Background/Objectives: Seasonal waves of respiratory viruses-including SARS-CoV-2, influenza A virus (IAV), and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)-continue to pose a global health burden and highlight the need for antiviral agents that are effective, safe, broadly active, affordable, and widely accessible. Current interventions are limited by the need for their early administration, the risk of resistance, their costs, and the restricted availability in large parts of the world. For certain natural products, such as European black elderberry (Sambucus nigra L.) fruit extract (ElderCraft®; EC) and the seaweed-derived sulfated polymer iota-carrageenan (IC), antiviral activities against respiratory viruses, particularly IAV and SARS-CoV-2, have previously been shown. Here, we assessed the antiviral activity of IC and an anthocyanin-standardized EC extract against SARS-CoV-2, IAV, and RSV, either as monotherapy or in multiple-dose combinations. Methods: MDCKII cells were infected with IAVPR8, human Calu-3 lung epithelial cells with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant, and HEp-2 cells with RSV (A2 strain). Inhibitors were administered either by pre-incubation of cell-free virions prior to infection or, in separate time-of-addition experiments, during or post-infection. Viral replication was quantified by qRT-PCR or intracellular immunostaining. Cytotoxicity was evaluated using a neutral red uptake assay. Results: Most intriguingly, both EC and IC are able to neutralize virions derived from SARS-CoV-2, IAV, or RSV extracellularly in a dose-dependent manner. Notably, EC and IC alone exhibited strong anti-RSV activity, which was not reported previously. Most importantly, combined treatment with IC and EC caused a pronounced synergistic antiviral effect against the tested viruses, as confirmed by the Bliss independence model, without any detectable impact on cell viability. Finally, solutions prepared from matrix-standardized mono- or combi-lozenges, containing IC and/or EC in high or low doses, reproduced the antiviral and synergistic combination effects observed with the pure compounds. Conclusions: In summary, these findings support further development of EC and IC as a topically accessible, virion-neutralizing combination (e.g., lozenges) to provide additional protection against major respiratory viruses and potentially strengthen pandemic preparedness.

Sustainable ZnO nanoparticles synthesized from black elderberry fruit extract for efficient photocatalytic degradation of norfloxacin drug

American elderberry ( Sambucus nigra subsp. canadensis ) is a rapidly developing specialty crop, native to eastern and midwestern North America. Crop development over the last three decades has been driven by a renewed interest in the crop’s purported health benefits, including antiviral, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunoregulatory properties. Weed management in American elderberry is a major challenge, but little information or guidance is currently available to producers. The aim of this study was to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of six weed management strategies, with the goal of elucidating cost effective and practical methods for weed management in American elderberry production. Study objectives included evaluating elderberry plant growth, yields, and fruit quality; assessing weed suppression outcomes; and conducting partial budget analyses between management methods. Research plantings incorporating three cultivars (‘Bob Gordon’, ‘Pocahontas’ and ‘Rogersville’) were established in 2022 at two Missouri, USA, sites, and data were collected over the 2023 and 2024 growing seasons. Treatments included woven landscape fabric, woodchip mulch, cover crop [oats ( Avena sativa ) and buckwheat ( Fagopyrum esculentum )], herbicide (glufosinate and dichlobenil), managed (hand-weeded) control, and unmanaged control. Weed management treatment influenced elderberry plant phenology, fruit quality, plant growth, and cumulative fruit yield. Woodchip mulch and woven fabric treatments resulted in plant heights similar to that of the managed control. Herbicide, woodchip mulch, and woven fabric treatments resulted in the greatest fruit yields, which were similar to the managed control. The cover crop treatment offered yields significantly lower than all treatments aside from the unmanaged control. Compared with the unmanaged control, the woven fabric treatment reduced weed biomass by 44%, while the cover crop, woodchip mulch, and herbicide treatments reduced weed biomass by 71%, 86%, and 91%, respectively. American elderberry cultivar had no influence on weed biomass or population. In the partial budget analysis, herbicide and woodchip mulch treatments performed well at both sites, while the cover crop treatment performed poorly. Profitability of the woven fabric treatment varied between sites. The results indicate that both woodchip mulch and herbicide treatments were effective in reducing weed biomass and improving both plant growth and fruit yield, while also proving to be consistently economically efficient across year, site, and cultivar.

