Biochemical diversity and anticancer potential of phenolic compounds in Sambucus nigra L. cultivars

Elderberry ( Sambucus nigra L.) is increasingly recognized as a valuable source of bioactive compounds with potential health benefits. The present study investigated the variability of phenolic compounds and their biological potential, focusing on antioxidant activity and anticancer effects in fruit extracts from three cultivars ('Haschberg', 'Dana', and 'Sambo 5′) and two clones (SN1 and SN2). Chromatographic analysis identified 20 compounds, including phenolic acids, flavonols, flavones, flavan-3-ols, and flavanones. Major compounds included rutin (1998.28 µg/g DW), isoquercitrin (991.29 µg/g DW), and chlorogenic acid (402.39 µg/g DW). Notably, the cultivars 'Haschberg' and 'Sambo 5′ exhibited the highest cytotoxic activity against various cancer cell lines, showing particularly strong effects against the triple-negative breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231. These findings suggest that elderberry fruits could be developed as functional ingredients for nutraceuticals, dietary supplements, or natural antioxidant formulations. Moreover, their demonstrated anticancer potential highlights the value of targeted cultivar selection for future pharmaceutical research.