Chemical Profiling and In Vivo Evaluation of Sea Buckthorn-Derived Matrices in Drosophila melanogaster Under Varied Dietary Regimes

<b>Background</b>: Sea buckthorn (<i>Hippophae rhamnoides</i> L.), the superfood of the present era, is widely recognized for its high content of nutrients and bioactive compounds. However, dietary products and by-products derived from different parts of the fruit differ markedly in their biochemical composition, which may influence their nutritional and biological effects. <i>Drosophila melanogaster</i> represents a well-established <i>in vivo</i> model for studying the impact of dietary components on nutritional status, development, and viability under defined nutritional conditions. <b>Methods</b>: Four sea buckthorn-derived matrices-seed flour, seed oil, pulp, and fruit pomace powder-were analyzed for fatty acid, amino acid, polyphenol, and antioxidant contents. Their effects were evaluated in <i>D. melanogaster</i> under zero-nutrient, normal-nutrient, and high-sugar diets, assessing viability and developmental dynamics across various product types and concentrations. <b>Results</b>: Substantial compositional differences were observed between the samples. Seed flour and fruit pomace powder were rich in proteins, essential amino acids, polyphenols, flavonoids, and condensed tannins, whereas seed oil predominantly contained fatty acids with limited antioxidant capacity. Consistent with these compositional profiles, diet- and product-specific biological effects were observed. Under zero-nutrient conditions, high concentrations of fruit pomace powder (100 g/L) supported larval and adult viability and resulted in developmental patterns comparable to those observed under a normal-nutrient diet. Under normal-nutrient and high-sugar diets, the matrices modulated development and viability without apparent toxicity, with fruit pomace powder consistently showing the most favorable effects. <b>Conclusions</b>: The biological responses of <i>D. melanogaster</i> are closely linked to the biochemical composition of the matrices and the dietary context. Fruit pomace powder emerged as the most effective product, highlighting its potential as a functional dietary ingredient and a valuable source of nutrients and bioactive compounds.