Introduction. The chemical composition of plants is a combination of all primary and secondary metabolites and can be considered as the result of the implementation of genetic information, a «link» between the genotype and phenotype. The complex of biologically active substances (BAS) of most medicinal plants and medicinal herbal preparations derived from them is a multicomponent system that is in interaction, the composition of which is not always fully known. Sea buckthorn is one of the valuable plants with a wide distribution area. Sea buckthorn fruits contain a large number of classes of various BAS. The study of the variability of the chemical composition depending on the climatic conditions of growth, harvesting and drying in order to accumulate and generalize information for the development of unified scientifically based standards for raw material quality indicators is an important area for study.Aim. The purpose of this work was to study the chemical composition of the fruits of sea buckthorn, which grows in the Central Chernozem region.Materials and methods. The raw materials for the analysis were whole fresh fruits of sea buckthorn, harvested in the territory of the Central black earth region of the Russian Federation (Voronezh region). In the work, the TLC method was used to study the composition of various groups of BAS and their identification in extracts from the studied raw materials. In the process of a comprehensive study of the chemical composition of fruits, the determination of carotenoids, flavonoids, tannins, amino acids, hydroxycinnamic acids, anthocyanins, organic acids, sugars, some macroelements and vitamins was carried out.Results and discussion. The fruits of sea buckthorn, growing in the conditions of the Central black earth region, accumulate free amino acids, tannins, organic acids and polysaccharides in significant quantities. The composition of free water-soluble simple sugars, organic acids, B vitamins, as well as the complete amino acid composition was studied in the fruits of sea buckthorn using capillary electrophoresis. A significant content of riboflavin and choline, as well as malic and succinic acids has been established. The results of HPLC analysis showed that flavonoids in the fruits of sea buckthorn growing in the conditions of the Central black earth region are represented by flavonol glycosides – derivatives of quercetin, kaempferol and isorhamnetin. Minor flavolglycosides 3-rutinoside-7-rhamnosides of isorhamnetin, quercetin and kaempferol, 3-sophoroside-7-rhamnosides of quercetin and kaempferol, rutin, 3-glucoside and 3-rhamnoside of isorhamnetin can be used as chemomarkers.Conclusion. The obtained data on the component composition of the phenolic fraction of the fruits of the studied samples of sea buckthorn are similar to the literature data on sea buckthorn of the same species of various varieties harvested in the conditions of the Central zone of the Russian Federation (Moscow region).
