Effect of variety on content of bioactive phenolic compounds in common elder (<i>Sambucus nigra</i> L.)

<p>The inflorescence of common elder (<i>Sambucus nigra</i> L., Adoxaceae) is known to be rich in phenolic compounds. The content of five selected phenolic compounds (rutin, chlorogenic acid, isoquercitrin, isorhamnetin-3-<i>O</i>- rutinoside and dicaffeoylquinic acid) was determined in methanolic extracts from flowers and floral stems by HPLC in samples obtained from 20 varieties of <i>S. nigra</i> cultivated in Czech Republic. In all samples, there were determined rutin (11–54 mg/g), chlorogenic acid (23–46 mg/g), isoquercitrin (0.6–18 mg/g), isorhamnetin-3-<i>O</i>-rutinoside (3–10 mg/g), calculated on air-dried material. The content of dicaffeoylquinic acid was 0–13 mg/g of air-dried material. The amount of the analysed compounds in floral stems was lower than the flowers. The results are a unique set of information on the content of main phenolics in the inflorescence of cultured elderberry varieties.