botanical record · discovered

European Alder

Sambucus nigra

European Alder · European Elder · European Elderberry · Elder · Black Elder · Almindelig hyld · Dagrau Lesu · Elder (EN) · Elderberry · European black elder · European black elderberry · European elder · European elderberry · Europen elder · Gewone vlier · Grand sureau · Juoduogis šeivamedis

At a glance

Origin / distribution: Europe, France, Turkey, Yugoslavia(Bosnia), Iraq, Spain, UK

Cultural traditions: not documented

Recorded uses: Alterative, Asthma, Bronchitis, Cathartic

Science studied: ALPHA-AMYRIN-PALMITATE, BETA-AMYRIN, CAMPESTEROL, CHOLINE

Research volume: 0 indexed records · volume only · methodology ↗

Legal status: Varies by jurisdiction; not assessed in this record.

Names and identity

Family: Adoxaceae

Scientific name: Sambucus nigra

Common names: European Alder, European Elder, European Elderberry, Elder, Black Elder, Almindelig hyld, Dagrau Lesu, Elder (EN), Elderberry, European black elder, European black elderberry, European elder, European elderberry, Europen elder, Gewone vlier, Grand sureau, Juoduogis šeivamedis

POWO: 30122169-2 · WCVP June 2026 / POWO backbone

History

The source record documents this plant in Elsewhere, Europe, France, Turkey, Yugoslavia(Bosnia), Iraq, Spain, UK.

It records these historical or traditional applications:

Alterative
Asthma
Bronchitis
Cathartic
Depurative
Diaphoretic
Diuretic
Dropsy

show 33 more documented entries

Emetic
Emollient
Epistaxis
Expectorant
Gargle
Gout
Homeopathy
Hydragogue
Inappetence
Laxative
Mouthwash
Poison
Purgative
Rheumatism
Scalp
Sclerosis(Breast)
Stimulant
Stomachic
Sudorific
Syphilis
Wen
Aperient
Catarrh
Epilepsy
Repellant(Mole)
Sore(Throat)
Cyanogenetic
Excitant
Fever
Lactogogue
Neuralgia
Psoriasis
Cold

This summary is limited to the cited source record.

Origins and distribution

Elsewhere
Europe
France
Turkey
Yugoslavia(Bosnia)
Iraq
Spain
UK

Documented cultural uses

Alterative
Asthma
Bronchitis
Cathartic
Depurative
Diaphoretic
Diuretic
Dropsy
Emetic
Emollient
Epistaxis
Expectorant

show 29 more documented entries

Gargle
Gout
Homeopathy
Hydragogue
Inappetence
Laxative
Mouthwash
Poison
Purgative
Rheumatism
Scalp
Sclerosis(Breast)
Stimulant
Stomachic
Sudorific
Syphilis
Wen
Aperient
Catarrh
Epilepsy
Repellant(Mole)
Sore(Throat)
Cyanogenetic
Excitant
Fever
Lactogogue
Neuralgia
Psoriasis
Cold

Cultural record detail

These entries are transcribed from the cited ethnobotanical source; they do not represent current advice or a claim of efficacy.

Alterative · Elsewhere · "
Asthma · Elsewhere · "
Bronchitis · Elsewhere · "
Cathartic · Europe · "
Cathartic · France · "
Depurative · Turkey · "
Depurative · Elsewhere · "
Diaphoretic · Europe · "
Diaphoretic · Elsewhere · "
Diuretic · Elsewhere · "
Dropsy · Europe · "
Emetic · Turkey · "
Emetic · Elsewhere · "
Emollient · Turkey · "
Epistaxis · Elsewhere · "
Expectorant · Turkey · "
Expectorant · France · "
Gargle · Europe · "
Gout · Elsewhere · "
Homeopathy · Elsewhere · "
Hydragogue · Europe · "
Inappetence · Europe · "
Laxative · Turkey · "
Laxative · Elsewhere · "

32 additional documented entries remain in the source record.

Contemporary uses

Contemporary practice is not documented separately in this record.

