Comparison of major taste compounds and antioxidative properties of fruits and flowers of different Sambucus species and interspecific hybrids

•Elderberries and elderflowers new sources of natural antioxidants and nutraceuticals.•Sugars and acids in three elderberry species and seven interspecific hybrids.•High variability in total phenolics and antioxidant activity in elderberry fruits and flowers.•Results could be interest for breeders and for food and pharmaceutical industry.

Differences in the content of sugars, organic acids, total phenolics and antioxidative activity have been evaluated among three different elderberry species (Sambucus nigra, Sambucus cerulea, Sambucus javanica) and seven interspecific hybrids. The highest content of sugars has been determined in the fruits of JA × CER hybrid and the lowest in fruits of (JA × NI) × cv. Black Beauty hybrid. S. nigra berries contained highest levels of total organic acids. S. nigra and (JA × NI) × CER flower extracts were characterized by 1.3- to 2.8-fold higher content of total sugars compared to other species/hybrids analyzed. Total phenolic content (TPC) in berries ranged from 3687 to 6831 mg GAE per kg FW. The highest TPC has been determined in S. nigra fruits and flowers. The ABTS scavenging activity differed significantly among species and hybrids and ranged from 3.2 to 39.59 mM trolox/kg FW in fruits and 44.87–118.26 mM trolox/kg DW in flowers.