<i>Sambucus nigra</i> L. Fruits and Flowers: Chemical Composition and Related Bioactivities
Sandrine S. Ferreira, Amélia M. Silva, Fernando M. Nunes
Abstract
The genus Sambucus includes up to 18 species, among them the widely known and used Sambucus nigra L. 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.