Scientific Name: Sambucus nigra L.
Synonyms: Sambucus alba Raf., Sambucus dissecta hort.
English Name: Elderberry
Other Names in English (UK, USA, Canada, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand): Black Elder, Black Elderberry, Elder, European Black Elder, Europen Elder
Family: Viburnaceae
GENERAL DATA
Plant parts: Fruit, flower, panicle
Cultivation mode: Wild collection
In manufacturing: Several wineries produce elderberry wines from the fruit, while the flowers and panicles are used to flavor wines. Its juice and concentrates are marketed as nutraceuticals. The pigments in its juice are suitable for colorant use.
In food: Jam and jelly. The berries are also used in the preparation of pies, punch, and liqueurs. The flowers can be added to the batter used to make various items, such as pancakes, muffins, or waffles. The flower clusters can be made into fritters. Its flowers can also be used to make tea or a nonalcoholic cordial
🌸 Industries That Use Elderberry (Sambucus nigra L.)
Elderberry, derived from the Sambucus nigra L. plant, is a potent botanical ingredient with centuries of traditional and modern uses. Indigenous to Europe, North America, and parts of Asia, the berries and flowers of this plant are prized for their antiviral, antioxidant, and immune-supportive properties.
🌿 What Is Elderberry?
Elderberries are small, dark purple to black drupes from the Sambucus nigra shrub. They are rich in anthocyanins, flavonols, phenolic acids, vitamin C, and dietary fiber. The berries are traditionally used for immune support and respiratory health, while the flowers offer soothing and anti-inflammatory benefits.
💡 Note: Raw berries must be processed properly due to naturally occurring cyanogenic glycosides.
1. Nutraceutical & Health Supplement Industry
Elderberry is a flagship ingredient in the immune health segment, especially popular during flu seasons and pandemic surges.
Applications:
-
Capsules, tablets, and syrups for immune support
-
Gummies and lozenges for colds and flu
-
Combination products with zinc, vitamin C, or echinacea
-
Tinctures and herbal extracts for respiratory health
✅ Clinically studied for antiviral effects
✅ Popular in children’s supplements, pregnancy-safe immune blends, and natural OTC alternatives
2. Pharmaceutical & Medical Nutrition
Elderberry extracts are used in evidence-based formulations for cold relief and to reduce symptom severity and duration.
Medical Uses:
-
OTC cold and flu remedies (lozenges, syrups)
-
Supportive care in upper respiratory infections
-
Adjunct in COVID-19 and influenza recovery nutrition
-
Anti-inflammatory formulations
✅ Recognized in pharmacopeias and clinical trials
✅ Safe for pediatric and geriatric populations when properly processed
3. Food & Beverage Industry
Elderberry adds value as a natural coloring, flavoring, and wellness booster in functional foods.
Applications:
-
Herbal teas and botanical infusions
-
Smoothie boosters and health shots
-
Functional beverages (immunity drinks, fermented tonics)
-
Natural coloring agent in jams, jellies, yogurts
✅ Often used in clean-label and organic formulations
✅ “Superfruit” label boosts consumer appeal
4. Cosmetic & Personal Care Industry
Due to its antioxidant and anti-aging properties, elderberry is used in skin and hair care.
Applications:
-
Anti-wrinkle creams and serums (rich in anthocyanins)
-
Eye creams and toners (anti-inflammatory effects)
-
Hair oils and shampoos (scalp health, antioxidant protection)
-
Lip balms and soaps with botanical actives
✅ Suitable for sensitive and mature skin
✅ Embraced in natural, vegan, and organic beauty lines
5. Confectionery & Functional Snacks
Elderberry’s flavor and color make it ideal for naturally enhanced sweets.
Applications:
-
Gummies (especially immune-support variants)
-
Fruit leathers, chewables, and lollipops
-
Dark berry jam fillings and bars
-
Natural sweet toppings in cereals and granolas
✅ Popular in kid-friendly formats
✅ Natural alternative to artificial coloring and flavoring
6. Alcohol-Free Beverage & Fermentation Industry
The juice and extract of elderberries are used in tonics, kombuchas, and probiotic drinks.
