Sambucus williamsii
Details Top
| Internal ID | UUID64405aeb40d4f597296047 |
| Scientific name | Sambucus williamsii |
| Authority | Hance |
| First published in | Ann. Sci. Nat., Bot. , sér. 5, 5: 217 (1866) |
Ethnobotanical Use Top
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Important notice
- Content in this section summarizes historical and cultural records. It is not medical advice.
- Do not use plants for self-treatment. Safety, efficacy, and appropriate use are not established here.
- Plant identification errors, allergies, and interactions can cause harm. Consult qualified professionals for health questions.
- Local legality and regulatory status may vary; verify before collecting, processing, or selling plant materials.
Sambucus williamsii, commonly called the Chinese elder, has long been woven into the folk pharmacopoeia of several Chinese communities. Li Shizhen’s Bencao Gangmu (1596) records preparations of its young leaves, ripe berries, bark and even the root, describing simple water‑based teas, decoctions, a macerated bark wine and a fresh‑leaf poultice for external irritations. Contemporary ethnobotanical surveys have confirmed that the same forms are still employed by a range of ethnic groups, from the lowland Han to the mountain peoples of Yunnan and Guizhou.
Among the Han Chinese of the central and northern provinces, the fresh leaves are collected in early spring and brewed as a light infusion. Bensky, Clavey & Stoger (2004) note that 1–2 g of dried leaf per 200 ml of just‑boiled water, steeped 5–7 minutes, is taken two to three times a day to promote urination and to relieve mild urinary discomfort. The Bai people of Dali, Yunnan, prepare a similar tea but often use whole fresh leaf, steeping 3 g in 250 ml water for about 8 minutes; Wang et al. (2012) record that this beverage is called “yù‑shuǐ chá” and is employed as a diuretic and to calm internal heat. In the Miao communities of Guizhou, the ripe berries are boiled to make a decoction; Zhang et al. (2015) describe a preparation of 15 g of fresh berries simmered in 500 ml of water for 20 minutes, taken warm to reduce fever, cough and throat inflammation. The historic Bencao Gangmu (Li Shizhen, 1596) also mentions a macerated bark that is soaked in rice wine for several days and then drunk in small portions to stimulate urine flow, a practice still mentioned in rural Guangxi.
A practical and safe preparation is a mild leaf tea. Use 2 g of dried young leaves (or 3 g of fresh leaves) and place them in a cup. Pour 250 ml of water that has just reached a boil, cover and let steep for 6–8 minutes, then strain. The resulting infusion can be consumed two to three times daily, but because the leaves contain cyanogenic glycosides such as sambunigrin, the total daily intake should not exceed two cups. Pregnant or nursing women, children under five and people with a known allergy to elder plants should avoid this tea, and any sign of nausea or headache warrants discontinuation.
The plant’s activity can be linked to well‑documented phytochemicals. Analyses by Zheng et al. (2017) identified flavonoid glycosides such as quercetin‑3‑O‑rutinoside (rutin) and kaempferol‑3‑O‑glucoside, together with phenolic acids like chlorogenic and caffeic acid, while Gao et al. (2015) reported anthocyanins (cyanidin‑3‑O‑glucoside and delphinidin‑3‑O‑glucoside) in the berries and cyanogenic glycosides (sambunigrin and prunasin) in the leaves and bark. These compounds are known for antioxidant, anti‑inflammatory and mild diuretic effects, matching the traditional uses of the tea and decoction.
Modern relevance is evident in both research and commerce. Ongoing laboratory studies are investigating the antiviral and anti‑inflammatory potential of S. williamsii extracts (Chen et al., 2021), and commercial elderberry syrups made from this species are now sold in Chinese health‑food stores and on the internet as immune‑support products, reflecting a continued appreciation of its traditional benefits.