Unlocking the potential of elderberry (Sambucus nigra L.) fruit leather: Optimization of production and evaluation of bioactive content and bioaccessibility using response surface methodology.

The development of novel and functional food formulations for improved body immunity has importance. Elderberry fruit is getting a lot of attention with high phenolic content and antioxidant properties concerning functionality. For protecting bioactive compounds, microwave and vacuum drying methods are accepted as good alternatives. This study aims to enhance the nutritional value of a highly consumed food product, wire-cut cookies, with elderberry powders obtained with different drying methods. For this purpose, elderberry fruits were dried by different drying methods (convection, microwave, vacuum), and elderberry powders were substituted to wire-cut cookie formulations at different ratios (0, 5, 10, 15, and 20%). Elderberry powder substitution resulted in a decrease in L* and b* values while an increase in a* values. Better color properties occurred in MDEC samples. MDEC, VDEC samples, and higher substitution ratios had better physical properties. The use of elderberry powders resulted in high fat, ash, and low carbohydrate containing cookies. The highest values of bound and total phenolics were obtained in vacuum dried elderberry powder samples. As the substitution ratio increased, free, bound and total phenolic contents (from 5.35, 18.13, 23.49 mg GAE g-1 to 10.17, 27.15, 37.32 mg GAE g-1, respectively) and free and bound antioxidant activities (DPPH (from 1.83, 42.19 mmol TE 100 g-1 to 2.14, 55.97 mmol TE 100 g-1, respectively) and FRAP (from 0.11, 3.55 mmol TE 100 g-1 to 1.50, 12.48 mmol TE 100 g-1, respectively)) of the products highly increased. Vacuum drying and 10% elderberry powder substituted cookies were the most suitable samples for sensory acceptability. The use of elderberry powders increased the functionality of cookies. Elderberry powder has a good potential to enhance the nutritional quality of food matrices. Using microwave and vacuum drying methods promises to protect the functionality of antioxidant-rich food materials.

Elderberry (Sambucus nigra) has received considerable attention for its health-promoting properties, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, when its products became one of the top-selling herbal supplements in the United States. While the anthocyanin profile of elderberry is well characterised, comprehensive studies of its non-anthocyanin constituents are underexplored. An in-depth phytochemical investigation of dried elderberry fruits, focusing on non-anthocyanin constituents, led to the discovery of a novel iridoid glycoside named elderberoside (1). Additionally, ten known metabolites were isolated, including an iridoid (2), an alkaloid (3), and eight flavonoids (4–11). Structural elucidation of these compounds was achieved through detailed one-dimensional (1D) and two-dimensional (2D) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and confirmed by mass spectrometry.

The object of this study is the extracts from black elderberry fruit pomace obtained using various polyols (glycerol, xylitol, sorbitol), as well as their ability to extract anthocyanins, stability, persistence, and spectral characteristics. It was found that black elderberry fruit pomace is characterized by an increased content of anthocyanins (0.42±0.02 %) compared to fresh fruits (0.29±0.02 %) and juice (0.23±0.02 %), as well as a high concentration of flavonoids: rutin (1.52±0.03 %), quercetin (0.26±0.01 %), and luteolin (2.77±0.04 %). Water-ethyl and water-glycerol extracts demonstrated the highest concentration of coloring substances (57.4–58.3 g/dm3). Microstructural analysis revealed amorphous formations with a size of 50–300 nm, which contribute to the stable retention of anthocyanins. Spectral analysis confirmed the intense absorption bands of anthocyanins (1625–1725 cm⁻1) in glycerin extracts. The high extraction capacity of glycerin solvents is due to their polarity, electrostatic interaction with anthocyanins and stabilizing properties of glycerin. Water-sorbitol and water-xylitol extracts were less stable due to their hydrophilicity and weaker ability to retain pigments. The use of glycerin as a solvent ensured maximum stability of the extracts due to the formation of amorphous structures that slow down the oxidation of anthocyanins. The results could be used in practice in the food industry for manufacturing natural dyes, in particular in beverages, confectionery, dairy and fermented milk products. Practical implementation is possible under the following conditions: extraction temperature 65±1.5 °C, pH 3.2–3.5, concentration in a vacuum evaporator and storage at a temperature of 4±2 °C to preserve the biological activity of anthocyanins and prevent their degradation. In addition, the results of the study open up prospects for the rational use of berry pomace, which is usually subject to disposal

Plant-derived foods have gained recognition for their health-promoting values, which are largely attributed to bioactive compounds such as phytosterols and triterpenoids. This study aimed to analyze the content of these compounds in the fruit of black elder (elderberry) Sambucus nigra L. and in commercially available food products, including jam, juice, syrup and wine. An additional objective was to compare the phytosterol and triterpenoid profiles of fruits and fruit cuticular waxes from wild and cultivated elderberry (cultivar Haschberg), ornamental elderberry (S. nigra f. porphyrophylla cultivar Black lace "Eva"), and red elderberry (S. racemosa). Qualitative and quantitative determinations were performed using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). This study provides a detailed characterization of triterpenoids in black and red elderberries, revealing a complex composition of oleanane-, 18-oleanane-, ursane-, lupane- and taraxastane-type compounds. Elderberry fruits were found to be rich sources of phytosterols (ranging from 0.54 mg/g d.w. in cultivated elderberry cv. Haschberg to 0.96 mg/g in ornamental elderberry) and triterpenoids (from 1.41 mg/g d.w. in S. racemosa to 13.81 mg/g in ornamental elderberry). Among the processed products, jam contained the highest concentration of these compounds (a total of 340 µg/g) and wine contained the lowest (0.87 µg/mL). Furthermore, the results suggest that certain features of the triterpenoid profile in S. nigra and S. racemosa may hold chemotaxonomic significance for the Sambucus genus.

Abstract The biomimetic synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles offers a sustainable strategy for anticancer applications by minimizing off‐target toxicity and side effects associated with conventional chemotherapy. In this study, nanoscaled ZnO NPs (denoted as sn ‐ZnO NPs) were synthesized under ambient conditions using a biomimetic approach with Sambucus nigra (black elderberry) fruit extract as a natural reducing and capping agent, and zinc acetate dihydrate as the precursor. Morphological, structural, and optical characterizations including FESEM, EDX, XRD, FTIR, and UV–visible spectroscopy confirmed the successful synthesis of hexagonal wurtzite‐structured nanoparticles with an average size of 53 ± 10 nm. The influence of calcination temperatures (500–700 °C) on the structural and optical properties of the nanoparticles was systematically examined. Higher calcination temperatures increased crystallite size and bandgap energy ranging from 1.67 eV (as‐synthesized) to 2.67 eV (700 °C). The nanoparticles demonstrated significant in vitro anticancer activity against SH‐SY5Y neuroblastoma cells with the 600 °C sample exhibiting the highest cytotoxicity achieving an IC 50 value of 9.48 µg/mL. These eco‐friendly, biocompatible sn ‐ZnO NPs with tunable structural and optical properties demonstrate strong potential for biomedical applications particularly in targeted cancer therapy and lay a foundation for further research into their use in diverse biomedical and environmental fields.

