Black elder

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Black elder
Black elder (Sambucus nigra) as a solitary tree

Black elder ( Sambucus nigra ) as a solitary tree

Systematics
Asterids
Euasterids II
Order : Cardigans (Dipsacales)
Family : Musk herb family (Adoxaceae)
Genre : Elderberry ( sambucus )
Type : Black elder
Scientific name
Sambucus nigra
L.
Black elder ( Sambucus nigra )

The black elder ( Sambucus nigra ), also known as southwest German-Swiss holder (bush) or Bavarian-Austrian elder , in northern Germany often also known as black lilac ( lilac berries ), is a shrub belonging to the genus elder ( Sambucus ).

The black elder is one of the most common shrub species in Central Europe . Its flowers and fruits are widely used as medicines, food and coloring.

description

Annual branch with lenticels
Pinnate leaf
Winter buds
Elderberry inflorescence
Unripe fruits
Ripe elderberries

The black elder is a shrub or small tree up to 11 meters high with strong branching. The branches of the elder are often spread out like an arch. The bark is gray-brown in color and, on younger twigs, is covered with cork pores that catch the eye as lighter bumps. These surveys and branches are filled with white, almost foam- Mark . The thicker branches as well as the trunk have a longitudinally furrowed gray-brown, cork-like bark . The elder is a shallow root with extensive roots .

The opposite leaves are pinnate unpaired. The individual leaflets are about 30 centimeters long and usually consist of five or seven individual leaves that are elliptical and sawn on the edge. The single leaves are each up to about 12 centimeters long. The foliage develops around March to April.

From May to July, up to 30 centimeters large, flat panicles of many individual flowers appear on the young wood . Their fresh, fruity scent is unmistakable and typical of the elder. The white or slightly yellowish flowers are usually five-fold. They each have five sepals , five fused petals , five free stamens with yellow anthers and three fused carpels, which later form three cores in the fruit. However, a smaller part of the flowers is also fourfold. If you rub a leaf between your fingers, it also smells slightly of the flowers; this way, elderberry can be easily recognized even if it has no flowers or fruit. The flowers are visited by flies, hymenoptera and beetles.

In August and September the initially red, later black, vitamin C and potassium rich, approximately six millimeters large “berries” begin to ripen. The fruits are actually stone fruits , which are also known as "lilacberries". They have a burgundy-red juice that can hardly be washed out of textiles and each form three seeds. As these fruits ripen, the stems on which they sit also turn reddish in color. The berries are edible after boiling or fermentation. The fruits are mainly distributed by birds such as blackbirds , thrushes , starlings and blackcap , but mammals and humans also contribute to the spread.

The number of chromosomes is 2n = 36.

The plant can live for around 100 years.

distribution

Distribution area of Sambucus nigra .

The black elder is one of the most common shrub species in Central Europe . It can also be found in the rest of Europe, western Siberia , northern India , the Caucasus , Asia Minor and North Africa . Its robustness and unpretentiousness are certainly an advantage. Elderberry is extremely frost hardy and thrives well in partial shade on weed and ruderal meadows , forest clearings or on roadsides, but particularly appreciates medium to sandy, nitrogen-rich and fresh, slightly acidic loamy soils. As a nitrogen pointer , it is found concentrated in excessively nitrogen- rich locations. In the Alps it can be found up to the middle mountain range of about 1500  m .

The Austrian occurrences are very common in all federal states. In addition to wild occurrences, the elderberry is also found in culture, in increasing numbers again since the mid-1980s. Eastern Styria is a growing area for elderberries . There are some varieties that have been selected for different purposes.

