Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) berries, especially of ssp. sinensis, contain significant quantities of an unknown, water-soluble compound, evidently a cyclitol derivative. The compound was isolated by HPLC and analyzed by GC-MS [trimethylsilyl (TMS) derivative, selected ion monitoring (SIM) and total ion chromatogram (TIC) analyses], by (1)H and (13)C NMR and by optical activity measurements. The results together with analyses of reference compound verified the unambiguous structure (-)-2-O-methyl-L-chiro-inositol (L-quebrachitol). In addition, chiro-inositol and myo-inositol existing in trace amounts were identified based on reference compounds, chromatographic data and mass spectra of the TMS derivatives. Methyl-myo-inositol was tentatively identified based on chromatography and mass spectrometry. Inositols and methyl nositols are bioactive compounds essential for regulating physiological processes of plants and humans. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the presence of chiro-inositol and myo-inositol in sea buckthorn and L-quebrachitol in edible berries. The identification of the inositols and L-quebrachitol in sea buckthorn may bring new insights into the sensory properties and also mechanisms behind the health effects of the berry. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.