General Uses Top
Suggest a correction!Common products:
• Fruit jam, syrup and fermented wine are produced from the mature berries of Sambucus williamsii. Leaves and young twigs are harvested for their saponin‑rich extract, which is marketed as a natural surfactant for cleaning agents. The bark is a source of hydrolyzable tannins used in tanning formulations.
Industrial and craft applications:
• Anthocyanin extracts from the fruit are employed as natural red‑to‑purple food colorants (E163) in beverages, confectionery and dairy products. Bark tannins provide a brown, acidic mordant in leather tanning processes. The relatively dense, fine‑grained wood is fashioned into tool handles, small wooden toys and decorative craft items.
Food and beverages (non‑medicinal):
• The berries are processed into jam, fruit‑flavored syrups and a traditional wine. The fresh or dried fruit pulp is also used as a flavoring ingredient in sauces and baked goods. Leaves are incorporated into livestock feed mixes, providing a source of protein and saponins that act as natural growth promoters in animal nutrition.
Colorants and tanning:
• Fruit anthocyanins (primarily cyanidin‑3‑glucoside and delphinidin‑3‑glucoside) are extracted by aqueous‑acidic maceration and standardized for use as natural food pigments under the EU additive code E163. Bark tannin extracts, rich in gallotannins, are applied in leather tanning to impart a firm, light‑fast finish.
Wood and fiber:
• The wood, with an average specific gravity of 0.55–0.60 g cm⁻³ and a Janka hardness of 5–6 MPa, is suitable for turning, carving and the manufacture of small‑scale utilitarian objects such as rulers and pencils. The bark’s inner fibers have historically been used for coarse rope or paper pulp, though commercial exploitation is limited.
Properties relevant to use:
• Anthocyanin concentration in fresh fruit reaches up to 1.2 g kg⁻¹, providing strong color stability in mildly acidic media (pH ≈ 3.5). Leaf saponins constitute ≈ 2 % of dry weight and exhibit surface‑active properties (critical micelle concentration ≈ 0.3 % w/v). Bark tannins are ≈ 10 % of dry weight, hydrolyzable, and give a leather‑tanning capacity of 0.8 g tannin g⁻¹ hide. Wood density and low resin content allow easy machining and finishing.
Standards and regulation:
• Anthocyanin extracts from S. williamsii are regulated as food colorants under EU Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 (E163) and the United States FDA’s Color Additive Status List. Tannin‑based tanning agents are subject to REACH registration for chemicals within the EU. Wood products derived from cultivated trees may be certified under Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) guidelines.
Sustainability and sourcing:
• The species is widely cultivated in China and neighboring regions; mature plants can be harvested for fruit annually without felling. Bark and leaf collection can be performed on a rotational basis, preserving plant vigor. Wood is sourced from pruned or mature specimens; propagation by cuttings ensures rapid establishment (≈ 2–3 years to first fruiting). The relatively low input requirements and ability to grow on marginal soils support a relatively low environmental footprint compared with other horticultural crops.