Toxicity

The leaves, bark, unripe berries and also the seeds of ripe berries contain one or more cyanogenic glycosides , including mainly sambunigrin , prunasin , holacalin and zierin. In addition, the plant contains lectins , especially nigrin b, which cause indigestion. There are different statements about the toxicity in humans. They range from non-toxic to "avoidable". In children and sensitive people, consumption can lead to symptoms ranging from vomiting and mild cramps to severe diarrhea or stomach upset. Vomiting, diarrhea and breathing difficulties occur in pigs, dogs, hares, rabbits, guinea pigs and hamsters. Birds show indigestion and vomiting when ingesting unripe berries and other parts of the plant, and ingesting large quantities can even lead to death.

The ripe berries contain only small amounts of cyanogenic glycosides. In an investigation, only 0.06 mg cyanogenic glycosides / g dry weight fruit, which corresponds to 0.0054 mg hydrocyanic acid equivalents / g, were found on a shrub. At around 20 mg dry weight of a berry, a ripe berry contains 0.0001 mg hydrocyanic acid equivalent. The human body can partially break down hydrogen cyanide compounds. Up to 0.02 mg hydrogen cyanide equivalents / kg body weight are considered to be safe for consumption; Vomiting and diarrhea can occur when large quantities of fruit are consumed. The consumption of raw fruits should therefore be avoided.

When heated, the cyanogenic glycosides disintegrate and the content of cyanogenic glycosides in the berries is greatly reduced. Effects on the mucous membranes: Although the Sambucus species are insect-flowered, their pollen is one of the causative agents of hay fever. However, those affected are only endangered if they are near flowering elderberry bushes.

etymology

The name Elder (or Holder ) is used in Middle High German as holunter and holder , Old High German holuntar , holantar ; ancient Germanic * xulun + -ðra- 'tree', cf. Danish hyld , Norwegian hyll and can be traced back to Indo-European * kl̥-n̥ - 'dark', cf. Russian калина (kalína) , snowball, Maßholder '.

Lilac as the name for the black elder comes from the Low German lilac , Fleder 'Elder', Middle Low German vlēder , vlieder , Old Saxon * fliodar (evidenced in the place name Fliadarlōh 'Elder Forest ', around 890), ancient Germanic * flioþra- , also Dutch vlier , West Frisian flear . It is based on Indo-European * pelh₁i- 'gray' and the tree name suffix -ðra (as with juniper , elm ). The name was later transferred to the lilac ( Syringa ), which had been imported from south-eastern Europe since the 16th century .

use

Elderberry is used in folk medicine and herbal medicine as well as in the kitchen .

Elderberry as a remedy

Black elder in the form of the flower drug (Sambuci flos)
Elderberry culture in Eastern Styria , mid-August
Elderberry culture in Eastern Styria , end of March

Elderberry juice and elderberries, but also teas made from bark and inflorescences, are tried and tested home remedies for colds, kidney and bladder problems and to strengthen the heart and circulation and are still used today. Factors of this effect are the vitamin C and vitamin B, which is abundantly contained in the fruits at 180 mg / kg , fruit acids , essential oils , which are also contained in the flowers, and above all coloring anthocyanidins (as glycosides sambucin , sambicyanine , chrysanthemin ). This antioxidant protects cell membranes from changes caused by free radicals and thus slows down the aging process of both plant cells and the cells of the human consumer. In addition, it is said to have an anti-inflammatory and therefore pain-relieving and fever-lowering effect. Polyphenols obtained from the fruits of the black elder showed in a study interesting cell and tissue-protecting effects that could reduce the vascular damage caused by the oxidative stress in diabetic metabolism.

Some studies found that elderberry extracts were an effective way to treat the flu .

The essential oils with their aromatic complexes have a slight sweaty and expectorant effect . Elderberry tea is also used successfully in home medicine for stomach problems . The dried flowers are sold as "Flores Sambuci" in drugstores and pharmacies. Studies have also shown these to have an anti-inflammatory effect. In addition to the fruits and flowers of the black elderberry, its leaves (Folia Sambuci) are popularly used; these are used in rheumatic diseases.

