“…Elderberries are highly enriched in anthocyanins (Milbury et al, 2002; Veberic et al, 2009), and anthocyanin-rich extracts prepared from elderberries or other botanicals, in addition to individual anthocyanins, exhibit an array of antioxidant activities (Netzel et al, 2005; Strathearn et al, 2014; Zafra-Stone et al, 2007). The flower portion of the elderberry plant (referred to here as ‘elderflower’) also contains high levels of polyphenolic constituents, including quercetin-3-O-rutinoside, the most abundant component in the methanolic extract (Celik et al, 2014; Rieger et al, 2008). Analyses of elderflower extracts in cell culture models revealed neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activities (Barros et al, 2011; Harokopakis et al, 2006) (see accompanying article, de Rus Jacquet et al, submitted).…”