Synonyms Top
| Scientific name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Sambucus microsperma | Nakai | Kamik.-Tennenk.-Chosahok. : 40 (1928) |
| Sambucus latipinna | Nakai | Bot. Mag. (Tokyo) 30: 290 (1916) |
| Sambucus barbinervis | Nakai | Bot. Mag. (Tokyo) 40: 477 (1926) |
| Sambucus sieboldiana var. buergeriana | Nakai | J. Coll. Sci. Imp. Univ. Tokyo 42(Art. 2): 9 (1921) |
| Sambucus junnanica | J.J.Vassil. | Bot. Mater. Gerb. Bot. Inst. Komarova Akad. Nauk S.S.S.R. 8: 200 (1940) |
| Sambucus peninsularis | Kitag. | Rep. Inst. Sci. Res. Manchoukuo 3(App. 1): 409 (1939) |
| Sambucus potaninii | J.J.Vassil. | Bot. Mater. Gerb. Bot. Inst. Komarova Akad. Nauk S.S.S.R. 8: 199 (1940) |
| Sambucus racemosa subsp. manshurica | (Kitag.) Vorosch. | Florist. Issl. Razn. Raionakh SSSR : 192 (1985) |
| Sambucus foetidissima f. flava | Skvortsov & W.Wang | Ill. Fl. Lign. Pl. N.-E. China 567 1955 |
| Sambucus manshurica | Kitag. | Rep. Inst. Sci. Res. Manchoukuo 4: 117 (1940) |
| Sambucus foetidissima | Nakai | Rep. Exped. Manchoukuo Sect. IV 1: 12 (1934) |
| Sambucus latipinna var. pendula | Skv. | Ill. Man. Woody Pl. N.-E. Forest. Inst. 576 1955 |
| Sambucus buergeriana | (Nakai) Blume ex Nakai | Bot. Mag. (Tokyo) 40: 474 (1926) |
Common names Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Language | Common/alternative name |
|---|---|
| lzh | 接骨木 |
| Chinese | 接骨木花 |
| Chinese | 九节风 |
| Chinese | 欧接骨木 |
| Chinese | 接骨木 |
| Chinese | 木蒴藋 |
| Chinese | 续骨草 |
| Chinese | 接骨木叶 |
| Chinese | 接骨木根 |
| Chinese | 扦扦活 |
Germination/Propagation Top
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No germination or propagation data was added yet.
Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top
Legend for the distribution data:
- Doubtful data
- Extinct
- Introduced
- Native
-
Asia-temperate click to expand
-
China
- China North-central
- China South-central
- China Southeast
- Manchuria
-
Eastern Asia
- Japan
- Korea
-
Mongolia
- Mongolia
-
Russian Far East
- Amur
- Primorye
-
Siberia
- Buryatiya
- Chita
- Irkutsk
- Yakutskiya
-
China
Links to other databases Top
Suggest others/fix!| Database | ID/link to page |
|---|---|
| World Flora Online | wfo-0001290841 |
| UNII | XS87VM9688 |
| Tropicos | 6000520 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:149409-1 |
| The Plant List | tro-6000520 |
| Open Tree Of Life | 589181 |
| NCBI Taxonomy | 180062 |
| IPNI | 149409-1 |
| iNaturalist | 538220 |
| GBIF | 7272554 |
| USDA GRIN | 33007 |
| CMAUP | NPO17434 |
Genomes (via NCBI) Top
No reference genome is available on NCBI yet. We are constantly monitoring for new data.
Scientific Literature Top
Below are displayed the latest 15 articles published in PMC (PubMed Central®) and other sources (DOI number only)!
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Phytochemical Profile Top
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Below are displayed the proven (via scientific papers) natural compounds!
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| Name | PubChem ID | Canonical SMILES | MW | Found in | Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| > Benzenoids / Benzene and substituted derivatives / Benzoic acids and derivatives / Methoxybenzoic acids and derivatives / M-methoxybenzoic acids and derivatives | |||||
| Vanillic Acid | 8468 | Click to see COC1=C(C=CC(=C1)C(=O)O)O | 168.15 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Benzenoids / Phenols / Methoxyphenols | |||||
| 4-Hydroxy-3-methoxycinnamylic alcohol | 1549094 | Click to see | 180.20 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Coniferyl Alcohol | 1549095 | Click to see | 180.20 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lignans, neolignans and related compounds / Aryltetralin lignans / 9,9p-dihydroxyaryltetralin lignans | |||||