The use of elderberry as a medicinal plant for diabetes mellitus , which is known from popular tradition , was investigated in studies in vitro , and an insulin-like effect as well as the secretion of insulin-stimulating effect could be demonstrated. Study data in humans are not available.

The fruits have a slight laxative effect.

Elderberry oil is obtained from seeds by cold pressing and is used in cosmetics, pharmacy and medicine.

Elderberry as a coloring agent

The berries of the black elder contain the violet dye Sambucyanin . This flavonoid , which belongs to the secondary plant substances , is mainly found in the peel of the berries (up to 60%) and, as a radical scavenger, is also said to reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases and cancer.

The berries were previously used to dye hair and leather. The juice was also used to color red wine .

Now that both consumers and the food industry have made higher demands on colorants and dyes, this natural color is now gaining in value again. It is used for sweets and dairy products in the food industry as well as in the textile industry .

  • Cyanidin 3-glucoside (chrysanthemin)

  • Cyanidin 3-rutinosid (sambucin)

  • Cyanidin 3-sambubiosid (sambicyanine)

Elderberry as a food

Both the inflorescences and the fruits ripened on them can be processed into food.

Cultivation

In 2013, the elderberry cultivation area in Germany was over 550 hectares. The Steiermark is 1400 hectares the largest cultivation center in Austria and Europe. Due to the great demand for elderberry products, the cultivation area within Styria grew annually in the double-digit percentage range from 2010 to 2013.

blossoms

A known form of preparation for the flowers are-fried elder flowers, which in the German language as Hollerküchel , elderberry pancakes , elderflower fritters , Hollerschöberl or (in Austria) and Holler grapes are called. The umbrella panicles are dipped in a thin dough made of flour, eggs and other ingredients, for example in wine or beer batter , baked in the pan or deep-fried and the thicker parts of the panicle stalks are cut off with scissors.

The flowers are also used as a flavoring component for drinks. Elderberry lemonade or syrup and elderberry sparkling wine are particularly widespread . The flowers are placed in a sugar solution and filtered off after a few days. During this time the sugar solution took on the elderflower aroma.

Berry

Since the berries of the elderberry are slightly poisonous, in some cases people may feel sick or even vomit after eating a large amount of them raw. The berries must therefore be heated before processing into jelly , puree , mother juice or fruit wine . A fruit soup can be made from the berries with a thickener (starch), spices and sugar ( called lilacberry soup in northern Germany ). Elderberries are used in baking and are an ingredient in red grits . Also in Northern Germany, the thickened juice from the fruits is used in grog (i.e. mixed with hot water and rum). The berries can be frozen easily. The juice is very aromatic in terms of taste , but low in acidity and hardly sweet. Therefore it is often mixed with apple , pear or other sweet fruit juices .

Elderberries can be used to make wine and fruit brandy . The ripe berries, which are removed from the cones before mashing , are used for this.

Pests

  • Voles cause the greatest damage to the bushes of the black elder; in large enclosures they can create corridors up to 40 meters long, which severely damage the roots of the bushes.
  • Birds such as finches and graycatchers appreciate elderberries. It is true that they are not pests in the strict sense of the word , but particularly in the case of solitary plants there can be significant crop losses due to bird damage.
  • The black elder aphid ( Aphis sambuci ) mostly only attacks individual plants, but weakens them by sucking in the sap.
  • Gall mites , especially spider mites , can cripple shoots and cause greater damage.
  • The elder umbel wilt ( Boeremia sambuci-nigrae , syn .: Phoma sambuci-nigrae ), a fungal disease, causes the inflorescences to wither, so that there can be severe crop losses. This manifests itself in a wilting of the main or side axes of the inflorescences. In addition to the fungal infection, physiological and environmental factors must also be taken into account.
  • Cercospora depazeoides : causes leaf necrosis.
  • Botrytis flowers can occasionally cause the flowers to trickle.
  • The mushroom Judasohr likes to colonize the dying bush.

