Abstract
In the current context, when more and more unknown pathogens appear, healthy eating and supplementing it with natural products play an increasingly important role in maintaining the health of the body. The European black elder (Sambucus nigra), found in abundance in the spontaneous flora, can provide us, as a raw material, elderberries, which have been known for thousands of years as having nutritional and healing properties. The phytotherapeutic principles found in elderberry fruits give them antiviral, antibacterial and antidiabetic properties, antitumor potential, antioxidant, antidepressant and immune boosting properties, as well as a certain impacts on obesity and metabolic dysfunctions. Polyphenols and lectins give elderberry fruits the ability to inhibit coronaviruses, which is a topic of great interest in our times. This article summarizes the existing data regarding the chemical composition, active principles and biopharmaceutical properties of elderberries, as well as their use.
Highlights
Black elder and especially elderberries fall into this category of plants that have, in their structure, bioactive compounds with antiviral action and other actions
In the study “The higher the better? Differences in phenolics and cyanogenic glycosides in Sambucus nigra leaves, flowers and berries from different altitudes”, the authors investigated the change of phenolics and cyanogenic glycosides in elder leaves, flowers and berries induced by different altitudes and locations
Cyanidin-3-O-glucoside has been shown to be an anticancer compound which inhibits cell growth [22]. Another special chemical compound found in Sambucus are ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIPs)
Summary
As we have known so far, has changed radically in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Apart fromhave flowers ripe fruit, parts ofbark, this shrub of poisoning in animals and man beenand reported after all eating the leaves,contain berries, sambunigrin, a poisonous cyanogenic glycoside, so they are no longer used recognized roots and stems [13]. Differences in phenolics and cyanogenic glycosides in Sambucus nigra leaves, flowers and berries from different altitudes”, the authors investigated the change of phenolics and cyanogenic glycosides in elder leaves, flowers and berries induced by different altitudes and locations Their conclusions were that elderberries contained the lowest levels of harmful cyanogenic glycosides compared to other analyzed plant parts. Elder flowers and fruits are a popular natural source of bioactive compounds, which have a high antioxidant activity They are used for medicinal purposes and traditionally consumed to prevent or reduce the effects of many diseases, such as respiratory tract infections, pain neuropathy, headache, arteriosclerosis, diabetes, arthritis and cancer [16]. Elderberries and elder flowers are used in the food industry to produce jams, pies, jellies, ice cream, cakes and other food and alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, such as “socata” from elder flower or wine from elderberries
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