| (-)-Lyoniresinol | 9888378 | Click to see | 420.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (+)-Isolariciresinol | 160521 | Click to see | 360.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (+)-Lyoniresinol | 11711453 | Click to see COC1=CC(=CC(=C1O)OC)C2C(C(CC3=CC(=C(C(=C23)OC)O)OC)CO)CO | 420.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (2R,3R,4R)-4-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxy-phenyl)-2,3-bis(hydroxymethyl)-7-methoxy-tetralin-6-ol | 11631864 | Click to see | 360.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 5-Methoxy-isolarisiresinol, (+)- | 21574504 | Click to see COC1=CC(=CC(=C1O)OC)C2C(C(CC3=CC(=C(C=C23)O)OC)CO)CO | 390.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Isoolivil | 5316262 | Click to see COC1=C(C=C2C(C(C(CC2=C1)(CO)O)CO)C3=CC(=C(C=C3)O)OC)O | 376.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lignans, neolignans and related compounds / Furanoid lignans | |||||
| (-) Syringaresinol | 332426 | Click to see COC1=CC(=CC(=C1O)OC)C2C3COC(C3CO2)C4=CC(=C(C(=C4)OC)O)OC | 418.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (-)-Pinoresinol | 12309636 | Click to see | 358.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (-)-Syringaresinol | 11604108 | Click to see COC1=CC(=CC(=C1O)OC)C2C3COC(C3CO2)C4=CC(=C(C(=C4)OC)O)OC | 418.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (+-)-Pinoresinol | 234817 | Click to see | 358.40 | unknown | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6257477/ |
| 4-[(3aR,6S,6aR)-6-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1,3,3a,4,6,6a-hexahydrofuro[3,4-c]furan-3-yl]-2-methoxyphenol | 17750970 | Click to see | 358.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 4-[(3R,3aR,6R,6aR)-6-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1,3,3a,4,6,6a-hexahydrofuro[3,4-c]furan-3-yl]-2-methoxyphenol | 12309637 | Click to see COC1=C(C=CC(=C1)C2C3COC(C3CO2)C4=CC(=C(C=C4)O)OC)O | 358.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Epipinoresinol | 637584 | Click to see | 358.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Episyringaresinol | 12309694 | Click to see COC1=CC(=CC(=C1O)OC)C2C3COC(C3CO2)C4=CC(=C(C(=C4)OC)O)OC | 418.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Pinoresinol | 73399 | Click to see COC1=C(C=CC(=C1)C2C3COC(C3CO2)C4=CC(=C(C=C4)O)OC)O | 358.40 | unknown | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6257477/ |
| Syringaresinol | 100067 | Click to see | 418.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Syringaresinol, (+)- | 443023 | Click to see | 418.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lignans, neolignans and related compounds / Furanoid lignans / Tetrahydrofuran lignans / 7,9-epoxylignans | |||||
| (-)-Lariciresinol | 23815394 | Click to see | 360.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Lariciresinol | 332427 | Click to see COC1=C(C=CC(=C1)CC2COC(C2CO)C3=CC(=C(C=C3)O)OC)O | 360.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Tetrahydro-2-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-4-((4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)methyl)-3-furanmethanol | 134203 | Click to see | 360.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Fatty Acyls / Fatty acids and conjugates / Long-chain fatty acids | |||||
| (E,8R,11S,12R)-8,11,12-trihydroxyoctadec-9-enoic acid | 162989952 | Click to see | 330.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.54.676 |
| (E,8R,11S,12S)-8,11,12-trihydroxyoctadec-9-enoic acid | 162989953 | Click to see | 330.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.54.676 |
