What Gives Elder Its Power?

Elder is particularly interesting because its berries and flowers have different chemical profiles, even though they come from the same plant.

The dark colour of elderberries comes from compounds called anthocyanins, especially cyanidin derivatives. These natural pigments are among the most important markers of elderberry extracts and are studied for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The berries also contain chlorogenic acids and flavonoids such as rutin and quercetin derivatives.

Elderflowers contain a different mixture. Instead of being rich in anthocyanins, they contain particularly high levels of caffeoylquinic and chlorogenic acid derivatives, together with flavonoids such as rutin, quercetin, kaempferol and isorhamnetin derivatives.

Elder also has volatile aromatic compounds, particularly in its flowers, but it is not considered a classic essential-oil plant. Its volatile fraction is relatively small and highly variable.

So with elder, even the question “flowers or berries?” makes an important scientific difference.