In folk medicine
today, the elderberry is widely considered one of the world’s most healing
plants.
Sheikh Gulzar
International Standard Serial
Number
International Info. Resource centre (ISSN: 0975-3095)
Sambacus nigra-Elderberry : It grows
up to 9 meters tall and bears clusters of small white or cream flowers. Its
fruits are found in small black or blue-black bunches. Sambacus nigra is found
in North America, Canada, Iran, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Northern Afghanistan, Kashmir and other cold regions.
Apart from this, this plant can be cultivated in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and other
cold places in India.
The fruits are very hard and must be ripe to eat. Its
flowers have a delicious nutmeg flavor and can be eaten raw or cooked.
Elderberry tree Its various parts have been used
throughout history for medicinal and culinary purposes.
Historically, the flowers and leaves have been used to
relieve pain, stimulate urine production for swelling and inflammation, and
promote sweating. Crest is diuretic, laxative and causes vomiting.
In public, mostly dried fruit or fruit juice; Also used
in flu, infection, sciatica, headache, toothache, heartache, and neuralgia as
laxative and diuretic therapy.
Amazing benefits of elderberry
Elderberry is one of the most widely used
plants in the world to treat various ailments. They are the fruit of the
Sambucus tree, which is native to most of Europe. They contain antioxidants and
are believed by many to ward off colds and flus and boost the immune system.
Unripe berries are also poisonous and cause stomach problems, so they should be
eaten when fully ripe. These berries are edible after cooking and can be used
to make jams, jellies, sauces and chutneys. Apart from being versatile and
nutritious, they have a long list of health benefits. Have a look!
It can also be cooked and made into fruit, juice, jam,
pie and elderberry syrup. The flowers are often boiled with sugar to make a
sweet syrup or drink as a tea. They can also be eaten in salads.
How it helps fight the flu
Elderberries have some anti-inflammatory and
antibacterial properties and are often used to treat colds and coughs. They are
also an excellent immune system booster that protects against various
autoimmune disorders. To treat conditions like influenza, you can take 15 ml of
elderberry syrup 4 times a day for up to 5 days. For children with flu, the
dose is 5 ml while for adults, it is 10 ml twice a day. Other important facts
about this amazing berry that is packed with health benefits.
Nutritional value
One cup of large berries contains 106 calories and 26.68
grams of carbohydrates. One cup also contains 55 mg of calcium, 9 mg of folate
and 2.32 mg of iron. One cup of elderberries contains 10.2 grams of dietary
fiber.
Supports skin health
Elderberry fruit is known for its anti-inflammatory and
antioxidant properties, along with its high content of vitamin A, which play an
important role in improving the skin. The anthocyanins in elderberry have been
shown to counteract the internal effects of natural aging.
Reduces aging
Elderberries contain high levels of vitamin A and
bioflavonoids that help soften skin, reduce the appearance of age spots, and
prevent wrinkles.
Manages diabetes.
They have traditionally been used to treat diabetes. Some
of the active antioxidant compounds found in elderflower extract help regulate
glucose levels and insulin.
Strengthens bones.
The calcium, iron and potassium in berries are known to
strengthen bones as well as the formation of new bone tissue. Additionally, the
anthocyanins in these berries help prevent bone loss in some cases.
Prevents cancer
Elderberry extracts are rich in anthocyanins, which have
been shown to have pharmacological, therapeutic and anticancer properties.
Various studies have shown that elderberry has some chemo-preventive properties
that delay, prevent or reverse the formation of cancer.
Fights inflammation
Elderberry has several
anti-inflammatory properties. According to various studies, the anthocyanins in
elderberries can help fight inflammation, which is at the root of many chronic
diseases.
Improves heart health
Large berries help control blood
pressure thanks to their potassium content. Studies show that elderberry juice
can lower blood fat levels and lower cholesterol. Foods rich in flavonoids such
as anthocyanins reduce the risk of heart disease.
Elderberry in Food
processing industry
Jam, Jelly, Juice & squash are made from fruits
and these are food items. This food processing industry has thus far developed
as a demand – based industry and hence only about 1.5 percent of fruits of the
country is processed so far. If promoted as a local resource based industry its
growth may be much larger especially because of fast increase in export.
India is second to only Brazil in fruit production. In fruit and vegetable production India can boast of not only the quantity
but also variety. Besides, the country is get to exploit large part of
horticultural land in the form of hill slopes. Transport, storage and
processing are the needs for fruit and vegetable, production in the country. At
present about 40 percent of Indian horticultural produces go waste due to lack
of these facilities. Fruits can be processed to produce juice squash Jam, Jelly
and Marmalades. Jam jelly making is simply a profitable
business.
In addition, you can initiate the business as a small scale with low capital
investment.
Food
processing industry has started receiving a great deal of attention from the
policy makers. The current industrial policy in food processing is also
favourable for food processing industry. India is the 2nd largest producer of
fruits and vegetables in the world, and the food processing sector in the
country is expected to double in the next decade.
