Antioxidant Activity in Variously Prepared Elderberry Foods and Supplements

Abstract

Antioxidant capacity of foods and food supplements based on berries and flowers of medicinal plant elderberry (Sambucus nigra L.) was assessed. Reducing properties of the samples and extracts were evaluated using amperometric detection at working electrode potential -0.8 V after HPLC separation. Moreover, antiradical activity of selected samples was determined by the means of spectrophotometric DPPH radical scavenging method. Electrochemical activity (EA) of fresh juice pressed from elder fruits amounted to 0.71 g AAE/l with anthocyanins as minor contributors (10.2%). Catechins and phenolic acids were the major active groups. During production of elder berry spread, even more than 90% of the EA compounds found in raw elder berry material can be destroyed. Comparable activity may be found also in the products from elder flowers. Although elder blossom syrups possessed similar EA regardless of the technology used (0.033-0.054 g AAE/kg), their chromatographic patterns were often very different. For example, no flavonols were present in the syrups, if traditional preparation comprising 24-h maceration with citric acid was applied. Analyzing the chromatographic patterns, one can distinguish different base materials and technology, which can be used for the authenticity confirmation. Herbal infusions from elder flowers, which contain more flavonols than are in syrups, were 16-27 times richer in EA than drinks prepared from the syrups after recommended dilution. Only the syrup designed for preventing and treating upper-respiratory viral infections showed the EA (0.09 g AAE/kg) comparable to that of herbal infusion (0.13 g AAE/l).

Phenolic compounds in floral infusions of various Sambucus species and their interspecific hybrids

“…Elderflower extracts are recognized to have anticatarrhal, diuretic, and antiinflammatory properties (Cejpek et al, 2009). Bhattacharya et al (2013) reported that elderflowers also have antidiabetic characteristics.…”

Traditional Elderflower Beverages: A Rich Source of Phenolic Compounds with High Antioxidant Activity

“…Infusions of flowers are known to have diaphoretic, anticatarrhal, diuretic and anti-inflammatory functions. 5 Most of the studies on black elder have been performed on the fruits (elderberries), which are known for their antiviral and immunity-boosting effects. 6 Recent research has also revealed potential antidiabetic properties of black elder flowers (elderflowers).…”

A comprehensive review on beneficial dietary phytochemicals in common traditional Southern African leafy vegetables

“…Rutin was identified as the predominant quercetin glycoside in Amaranthus species (Kalinova & Dadakova, ), and it varied between the different Amaranthus spp, in descending order : A. hybrids (27,500 mg/kg DW) > A. hypochondriacus (13,950 mg/kg DW) ≥ A. retroflexus (13,050 mg/kg DW) > A. caudatus (12,010 mg/kg DW) > A. tricolor (2385 mg/kg DW) (Kalinova & Dadakova, ). Rutin content in A. hybrids and A. hypochondriacus is higher than the concentration reported in Elder flower tea (10,900 mg/kg DW) (Cejpek, Malouskova, Konecny, & Velisek, ). Furthermore, A. hybrids and A. cruentus can be recommended as rich sources of rutin and these two Amarathus spp can provide 10–20 kg of rutin/hectare (Kalinova & Dadakova, ).…”