Shrub or small tree that grows wild along rivers and brooks in the mountainous areas of southern Europe and western
Asia. It has an erect stalk, opposite leaves, whitish-yellow flowers (June) that are scented and arranged in terminal clusters, and round,
black, fleshy berries. The flowers and tree leaves are the parts used. Elder has an aromatic, bitter tonic flavor.
Essential oil composition
The derivatives obtained from leaves contain sambunigrin, a mandelonitrile glucoside; on enzymatic
hydrolysis it liberates HCN, which must be removed prior to use. Essential oil from flowers contains 0.3% essential oil composed of
free fatty acids and alkanes. Additionally, triterpenes, sterols, ursolic acid, flavonoids and flavone glucosides have been detected, as
well as traces of sambunigrin. Fruits contain rutin, sambucin, isoquercitrim. Seeds contain sambunigrin.