The
ever-growing consumer demands have opened up huge investment opportunities for
foreign and private entities in the food processing industry currently.
Generally, jam and jelly from almost every type of fruit and some
vegetables.
Fruit
jam contains rich fruit pulp and available in quince, apple, blackberry, blueberry, kiwi, apricot, sea buckthorn, gojiberry, mulberry, elderberry, cherry, mixed fruit,
pineappleand orange flavors.
Jelly
is a clear, bright mixture made from fruit juice, sugar and sometimes pectin.
Generally, people use jelly and jam as the bread spread and as a filling for
some cakes and cookies.
An informative guide to elderberry
cultivation for beginners
Elderberries have a long history of use as both
medicine and food. For centuries they have been used in folk medicine for a
variety of ailments and diseases, but they have only recently gained popularity
in the United States. Elderberry fruit is high in vitamins A and C, phosphorus,
potassium and iron. It is also rich in antioxidants and has immune supporting
properties.
There is increasing interest in planting elderberries
for harvesting edible fruits and flowers, although it should be noted that most
parts of the plant are poisonous and the berries must be cooked to be safe for
consumption. Increase in rain gardens and shrub borders. Bees and butterflies
flock to the flowers, and the fruit is highly attractive to many birds and
other wildlife.
identity
Two species of elderberry are commonly grown in
gardens and landscapes: the American elderberry (Sambacux canadensis) and the
European elderberry Sambacus nigra). The American elderberry is native to New Hampshire
and can be found growing in moist soil at the edges of woodlands or wetlands.
It can grow five to ten feet tall and wide and has gray barked stems with white
pithy centers. Groups of stems arise from the roots and develop an arching and
spreading habit. The opposite leaves are compound, with five to 11 leaflets
that have veins. The large, flat-topped, white flowers are borne between
mid-June and mid-July. They give way to purple-black, berry-like fruits in
August to September.
The European elderberry is closely related to the
American elderberry and is quite similar in appearance. The main difference is
that the European elderberry is slightly more tree-like and slightly less cold
hardy. Most cultivated varieties of elderberry that can be purchased at garden
centers and nurseries are European species. These showy forms often have
yellow, purple or lace leaves, and are grown for ornamental rather than
culinary purposes. American elderberry is also readily available for purchase,
both as berries and as potted plants.
Planting
Elderberries are very easy to grow as long as they are
planted in the right conditions. They grow very well in consistently moist,
fertile soil. They can tolerate occasional drought and temporarily wet soils
but are not a good choice for sandy or swampy sites. As for pH, soil can be
either acidic or alkaline, although slightly acidic (5.5 to 6.5) is ideal. For
maximum flowers and berries, plant large berries in full sun. Partial shade can
be tolerated if you are growing the plant for its ornamental foliage.
Plant elderberries in the soil as deep as their roots.
Elderberries are shallow-rooted, so keep them well-watered during the first
growing season. Aim to keep the soil consistently moist, but not soggy, by
applying irrigation whenever rainfall is less than an inch in a week. Applying
a two- to three-inch layer of compost or wood chips to plant roots will help
conserve soil moisture and build organic matter in the soil. Fertilization is
not necessary in the first year after planting. In fact, elderberries generally
don't need a lot of fertilizer and can get all their nutrients from decaying
organic matter in the soil.
Some thought should also go into where the elderberry
is planted from a design and maintenance standpoint. It is a very fast-growing
shrub with a sucking habit that makes it look haphazard and out of place in
certain settings. Although it would look at home in a pond edge, drainage, rain
garden or natural buffer area, it is not the best choice as a foundation plant
or background for a formal garden. Make sure it is planted in an area where it
will be easily accessible for maintenance purposes.
Elderberry requires a lot of pruning to keep it
attractive and productive. Pruning can be dealt with in three different ways:
1) Annual removal of dead or weak stems; 2) Trim stems by about 1/3; or 3) cut
all stems to the ground to rejuvenate completely. Elderberry blooms on the
current season's new growth, so pruning should be done in late winter or early
spring.
Elderberries generally don't need to be fertilized to
keep them lush and healthy, and you should be able to tell by looking at the
bush if additional nutrients are necessary. If the plant is very vigorous and
produces lots of new growth each year, no fertilizer is needed. However, if few
new canes are produced and growth is poor, you may want to consider fertilizing
with a slow-release organic fertilizer. It is best to have your soil tested to
see if the pH and available nutrients are adequate.
During particularly dry periods, elderberry will
benefit from additional irrigation if planted in dry soil. Watering is
extremely important for the first season or two after planting.
Seed/Planting materials can be obtained from Jammu and Kashmir
Medicinal Plants Introduction Centre,POB 40 GPO Srinagar, JK 190001
Mob/WhatsApp : 9858986794
Ph: 01933-223705
e-mail: jkmpic@gmail.com