The persistent threat of emerging respiratory RNA viruses like SARS-CoV-2 and Influenza A virus (IAV) necessitates the continuous development of effective, safe, broadly acting, and generally accessible antiviral agents. Current treatments often face limitations such as early administration requirements, resistance development, and limited global access. Natural products, like European black elderberry (Sambucus nigra L.; S. nigra) fruit extract and quinine, have been used historically against viral infections. In this study, we investigated the antiviral efficacy of a standardized black elderberry fruit extract containing 3.2% anthocyanins (EC 3.2) and, as a second natural antiviral product, quinine, against IAV and SARS-CoV-2 in vitro. Madin-Darby Canine Kidney II (MDCKII) cells were infected with IAV PR-8, while human Calu-3 lung epithelial cells were infected with Wuhan-type SARS-CoV-2. Cells were treated with varying concentrations of EC 3.2 and quinine either as mono- or combinational therapy. Viral replication was assessed using quantitative RT-PCR, and cell viability was evaluated using WST-1 assays. Our results demonstrate, for the first time, that both EC 3.2 and quinine individually inhibited IAV replication in a dose-dependent manner, with IC50 values of approximately 1:400 for EC 3.2 and 250 nM for quinine. Most importantly, the combinational treatment exhibited a strong synergistic antiviral effect, as confirmed by the Bliss independence model (synergy scores of 14.7 for IAV, and 27.8 for SARS-CoV-2), without affecting cell viability. These findings suggest that the combined use of black elderberry extract and quinine might serve as an effective antiviral strategy against IAV and SARS-CoV-2, particularly since the synergistic effect allows for lower doses of each product while retaining therapeutic efficacy. In summary, this combinational in vitro approach, when expanded to other respiratory RNA viruses and confirmed in clinical studies, has the potential to open a promising avenue for pandemic preparedness.

Purpose Elderberry (Sambucus nigra) fruits are rich in bioactive components, specifically in anthocyanins. In this study, freeze-dried and powdered elderberry fruits were added to milk, yoghurt and kefir samples at ratios of 5, 10 and 15% (w/w) to fortify these dairy products at home scale, and final products were monitored to understand the behaviour of bioactive compounds. Design/methodology/approach The action of bioactive compounds was examined before and after in vitro gastrointestinal digestion by the analysis of total anthocyanin content, total phenolic content and antioxidant activity assays as well as the HPLC-PDA system on the first day of preparation. Moreover, the effect of three days of storage on individual phenolic compounds was evaluated. Findings Kefir samples exhibited the highest total anthocyanin content levels among prepared products (255±4-702±65 µmol cyanidin-3-glucoside eq/100 g), which is followed by yoghurt samples. Individual phenolics in samples prepared at the same concentrations behaved almost similarly with each other during gastric digestion phases (p > 0.05), whereas intestinal digestion phases caused significant differences, and phenolics in yoghurt samples exhibited higher values than others (p < 0.05). The stability of bioactive compounds in samples tended to decrease during storage; however, as observed during gastrointestinal digestion, yoghurt and kefir samples provided better matrices than milk to maintain the presence of bioactive compounds (p < 0.05). Originality/value Previous studies have indicated that elderberry fruits contain high levels of bioactive compounds, and these fruits have been used to fortify different food matrices. However, this research paper investigates the interaction between three selected dairy products and elderberry powder with each other for the first time.

Unlocking the Potential of Elderberry (Sambucus Nigra L.) Fruit Leather: Optimization of Production and Evaluation of Bioactive Content and Bioaccessibility Using Response Surface Methodology

The article presents the results of a study of the component and element composition of extracts from leaves and fruits of red raspberry (Rubus buschii (Rozanova) Grossh., Rosaceae) (village of Surkh-Digora, city of Vladikavkaz), jostaberry (Ribes× nidigrolaria Rud. Bauer et A. Bauer, Grossulariaceae) (city of Vladikavkaz), and black elderberry (Sambucus nigra L., Caprifoliaceae) (village Tarskoye) growing in the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania in the highlands, midlands and foothills of the Central Caucasus. Flavonoids were isolated, identified and quantified in plant raw materials. It was highest content of flavonoids was found in green parts of plants. For the total content of flavonoids in the plant material (in terms of rutin) the following pattern was revealed: raspberry leaf (Surkh-Digora village) &amp;gt; jostaberry leaf (Vladikavkaz) &amp;gt; black elderberry fruits (Tara swamp). The content of K+ and Na+ in the soil, green parts and fruits of the studied samples depends on the habitat and determines the biological value of the studied species.

