Phytochemical comparison of elderberry collections grown in Missouri

American Elderberry (Sambucus nigra subsp. canadensis) is traditionally consumed as wine, jams, pies, etc. and has garnered more interest as a medicinal product in recent years. There is limited information on the medicinal properties of this less researched subspecies compared to the better known European Elderberry (Sambucus nigra subsp. nigra), which is used in the treatment of colds and flus. Several phytochemicals have been identified in American Elderberry including phenolic acids, flavonols and anthocyanins. Many of these phytochemicals have the potential to be bioactive and can be used in quality assessments of elderberry and related products. Eighteen specimens were collected from various regions throughout the eastern United States that were previously found to have unique phytochemical profiles. These specimens were planted at two different locations in Missouri. The berries were collected in the third growing season and freeze dried prior to phytochemical evaluation. The data were compared between specimens and collection sites to evaluate the impact of genetics and environment. A significant difference in anthocyanin content was observed between the collections. This indicates that some specimens have a higher potential for the development of novel cultivars with enhanced phytochemical contents.