences in the changes in fatty acid proportions during the intervention (branched-chain fatty acids: P = 0.49, saturated fatty acids: P = 0.59, monounsaturated fatty acids: P = 0.53, and polyunsaturated fatty acids: P = 0.16). CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that the positive effects of SB oil on dry eye are not mediated through direct effects on the tear film fatty acids. Carotenoids and tocopherols in the oil or eicosanoids produced from the fatty acids of the oil may have a positive effect on inflammation and differentiation of the meibomian gland cells.

Oral sea buckthorn oil attenuates tear film osmolarity and symptoms in individuals with dry eye.

Dry eye is a common condition that can severely impair the quality of life. We aimed to find out whether oral sea buckthorn (SB) oil, containing (n-3) and (n-6) fatty acids and antioxidants, affects dry eye. In this double-blind, randomized, parallel trial, 20- to 75-y-old women and men experiencing dry eye symptoms consumed 2 g of SB or placebo oil daily for 3 mo from fall to winter. One hundred participants were recruited and 86 completed the study. Clinical dry eye tests and symptom follow-ups were performed. Tear film hyperosmolarity is a focal factor in dry eye. There was a general increase in the osmolarity from baseline to the end of the intervention. Compared with the placebo group, the increase was significantly less in the SB group when all participants were included [intention to treat (ITT), P = 0.04] and when only participants consuming the study products for at least 80% of the intervention days were included [per protocol (PP), P = 0.02]. The maximum intensities of redness and burning tended to be lower in the SB group. In the ITT participants, the group difference was significant for redness (P = 0.04) but not for burning (P = 0.05). In the PP participants, the group difference was significant for burning (P = 0.04) but not for redness (P = 0.11). In conclusion, SB oil attenuated the increase in tear film osmolarity during the cold season and positively affected the dry eye symptoms.

Quantification of triacylglycerol regioisomers by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography and ammonia negative ion atmospheric pressure chemical ionization tandem mass spectrometry.

The regioisomer composition of triacylglycerols (TAGs) in various vegetable oils was determined with a new liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS method). A direct inlet ammonia negative ion chemical ionization (NICI) MS/MS method was improved by adapting it to LC negative ion (NI) atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) MS/MS system using ammonia as nebulizer gas. The method is based on the preferential formation of [M-H-RCOOH-100](-) ions during collision-induced dissociation by loss of sn-1/3 fatty acids from [M-H](-) ions. Calibration curves were created from nine reference TAGs: Ala/L/L, Gla/L/L, L/L/O, L/O/O, P/O/O, P/P/O, Po/Po/V, Po/Po/O, and C/O/O. The calibration curves were used to quantify the regioisomer compositions of selected TAGs in rapeseed oil, sunflower seed oil, palm oil, black currant seed oil, and sea buckthorn pulp oil. The method discriminates the different regioisomers and the results obtained by this method were in good agreement with previous results. This proves that this new method can be used for the determination of regiospecific distribution of fatty acids in TAGs.

Regioisomer compositions of vaccenic and oleic acid containing triacylglycerols in sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) pulp oils: influence of origin and weather conditions.

Triacylglycerols (TAGs) 16:1(n-7)/16:1(n-7)/18:1(n-7) (Po/Po/V) and 16:1(n-7)/16:1(n-7)/18:1(n-9) (Po/Po/O) in pulp/peel oils of various sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) subspecies and varieties were separated by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. The regioisomerism of the TAGs was determined by tandem mass spectrometry using ammonia supplemented in the nebulizer gas to produce ammonium adducts. The regioisomer compositions of Po/Po/V (8-24% of PoVPo) and Po/Po/O (43-61% of PoOPo) both differed from the random distribution of fatty acids (33.3% of ABA) in all 32 sea buckthorn samples investigated. The regioisomer compositions were different between cultivated ssp. rhamnoides varieties, wild ssp. rhamnoides, and wild ssp. sinensis. Differences were also found in the regioisomerism of both Po/Po/V and Po/Po/O between the two cultivated ssp. rhamnoides varieties, Tytti and Terhi. In addition, growth location and harvesting years showed clear impacts on the regioisomer compositions of Po/Po/V and Po/Po/O. Higher temperatures showed positive correlations with the proportion of PoOPo in ssp. rhamnoides and wild ssp. sinensis and with the proportion of sn-PoPoV+sn-VPoPo in wild ssp. sinensis. However, higher temperatures, higher temperature sums, and radiation sums increased the accumulation of PoVPo in wild ssp. rhamnoides.

Effect of latitude and weather conditions on the regioisomer compositions of alpha- and gamma-linolenoyldilinoleoylglycerol in currant seed oils.