Scientific research

Indexed records indicate research activity; they do not establish efficacy or safety.

Indexed research records

The effect of Sambucus nigra extract in the treatment of interstitial cystitis. · 2026 source ↗
Identification of Reference Genes for RT-qPCR Assays in <i>Sambucus nigra</i> L. · 2026 source ↗
Sambucus nigra L. preserves redox homeostasis and modulates autophagy and UPS in oxidatively stressed HT-22 hippocampal cells · 2026 source ↗

Scientific compounds

Chemical presence is not evidence of clinical efficacy.

ALPHA-AMYRIN-PALMITATE
BETA-AMYRIN
CAMPESTEROL
CHOLINE
CONIINE
ISOQUERCITRIN
KAEMPFEROL
LINOLEIC-ACID
LUPEOL
MALIC-ACID
N-HEPTACOSANE
N-NONACOSANE
N-PENTACOSANE
NIACIN
OLEIC-ACID
PROTEIN

show 181 more documented entries

RESIN
STIGMASTEROL
URSOLIC-ACID
ALKANES
ANTIRHININ
ARACHIDIC-ACID
ASCORBIC-ACID
BEHENIC-ACID
CAFFEIC-ACID
1-CAFFEOYL-BETA-D-GLUCOSIDE
CALCIUM-OXALATE
CAPRONIC-ACID
CAPRYLIC-ACID
BETA-CAROTENE
CHLOROGENIC-ACID
CYANIDIN-3-SAMBUBIOSIDE-5-GLUCOSIDE
CYCLOARTENOL
DEXTROSE
FAT
FIBER
GLUCOSIDES
HENEICOSANE
N-HEXACOSANE
ALPHA-HYDROXYBEHENIC-ACID
30-BETA-HYDROXYURSOLIC-ACID
ISOAMYL-AMINE
LAURIC-ACID
LEVULOSE
24-METHYL-CYCLOARTENOL
MYRISTIC-ACID
N-OCTACOSANE
OLEANOLIC-ACID
QUERCETIN
RIBOFLAVIN
SAMBUBIOSE
SAMBUCYANIN
SHIKIMIC-ACID
SUGAR
THIAMIN
N-TRIACONTANE
UNDECYLENIC-ACID
VALERIANIC-ACID
ALPHA-AMYRIN
P-COUMARIC-ACID
CYANIN
EMULSIN
1-FERULOYL-BETA-D-GLUCOSIDE
PECTIN
SAMBUCINE
BETA-SITOSTEROL
TANNIN
TYROSINE
BETA-AMYRIN-PALMITATE
ASTRAGALIN
BIOTIN
CALCIUM-NITRATE
CAPRIFOLIC-ACID
CERYL-ALCOHOL
CYANIDIN-3-SAMBUBIOSIDE
EO
FERULIC-ACID
N-HENTRIACONTANE
HEXEN-2-AL
INVERTOSE
NICOTINIC-ACID
PALMITIC-ACID
RUTIN
TRICOSANE
WATER
CHOLESTEROL
BETULIN
HEX-2-EN-1-AL
HEX-3-EN-1-OL
HEX-4-EN-1-OL
HEXACOSAN-1-OL
HEXAN-1-AL
HEXAN-1-OL
HOTRIENOL
INDOLE
ISOAMYL-ACETATE
ISOAMYL-ALCOHOL
LACTIC-ACID
LIMONENE
LINALOOL
MARGARIC-ACID
MENTHOL
METHYL-ISOBUTYL-KETONE
MONTANYL-ALCOHOL
MORRONISIDE
MYRCENE
N-HENEICOSANE
N-HEPTADECANE
N-NONADECANE
N-OCTADECANE
NEROL
NEROL-OXIDE
NIGRIN-B
NIGRITIN-F-1
NIGRITIN-F-2
NONADECAN-1-OL
NONADECANOIC-ACID
OCIMENE
CHRYSANTHEMIN
ISOBUTYL-AMINE
LINOLENIC-ACID
2-METHYLHEPTANE
ACETALDEHYDE
ARACHIDYL-ALCOHOL
BALANOPHORIN
BENZALDEHYDE
