Cyanogenic Glycoside Analysis in American Elderberry

Abstract

Cyanogenic glycosides (CNGs) are naturally occurring plant molecules (nitrogenous plant secondary metabolites) which consist of an aglycone and a sugar moiety. Hydrogen cyanide (HCN) is released from these compounds following enzymatic hydrolysis causing potential toxicity issues. The presence of CNGs in American elderberry (AE) fruit, Sambucus nigra (subsp. canadensis), is uncertain. A sensitive, reproducible and robust LC-MS/MS method was developed and optimized for accurate identification and quantification of the intact glycoside. A complimentary picrate paper test method was modified to determine the total cyanogenic potential (TCP). TCP analysis was performed using a camera-phone and UV-Vis spectrophotometry. A method validation was conducted and the developed methods were successfully applied to the assessment of TCP and quantification of intact CNGs in different tissues of AE samples. Results showed no quantifiable trace of CNGs in commercial AE juice. Levels of CNGs found in various fruit tissues of AE cultivars studied ranged from between 0.12 and 6.38 µg/g. In pressed juice samples, the concentration range measured was 0.29–2.36 µg/mL and in seeds the levels were 0.12–2.38 µg/g. TCP was highest in the stems and green berries. Concentration levels in all tissues were generally low and at a level that poses no threat to consumers of fresh and processed AE products.

Producing Blue Elderberry as a Hedgerow-Based Crop in California

“…Preliminary results from research on American elderberries conducted at the University of Missouri found only low levels of cyanide in fresh berries and extremely low levels in juice and seeds. Levels in stems and green berries were relatively higher, but still much lower than those in samples of European elderberry tissues (Appenteng et al 2021). No analyses of sambunigrin or cyanide levels have yet been conducted in blue elderberry.…”

Sambucus Nigra Extracts–Natural Antioxidants and Antimicrobial Compounds

“…Therefore, the consumption of raw elderberries may cause acute poisoning, weakness, and gastrointestinal ailments [ 21 ]. The results of toxicological studies led to the conclusion that the consumption of elderberries after thermal treatment is safe and does not cause any side effects [ 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 ].…”

“…Therefore, the consumption of raw elderberries may cause acute poisoning, weakness, and gastrointestinal ailments [21]. The results of toxicological studies led to the conclusion that the consumption of elderberries after thermal treatment is safe and does not cause any side effects [47][48][49][50]. The composition of extracts of phenolic compounds is an important determinant affecting various directions of their activity.…”

Analysis of Cyanogenic Compounds Derived from Mandelonitrile by Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction and High-Performance Liquid Chromatography in Rosaceae and Sambucus Families

“…The analytical methods described in the literature to quantify CNG from mandelonitrile usually employ water, methanol or their mixtures, and different extraction systems such as Soxhlet extraction, solid-phase extraction, ultrasound bath or solid-liquid extraction assisted by microwaves [1,2,14,17,[20][21][22] during extraction periods that may last for 24 h. The diverse chemical nature of cyanogenic glycosides means that the extraction and analysis of individual compounds can be difficult and furthermore, degradation can be rapid under appropriate conditions [16].…”

“…Extracts containing CNG are usually analyzed by reverse phase HPLC with UV-Vis detectors [16], HPLC-MS [21], or tandem HPLC-DAD-MS [17]. The separation of the R and S epimers has been found to be one of the main difficulties of these methods, for which reason some authors have proposed the use of chiral phases [24].…”