The regioisomer compositions of triacylglycerols (TAG) 18:3(n-3)/18:2(n-6)/18:2(n-6) (Ala/L/L) and 18:3(n-6)/18:2(n-6)/18:2(n-6) (Gla/L/L) in seed oils of black and green currant ( Ribes nigrum L.) and red and white currant ( Ribes rubrum L.) varieties were determined by silver-ion high-performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. The aim was to investigate whether latitude and weather conditions affect the regioisomer compositions of Ala/L/L and Gla/L/L and whether the regioisomerism differs between species and varieties. In R. rubrum the proportion of the symmetric regioisomer LAlaL among Ala/L/L was higher (14.1%) than in R. nigrum (12.1%) (p < 0.001). Generally in currants, the proportion of LAlaL was lower (p < 0.001) in northern Finland (12.1%) than in southern Finland (13.5%), where temperature and radiation sums were higher. In R. rubrum varieties grown in the south, the proportion of LGlaL among Gla/L/L was significantly higher in the years 2005 and 2007 (30.7-32.0%) than in 2006 (24.2-25.4%), when temperature and radiation sums were higher and the amount of precipitation was lower.

Effect of a low dose of sea buckthorn berries on circulating concentrations of cholesterol, triacylglycerols, and flavonols in healthy adults.

BACKGROUND: Epidemiological studies indicate beneficial effects of flavonoids on cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. AIM OF THE STUDY: To study the effect of flavonoid-rich sea buckthorn berry (SBB) on circulating lipid markers associated with CVD risk and plasma flavonol concentration. Also investigated was whether changes in the circulating flavonol concentrations correlate with the SBB induced changes in C-reactive protein (CRP) concentration observed previously. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: In all 229 healthy participants completed the randomized double-blind study and consumed daily 28 g of SBB or placebo for 3 months. Fasting blood samples for the analysis of lipid markers and flavonols were obtained at the beginning and end of the study. RESULTS: Compared to the placebo, the consumption of SBB increased the plasma concentration of the flavonols quercetin and isorhamnetin significantly [treatment differences 3.0 ng/ml (P = 0.03) and 3.9 ng/ml (P < 0.01), respectively]. The increase of kaempferol concentration was not significant [treatment difference 0.7 ng/ml (P = 0.08)]. SBB did not affect the serum total, HDL, LDL cholesterol, or the serum triacylglycerol concentrations. There was no correlation between the changes in flavonol and CRP concentrations of participants. CONCLUSIONS: The consumption of SBB significantly increased the fasting plasma concentration of quercetin and isorhamnetin indicating that it is a good dietary source of flavonols. However, this did not convert to affecting the circulating concentrations of lipid markers in healthy, normolipidemic adults having healthy diets.

Regio-distribution of stearic acid is not conserved in chylomicrons after ingestion of randomised, stearic acid-rich fat in a single meal.

Stearic acid from conventional food is well absorbed, but the fate of synthetic randomized stearic acid in fat absorption and subsequent metabolism is unclear. In this study, we examined the postprandial triglyceridemia following an ingestion of randomized stearic acid-rich fat. Following a 12-h fast, nine healthy young males ate a hamburger meal with 16.7 g of stearic acid (30% in triacylglycerol (TAG) sn-2 position, fully randomized). Postprandial blood samples were collected for 450 min, and the stearic acid content in chylomicron (CM, Svedberg flotation rate >400) TAG and the proportion of stearic acid in the sn-2 position were measured by tandem mass spectrometry at peak (180 min) and late (360 min) triglyceridemia. Of all stearic acid in CM TAG, 23% and 22% were in the sn-2 position at peak and late triglyceridemia (P<.004 and P<.001, respectively). This suggests a 68% and 62% conservation of sn-2 stearic acid, respectively. Peak postprandial TAG concentration and incremental area under the TAG curve showed a higher correlation with the fasting CM TAG (r=0.88, P<.01 and r=0.72, P<.05, respectively) than with total fasting plasma TAG (r=0.73, P<.05 and r=0.24, nonsignificant, respectively). In an earlier study, we showed that the absorption efficiency of the stearic acid of the meal was normal, with only marginal amounts of mainly sn-1,3 stearic acid found in the feces. In conclusion, we showed that sn-2 stearic acid is underrepresented in the postprandial CM TAG following an ingestion of fully randomized fat.

Fast analysis of sugars, fruit acids, and vitamin C in sea buckthorn (Hippophaë rhamnoides L.) varieties.

A fast, one-step gas chromatographic method was developed to analyze trimethylsilyl (TMS) derivatives of sugars, fruit acids, and ascorbic acid in sea buckthorn (Hippohaë rhamnoides L.) berries. The method was applied to berry press juice of sea buckthorn of different origins grown in Finland during the 2003 and 2004 seasons. The method gave reliable results for D-fructose, D-glucose, ethyl-D-glucose, and malic, quinic, and ascorbic acids, which are the major sugars and acids in sea buckthorn juice. For the first time in sea buckthorn and evidently in any berry, the presence of ethyl beta-D-glucopyranoside is reported. The structure of ethyl glucose was verified by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), gas chromatography (GC), MS, and NMR analyses of both the isolated and the synthesized compounds. In the GC method, vitamin C was analyzed as ascorbic acid only, and dehydroascorbic acid was thus not taken into account.