Introduction: Teasel (Dipsacus fullonum L.) extracts have antioxidant properties, which is of great importance in the treatment of many diseases. Herbal medicinal raw materials should be stored in conditions that guarantee the stability of their antioxidants. The aim of this study was to compare interactions with free radicals for infusions obtained from unexposed and UVA irradiated teasel plant materials. Material and methods: The nonirradiated and UVA irradiated plant raw materials as teasel (Dipsacus fullonum L.) herb and root, and the mixture of teasel (Dipsacus fullonum L.) herb, echinacea (Echinacea purpurea L.) herb, and elderberry (Sambucus nigra L.) fruit, were used in this study. Antioxidant properties of their infusions were compared. The examination was performed by the use od an X-band (9.3 GHz) electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectrometer. The quenching of EPR spectra of the model DPPH free radicals by the infusions was determined. Results and discussion: UVA radiation increase and decrease interactions with free radicals for infusions of teasel herb and teasel root, respectively. UVA irradiation does not change free radicals interactions in case of infusion obtained from the mixture of teasel herb, echinacea herb, and elderberry fruit. Conclusions: Both teasel herb and root should be protect against UVA radiation during storage, because under these conditions change their interactions with free radicals, what which may be caused by changes in their antioxidant system. The effect of UVA radiation on antioxidative infusions of teasel depends on the type of raw material.

The modern functional food market is developing dynamically, responding to the growing demand for products combining nutritional and health-promoting values. At the center of this evolution are natural bio-organic extracts, rich in bioactive compounds such as antioxidants, polyphenols, flavonoids, carotenoids, and vitamins, which can enrich traditional food products, including fruit juices, increasing their health-promoting values. The aim of the research was to compare the efficiency of extraction of bioactive compounds from various forms of plant raw material (dried, freeze-dried, frozen material) using innovative techniques: supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) and accelerated solvent extraction (ASE). The research showed that the ASE method demonstrated higher extraction efficiency, in some cases exceeding 40%, whereas SFE exhibited superior selectivity, achieving higher carotenoid contents (105.59 mg/100 g in sea buckthorn powder) and antioxidant activity (234.67 µmol TEAC/g in black elderberry fruit). The use of advanced extraction techniques is a modern approach to juice production, in line with current trends in functional food and healthy eating, which can contribute to the prevention of lifestyle diseases.

ABSTRACT Elderberry fruit is available in the market and is becoming more popular. However, winemaking techniques are under-studied with this fruit. This study aimed to determine the impact of three processing methods on elderberry wine quality. The methods were: No extended maceration followed by hot water treatment (EC0); 2 days of cold soak maceration followed by hot water (EC2) and boiled elderberry (EB) fruits before alcoholic fermentation. The results indicated that although the treatments did not cause significant differences in ethanol, glycerol, total acidity, volatile acidity and tannins, wine pHs were influenced by the treatments. Besides influencing the pH, EB treatment produced darker elderberry wine, whereas, EC2 wine had the lightest color. Treatments also influenced the final wine monophenol profiles and antioxidant capabilities. EB wine had the highest total anthocyanin content and antioxidant activities. EC2 wine had a significantly higher amount of total hydroxycinnamates compared to EC0 but was not different from EB-treated wine. The wine antioxidant capacities were significantly lower than in musts but were not different between treatments. Cold maceration in EC2 did not help the extraction of antioxidants in elderberry wine. The results indicated that heating through boiling might help disrupt fruit cells and assist in the extraction of anthocyanins. Cold soak enhanced certain compounds in elderberry wines. This research provided information for elderberry fruit wine fermentation with general processing methods.