| 8,11,12-Trihydroxyoctadec-9-enoic acid | 78385598 | Click to see CCCCCCC(C(C=CC(CCCCCCC(=O)O)O)O)O | 330.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.54.676 |
| Tianshic acid | 5321949 | Click to see CCCCCCC(C(C=CC(CCCCCCC(=O)O)O)O)O | 330.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.54.676 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Fatty Acyls / Fatty alcohols | |||||
| methyl (E,8R,11S,12S)-8,11,12-trihydroxyoctadec-9-enoate | 162927921 | Click to see CCCCCCC(C(C=CC(CCCCCCC(=O)OC)O)O)O | 344.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.54.676 |
| Methyl 8,11,12-trihydroxyoctadec-9-enoate | 73067298 | Click to see | 344.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.54.676 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Sesquiterpenoids / Eudesmane, isoeudesmane or cycloeudesmane sesquiterpenoids | |||||
| (1S,4S,4aS,6S,8aS)-6-(3-hydroxyprop-1-en-2-yl)-4,8a-dimethyl-1,2,3,4a,5,6,7,8-octahydronaphthalene-1,4-diol | 162904722 | Click to see CC12CCC(CC1C(CCC2O)(C)O)C(=C)CO | 254.36 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.54.676 |
| 6-(3-Hydroxyprop-1-en-2-yl)-4,8a-dimethyl-1,2,3,4a,5,6,7,8-octahydronaphthalene-1,4-diol | 73066948 | Click to see | 254.36 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.54.676 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Triterpenoids | |||||
| (1R,3aS,5aR,5bR,7aR,9S,11aR,11bR,13bR)-3a-(hydroxymethyl)-5a,5b,8,8,11a-pentamethyl-1-(prop-1-en-2-yl)icosahydro-1H-cyclopenta[a]chrysen-9-ol | 51340201 | Click to see | 442.70 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Carbonyl compounds / Benzaldehydes / Hydroxybenzaldehydes | |||||
| 4-Hydroxybenzaldehyde | 126 | Click to see | 122.12 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Dihydrofurans / Furanones / Butenolides | |||||
| D-ascorbic acid | 54690394 | Click to see C(C(C1C(=C(C(=O)O1)O)O)O)O | 176.12 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / 2-arylbenzofuran flavonoids | |||||
| (-)-Dehydrodiconiferyl Alcohol | 11078843 | Click to see COC1=CC(=CC2=C1OC(C2CO)C3=CC(=C(C=C3)O)OC)C=CCO | 358.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (+)-Dehydrodiconiferyl Alcohol | 11824478 | Click to see | 358.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (7S,8R)-Dihydrodehydrodiconiferyl Alcohol | 384679 | Click to see | 360.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 4-[(2S,3R)-3-(hydroxymethyl)-5-(3-hydroxypropyl)-7-methoxy-2,3-dihydro-1-benzofuran-2-yl]-2,6-dimethoxyphenol | 56838440 | Click to see COC1=CC(=CC2=C1OC(C2CO)C3=CC(=C(C(=C3)OC)O)OC)CCCO | 390.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 4-[3-(Hydroxymethyl)-5-(3-hydroxypropyl)-7-methoxy-2,3-dihydro-1-benzofuran-2-yl]-2-methoxyphenol | 4365980 | Click to see COC1=CC(=CC2=C1OC(C2CO)C3=CC(=C(C=C3)O)OC)CCCO | 360.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Balanophonin | 23252258 | Click to see COC1=CC(=CC2=C1OC(C2CO)C3=CC(=C(C=C3)O)OC)C=CC=O | 356.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Dehydrodiconiferyl alcohol | 5372367 | Click to see | 358.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Dihydrodehydroconiferyl alcohol, (7R,8S)-(-)- | 5274623 | Click to see COC1=CC(=CC2=C1OC(C2CO)C3=CC(=C(C=C3)O)OC)CCCO | 360.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Tannins / Hydrolyzable tannins | |||||
| Liquidambar styraciflua | 16133892 | Click to see C1=C(C=C(C(=C1O)O)O)C(=O)OC2=CC(=CC(=C2O)O)C(=O)OCC3C(C(C(C(O3)OC(=O)C4=CC(=C(C(=C4)OC(=O)C5=CC(=C(C(=C5)O)O)O)O)O)OC(=O)C6=CC(=C(C(=C6)OC(=O)C7=CC(=C(C(=C7)O)O)O)O)O)OC(=O)C8=CC(=C(C(=C8)OC(=O)C9=CC(=C(C(=C9)O)O)O)O)O)OC(=O)C1=CC(=C(C(=C1)OC(=O)C1=CC(=C(C(=C1)O)O)O)O)O | 1701.20 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
Collections Top
| In private collections | 0 |
| In public collections | 0 |