English common name is elderflower from mother plant Sambucus nigra
Contains up to 3% flavonoids (glycosides of quercetin such as rutin, hyperoside, and isoquercitroside, along with glycosides of kaempferol like astragalin and nicotiflorin), about 3% cinnamic acid derivatives (mainly chlorogenic acid), then triterpenes such as oleanolic and ursolic acid, about 0.1% essential oil, polyamide derivatives, mucilages, and 8–9% mineral substances (potassium).
Used to alleviate the early symptoms of the common cold.
A flower about 5 mm in diameter, sometimes short-stalked, with three rudimentary bracts visible under a magnifying glass. The calyx is small with five lobes. The corolla is pale yellow with five broadly oval petals fused at the base into a tube. There are five yellow stamens alternating with the petals. The corolla often appears alone or together with the stamens, which are attached at the base of the corolla. The ovary is inferior with a sessile three-lobed stigma.
It is listed in the pharmacopoeia.
In pulverized drug under the microscope we can see:
