Sambucus nigraL. Fruits and Flowers: Chemical Composition and Related Bioactivities

The genusSambucusincludes up to 18 species, among them the widely known and usedSambucus nigraL. Elderberry fruits are rich in sugars, organic acids as well in anthocyanins and other polyphenols. The beneficial health-promoting effects of elderberries and elderflowers are well known, including beneficial effects against degenerative diseases (cardiovascular and inflammatory diseases), cancer, and diabetes, presenting antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immune-stimulating, chemo-preventive, and atheroprotective effects. Although currently they are mainly used in the food industry as food colorants and flavouring agents due to their phytochemical composition and related bioactivities, elderberries and elderflowers or their extracts are becoming attractive for other uses such as food supplements, nutraceutical ingredients and as raw materials for the pharmaceutical industries.

Automated summary

Elderberry fruits and flowers have various health-promoting effects, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immune-stimulating effects, as well as preventive effects against degenerative diseases and cancer. While currently used mainly in the food industry, they also have potential applications in food supplements and pharmaceutical industries.