Taxonomy and subspecies

Sambucus nigra was in 1753 by Linnaeus in Species Plantarum , Volume 1, page 269-270 firstdescribed .

In addition to the type, some subspecies are listed, which, depending on the author, are also described as independent species:

Popular belief

Chopping or mutilating an elder brought bad luck or death, the elder bush in the home garden was considered a tree of life. The withering indicated the death of a family member. It was considered a repellent against black magic and witches, protected against fire and lightning strikes. You should be safe from snakebites and mosquito bites under it. It also housed well-meaning house spirits, which made the shrub feel at home in many house gardens and led to the saying that one had to take off one's hat to a elder bush. The unpleasant smell of the leaves is said to come from the fact that, according to a legend , Judas hanged himself from an elder tree (see also: elder in religion, myth and superstition or popular belief ).

Phenological calendar

In the phenological calendar , which is based on the signs of nature, the elder is a pointer plant:
When the black berries ripen, autumn begins. In the long-term annual mean, the black elder ripens around September 1st, the date for the beginning of the meteorological autumn . In some years the elderberries were already black in color in many areas of Germany in mid-August.

literature

  • Gesa Bartig: healing elderberry. Köller, Schacht-Audorf 1997, ISBN 3-928143-28-X
  • Rita Pilaske: Natural medicine cabinet - elderberry. Fraund, Mainz 2002, ISBN 3-921156-60-2
  • Kristiane Müller-Urban: Cooking and baking elderberries. Weltbild, Augsburg 2002, ISBN 3-89604-358-7
  • Hanspeter Hemgesberg: Naturally healthy with elderberry. Midena, Augsburg 1998, ISBN 3-310-00414-7
  • Uschi Ostermeier-Sitkowski: The healing power of the elder. Heyne, Munich 1998, ISBN 3-453-14786-3
  • René Prümmel: Elderberry. Südwest, Munich 1999, ISBN 3-517-08067-5
  • Axel and Linda Waniorek: Elderberry. Old forces rediscovered. mvg, Landsberg am Lech 1998, ISBN 3-478-08605-1
  • Bayerischer Forstverein (Hrsg.): Shrubs in the woods and fields. ecomed, Landsberg 1998, ISBN 3-609-69880-2 , pp. 197-201
  • Heinrich Lehmann: Contributions to the history of Sambucus nigra, Juniperus communis and Juniperus sabina. (Philosophical and scientific dissertation Basel) Zofingen 1935.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b Ulrich Hecker: Trees and bushes . BLV Verlagsgesellschaft, Munich u. a., 2nd, revised edition 1998, p. 455, ISBN 3-405-14738-7 .
  2. ^ Erich Oberdorfer : Plant-sociological excursion flora for Germany and neighboring areas . With the collaboration of Angelika Schwabe and Theo Müller. 8th, heavily revised and expanded edition. Eugen Ulmer, Stuttgart (Hohenheim) 2001, ISBN 3-8001-3131-5 , pp.  875 .
  3. ↑ Taxon: Sambucus nigra L. with distribution information from GRIN.
  4. ^ Manfred A. Fischer, Karl Oswald, Wolfgang Adler: Excursion flora for Austria, Liechtenstein and South Tyrol . 3rd, improved edition. Province of Upper Austria, Biology Center of the Upper Austrian State Museums, Linz 2008, ISBN 978-3-85474-187-9 , p. 804 .
  5. ^ H. Morck, Drogenkunde (p. 108), 6th edition 2003, WVG Stuttgart, ISBN 3-8047-1930-9