Applications:
-
Elderberry shrub (vinegar tonic) drinks
-
Fermented wellness beverages and botanical sodas
-
Non-alcoholic aperitifs and mocktails
✅ High antioxidant load aligns with wellness drink trends
✅ Also used in mead and wine-like craft beverages (non-alcoholic versions)
7. Traditional & Herbal Medicine
Elderberry has a deep history in folk medicine and is still used in traditional systems like European herbalism and Unani medicine.
Applications:
-
Decoctions and herbal syrups for immune enhancement
-
Diaphoretic teas for fevers and colds
-
Herbal tinctures for sore throat and inflammation
✅ Often paired with elderflower in seasonal detox or allergy blends
✅ Used in cold climates and seasonal transition formulas
8. Ethnic, Organic & Export Markets
Elderberry products are especially in demand in Europe and North America due to a resurgence of herbal and plant-based wellness.
Export Forms:
-
Dried berries, powder, extract, and syrup
-
Organic-certified elderberry concentrate
-
Elderberry-flavored superfood blends
✅ Demand rising in Germany, USA, Canada, and Nordic countries
✅ Highly compatible with organic and non-GMO markets
9. Academic & Scientific Research
Elderberry continues to attract scientific interest for its antiviral, immunomodulatory, and antioxidant properties.
Research Topics:
-
Effectiveness in influenza and COVID-19 symptom management
-
Bioavailability and anthocyanin metabolism
-
Role in gut health via polyphenol interactions
-
Anti-aging and photoprotective skin benefits
✅ Frequently published in journals of phytotherapy and integrative medicine
✅ Summary of Key Applications
Industry | Common Uses |
---|---|
Nutraceutical & Health | Immune gummies, capsules, herbal extracts |
Pharmaceutical | Flu remedies, cold syrups, symptom-relief blends |
Food & Beverage | Smoothies, teas, wellness drinks, coloring agent |
Cosmetic & Personal Care | Serums, eye creams, lip balms, scalp treatments |
Confectionery & Snacks | Elderberry gummies, fruit chews, fillings |
Beverage & Fermentation | Fermented drinks, kombuchas, alcohol-free botanical drinks |
Traditional & Herbal Medicine | Tinctures, decoctions, immune teas |
Ethnic & Export | Organic elderberry products for Europe and North America |
Academic Research | Antiviral studies, gut health, anti-aging, anthocyanin bioavailability |
🌟 Key Features
-
Rich in anthocyanins, flavonoids, and vitamin C
-
Clinically studied for immune support and antiviral activity
-
Widely used in nutraceuticals, food, cosmetics, and medicine
-
Export-ready in powder, dried berry, and extract forms
-
Aligns with trends in plant-based, organic, and clean-label markets
-
Historical use in folk medicine with strong modern evidence base
PRODUCT NAME IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES
Persian Name: آقطی سیاه، انگور کولی/ Aghti Siah, Angour Koli
German Name (Deutschland, Austria, Switzerland): Schwarzer Holunder, Baumholunder, Fliederbeere
French Name (France, Belgium, Switzerland, Quebec): Sureau noir, Grand sureau
HARVEST CALENDAR
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
To order dried Elderberries, please contact us.
Sambucus Nigra Chemical Constituents
Sugar, Red substance, Bitter substance, A kind of resin, Essence, Gum, Chrysanthemin, Valeric acid, Acetic acid and other different acids.
To order European Black Elderberry, please contact us.
Sambucus Nigra Temperament
Cold and dry.
Black Elder Health Benefits
It is diuretic and sedative. It is useful for defecation, and has a very good effect for the treatment of acute rheumatoid arthritis. This fruit lowers blood pressure. Regulates menstruation. And it is useful for removing uterine infection, breast bleeding, diabetes, diarrhea and colitis.
Drinking the decoction of its fruit improves intestinal inflammation and intestinal infectious. If you cook this fruit, and poultice it, is useful for healing skin itching and skin diseases.
Sambucus Nigra Side Effects
Children under two years old, pregnant women, lactating women.
To order Sambucus nigra berries, please contact us.