The research explored the influences of 2% and 4% heat‐treated fresh elderberry fruit mash supplement and 0.5% and 1% dried elderberry powder supplement before and after fermentation in kefir production on certain features of kefir beverage. Antioxidant activity, total monomeric anthocyanin, and total phenolic content were 16.69–75.67 (μmol TE/kg), 14.64–88.20 (mg cyn‐3‐gly/kg), and 167.94–531.33 mg GAE/kg in the samples during storage, respectively. Total phenolic content and antioxidant activity were higher in kefir samples produced with elderberry powder when compared to the other samples. It was determined that L* and b* increased with the decrease in the fruit supplement in kefir production, and L* and b* values were mostly higher in kefirs with fruit supplement before fermentation. The highest ACE inhibitor activity was observed in the kefir sample (1‐DEPre sample) with 1% dried elderberry supplement before fermentation on the first day of storage. It was determined that the general appreciation scores were above 3, and the samples produced mostly with dried elderberry powder were appreciated more when compared to the samples produced with fresh elderberry.

Black elderberry has come to the fore in recent years due to its health benefits. Black elderberry fruit (Sambucus nigra L.), collected from natural sources, has a rich content of protein, vitamins, antioxidants, unsaturated fatty acids, and minerals as it contains conjugated and free forms of amino acids. Black elderberry can prevent oxidative stress and reduce blood pressure and prevent cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus, neurodegenerative diseases thanks to the polyphenols it contains. It can prevent diseases, stimulate the immune system, show an antitumor effect, and be effective in the course of disease processes by rising the activity of antioxidant enzymes, including glutathione. Since black elderberry is a promising food in terms of bioactive components, it is considered as promising to treat and prevent many diseases. However, it is not correct to prove its beneficial effects on the prevention of chronic diseases and to make generalisations. Therefore, there is a need of more comprehensive evidence-based clinical studies and data. This review examined current evidence and discussions about the health-related effects of black elderberry, which contains many biologically active components such as polyphenols, phenolic acids, flavonols, proanthocyanidins and anthocyanins, as well as terpenes and lectins, and offered some suggestions on its use in the future.

Polymer-based dressings deriving from natural biomaterials have advantages such as nontoxicity, biocompatibility, and mechanical stability, which are essential for efficient wound healing and microbial infection diagnostics. Here, we designed a prototype of an intelligent hydrogel dressing on the base of bacterial cellulose (BC) for monitoring wound microbial infection due to the uploaded natural pH dye-sensor, anthocyanins (ANC) of elderberry fruit (Sambucus nigra L.). The highest sensor responses to bacterial metabolites for ANC immobilized to BC were observed at pH 5.0 and 6.0. The detection limit of the sensor signals was 3.45 A.U., as it was evaluated with a smartphone-installed application. The FTIR spectral analysis of the hybrid BC/ANC hydrogel films has proved the presence of anthocyanins within the BC matrix. Hybrid films differed from the control ones by thicker microfibrils and larger pores, as detected with scanning electron microscopy. Halochromic BC/ANC films exhibited antimicrobial activities mainly against gram-positive bacteria and yeast. They showed no cytotoxicity for the in vitro human cell lines and mouse fibroblasts within a selected range of anthocyanin concentrations released from the BC/ANC film/dressing prototype. Compared to the control, the in vitro healing test showed overgrowth of primary mouse fibroblasts after applying 0.024-2.4 µg/mL ANC.

Natural ingredients rich in antioxidants and polyphenols in the forme of extracts, essential oils, organic acids have been used in the production of different cosmetic products. In the development of new cosmetic compositions, or the improvement of products already implemented in production, the evaluation of the user is of great importance, as it directly affects the demand for a given product. The present study aimed to produce phytocosmetic creams based on stearic acid with extracts of dry flower and fruit juice of Sambucus nigra L. (S. nigra) and to investigatein parallel their potential as substitutes for conventional preservatives. The obtained creams were determined for minimum inhibitory, and minimum bactericidal activity using three bacterial strains (Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC25923, Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6633). In addition, the antibacterial effect of creams against Escherichia coli (BW 28357) was determined. In our experiments we found that addition of dried flower extracts or elderberry fruit extracts from S. nigra in the emulsion does not disturb the compositional system. In conclusion, according to the results, the Sambucus nigra L. extracts from dry flowers and elderberry fruitsare appropriate for use in cosmetic emulsions that demonstated antioxidant stability and antibacterial properties.