Black Elderberry at a Glance
- High antioxidant content
- Has soothing properties
- Also called Sambucus nigra fruit extract
Black Elderberry Description
that is native to North American and Europe. The fruit of this type of black elderberry has long been used in teas and other medical preparations to treat everything from colds and flus to stomach upsets.
Applied topically, black elderberry has potent anti-aging properties, specifically thanks to its high antioxidant polyphenol content. These polyphenols also have strong anti-inflammatory properties, making black elderberry useful in skin care preparations designed for sensitive or reddened skin.
The amount of black elderberry used in cosmetics is typically 0.1%, although lower amounts may be used if it’s part of an antioxidant blend.
One interesting note: though black elderberries can be consumed safely when cooked (or otherwise processed), the raw berries are considered toxic.
Black Elderberry References
Pharmaceuticals, March 2024, pages 1-14
Food Chemistry, March 2023 and October 2022, ePublication
Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, March 2022, pages 4,202-4,220
Food Reviews International, July 2020, pages 1,237-1,265