  6. ↑ S. Rosendal Jensen, B. Juhl Nielsen: Cyanogenic glucosides in Sambucus nigra L. In: Acta Chimica Scandinavica . tape 27 , 1973, p. 2661–2685 , doi : 10.3891 / acta.chem.scand.27-2661 .
  7. ↑ Marina Dellagreca, Antonio Fiorentino, Pietro Monaco, Lucio Previtera, Ana M. Simonet: Cyanogenic Glycosides from Sambucus Nigra . In: Natural Product Letters . tape 14 , no. 3 , March 1, 2000, ISSN  1057-5634 , p. 175-182 , doi : 10.1080 / 10575630008041228 .
  8. ↑ Brigida D'Abrosca, Marina DellaGreca, Antonio Fiorentino, Pietro Monaco, Lucio Previtera: Potential allelochemicals from Sambucus nigra . In: Phytochemistry . tape 58 , no. 7 , December 1, 2001, p. 1073-1081 , doi : 10.1016 / S0031-9422 (01) 00401-0 .
  9. ↑ European Food Safety Authority: Compendium of botanicals reported to contain naturally occuring substances of possible concern for human health when used in food and food supplements . In: EFSA Journal . tape 10 , no. 5 , May 1, 2012, ISSN  1831-4732 , p. n / a – n / a , doi : 10.2903 / j.efsa.2012.2663 .
  10. ↑ HMPC: Assessment report on Sambucus nigra L., fructus . Ed .: European Medicines Agency. London 2012, 44208, p. 17 ( [1] [PDF]).
  11. ^ Lutz Roth, Max Daunderer, Kurt Kormann: Poison Plants - Plant Poisons: Occurrence, Effect, Therapy; allergic and phototoxic reactions . Ecomed, Landsberg, 4th, revised and significantly expanded edition 1994, p. 633, ISBN 3-609-64810-4 .
  12. ↑ Dietrich Frohne, Hans Jürgen Pfänder: Poison Plants: A manual for doctors, pharmacists, toxicologists and biologists . Wissenschaftliche Verlagsgesellschaft, Stuttgart, 4th, revised and expanded edition 1997, p. 127 f., ISBN 3-8047-1466-8 .
  13. ↑ Archived copy ( Memento from September 27, 2007 in the Internet Archive )
  14. ↑ Petra Demmer: Capillary electrophoretic investigations on cyanogenic glycosides . Inaugural dissertation to obtain the doctoral degree in natural sciences in the field of chemistry and pharmacy of the mathematics and natural sciences faculty of the Westphalian Wilhelms University of Münster. Münster 2004, urn : nbn: de: hbz: 6-28659388497 .
  15. ↑ Mark D. Atkinson, Elaine Atkinson: Sambucus nigra L. In: Journal of Ecology . tape 90 , no. 5 , October 1, 2002, ISSN  1365-2745 , p. 895-923 , doi : 10.1046 / j.1365-2745.2002.00698.x .
  16. ↑ WHO: Hydrogen cyanide and cyanides: Human health aspects. In: World Health Organization (Ed.): Concise International Chemical Assessment Document . tape 61 . Geneva, ISBN 978-92-4153061-3 .
  17. ↑ CONTAM: Acute health risks related to the presence of cyanogenic glycosides in raw apricot kernels and products derived from raw apricot kernels . In: European Food Safety Authority (Ed.): EFSA Journal . tape 14 , no. 4 , 2016, p. 4424 , doi : 10.2903 / j.efsa.2016.4424 .
  18. ^ A b Poison Plants - Plant Poisons - Roth / Daunderer / Kormann, Nikol-Verlagsgesellschaft, 4th edition 1994, p. 634
  19. ↑ Eugeniusz Pogorzelski: Formation of cyanide as a product of decomposition of cyanogenic glucosides in the treatment of elderberry fruit (Sambucus nigra) . In: Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture . tape 33 , no. 5 , May 1, 1982, ISSN  1097-0010 , pp. 496-498 , doi : 10.1002 / jsfa.2740330516 .
  20. ↑ Wolfgang Pfeifer et al .: Etymological Dictionary of German. 8th edition. Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag, Munich 2005, ISBN 3-423-32511-9 , entry "Elderberry"