BENZOIC-ACID-ETHYL-ESTER
BENZYL-ALCOHOL
BETA-CARYOPHYLLENE
BUT-3-EN-2-ONE
BUTYL-ACETATE
CARQUEOL-ACETATE
CIS-LINALOOL-OXIDE
HEPTACOSAN-1-OL
HEPTADECAN-1-OL
HEPTADECENOIC-ACID
HEPTAN-1-AL
ASH
BETULINIC-ACID
CALCIUM
CITRIC-ACID
FATTY-ACIDS
FLAVOXANTHIN
FRUCTOSE
GLUCOSE
HYPEROSIDE
IRON
MAGNESIUM
MANGANESE
MUCILAGE
PHOSPHORUS
PLASTOCYNIN
POTASSIUM
R-HOLOCALIN
S-SAMBUNIGRIN
SAMBUCULIN-A
SODIUM
SUCROSE
ZIERIN
ZINC
ALPHA-AMYRENONE
ETHYL-AMINE
OCTACOSAN-1-OL
OCTAN-1-AL
OXALIC-ACID
TRANS-LINALOOL-OXIDE
CYANIDIN-3,5-DIGLUCOSIDE
CYANIDIN-3-O-(6-O-CIS-P-COUMAROYL-2-O-BETA-D-XYLOPYRANOSYL)-BETA-D-GLUCOPYRANOSIDE-5-O-BETA-D-GLUCOPYRANOSIDE
CYANIDIN-3-O-(6-O-TRANS-P-COUMAROYL-2-O-BETA-D-XYLOPYRANOSYL)-BETA-D-GLUCOPYRANOSIDE-5-O-BETA-D-GLUCOPYRANOSIDE
CYANIDIN-3-O-(6-TRANS-P-COUMAROYL-2-O-BETA-D-XYLOPYRANOSYL)-BETA-D-GLUCOPYRANOSIDE
PALMITOLEIC-ACID
SAMBUNIGRIN
STEARIC-ACID
2-PHENYLETHANOL
ALPHA-TERPINEOL
CIS-ROSE-OXIDE
ETHYL-SALICYLATE
PENT-3-EN-2-ONE
PENTACOSAN-1-OL
PENTADECANOIC-ACID
PENTADECENOIC-ACID
PENTENOL
PHENYL-ACETALDEHYDE
PROPIONIC-ACID-ETHYL-ESTER
PROPIONIC-ACID-PROPYL-ESTER
QUERCETIN-3-O-2(G)-RHAMNOSYL-RUTINOSIDE
QUERCETIN-3-O-NEOHESPERIDOSIDE
RUBBER
SALICYLIC-ACID-METHYL-ESTER
TERPINEN-4-OL
TRANS-ROSE-OXIDE
20-BETA-HYDROXYURSOLIC-ACID
N-TETRADECANE
N-TRICOSANE
TETRACOSAN-1-OL
TRICOSAN-1-OL
TRIDECANOIC-ACID

Legality

No exact international trade listing was returned by the CITES checklist for this accepted name. Country-specific law is not assessed here.

Consult the CITES species checklist for current international and national requirements.

Reference images

Sources

Plants of the World Online (POWO) · Kew data terms; cite POWO/WCVP

World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP) · CC BY 3.0

show claim source mapping

identity · DH-SRC-0030
documented_uses · DH-SRC-0030
compounds · DH-SRC-0030
taxonomy · DH-SRC-GBIF · source ↗
common_names · DH-SRC-GBIF · source ↗
countries · DH-SRC-GBIF · source ↗
wfo_taxonomy · DH-SRC-0003 · source ↗
cultural_records · DH-SRC-0030 · source ↗
powo_taxonomy · DH-SRC-0001 · source ↗
wcvp_taxonomy · DH-SRC-0002 · source ↗

CC0 · Dr. Duke raw CSV archive

Contributions and revisions

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