  21. ^ Friedrich Kluge, edited by Elmar Seebold: Etymological Dictionary of the German Language. 25th, revised and expanded edition. Walter de Gruyter, Berlin / Boston 2011, ISBN 978-3-11-022364-4 , page 423, entry "Elderberry"
  22. ↑ Summary of lecture: Adam Hyllested: "The Mysterious Elder: Common Traits in Indo-European Names for Sambucus nigra and Viburnum opulus ". WeCIEC Archives . University of California Los Angeles, 2010. [2] .
  23. ↑ Duden editorial office (editor): Duden, The dictionary of origin. Etymology of the German language. In: The Duden in twelve volumes. 3. Edition. Volume 7, Dudenverlag, Mannheim / Leipzig / Vienna / Zurich 2001, ISBN 3-411-04073-4 , page 223
  24. ↑ Marlies Philippa et al: Etymologically Woordenboek van het Nederlands . Keyword: "vlier". 2003-2009. [3]
  25. ↑ M. Palow: The great book of medicinal plants. Munich 1979 ISBN 3-7742-4211-9
  26. ↑ M. Ciocoiu, A. Mirón, L. Mares, D. Tutunaru, C. Pohaci, M. Groza, M. Badescu: The effects of Sambucus nigra polyphenols on oxidative stress and metabolic disorders in experimental diabetes mellitus. In: Journal of physiology and biochemistry. Volume 65, Number 3, September 2009, ISSN  1138-7548 , pp. 297-304, doi : 10.1007 / BF03180582 , PMID 20119824 .
  27. ↑ Zichria Zakay-Rones, Noemi Varsano, Moshe Zlotnik, Orly Manor, Liora Regev, Miriam Schlesinger, Madeleine Mumcuoglu: Inhibition of Several Strains of Influenza Virus in Vitro and Reduction of Symptoms by an Elderberry Extract ( Sambucus nigra L.) during an Outbreak of Influenza B Panama . In: Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine . 1, No. 4, 1995, pp. 361-369. doi : 10.1089 / acm.1995.1.361 . PMID 9395631 .
  28. ↑ Z Zakay-Rones, E Thom, T Wollan and J Wadstein: Randomized Study of the Efficacy and Safety of Oral Elderberry Extract in the Treatment of Influenza A and B Virus Infections. In: Journal of International Medical Research 32 (2004), pp. 132-140 (pdf; 72.8 kB).
  29. ↑ E. Harokopakis, MH Albzreh, EM Haase, FA Scannapieco, G. Hajishengallis: Inhibition of proinflammatory activities of major periodontal pathogens by aqueous extracts from elder flower (Sambucus nigra). In: Journal of periodontology. Volume 77, number 2, February 2006, ISSN  0022-3492 , pp. 271-279, doi : 10.1902 / jop.2006.050232 , PMID 16460254 .
  30. ↑ AM Gray, YH Abdel-Wahab, PR Flatt: The traditional plant treatment, Sambucus nigra (elder), exhibits insulin-like and insulin-releasing actions in vitro. In: J. Nutr. Volume 130, No. 1, January 2000, PMID 10613759 .
  31. ↑ Hans-Peter Siebenhaar: Berry hunger. Agriculture theme week. (No longer available online.) Handelsblatt, January 13, 2014, archived from the original on January 15, 2014 ; accessed on January 13, 2014 .
  32. ↑ forst.tu-muenchen, accessed on February 18, 2015 ( Memento from June 10, 2007 in the Internet Archive )
  33. ↑ Carl von Linné: Species Plantarum . tape 1 . Stockholm 1753, p. 269 ( Online - Sambucus nigra scanned in Biodiversity Heritage Library ).
  34. ↑ Edith Schowalter: Light into the thicket. Plant stories from home. Retrieved on March 1, 2016 (Image No. 70 of 98).

Web links

Commons : Black Elder ( Sambucus nigra )  - Album with pictures, videos and audio files