The black elder is a widespread species in Eastern Europe. It is found in the undergrowth of deciduous forests, on the fringe of forests, next to agricultural areas and on uncultivated fallows. It prefers nitrogen rich soils but survives everywhere except saline soils with stagnant water. It is a long-lived, deciduous, easily regenerating shrub, which may grow to 6 m in favourable conditions. The dark green leaves are pinnate with five serrated leaflets on average. The flowers are born in corymbs in which the individual flowers are small, yellowish white, have five petals and a distinctive fragrance. The fruit is a dark purple to black berry (stone fruit) of 5-8 mm in diameter; the berries of the same inflorescence do not ripen at the same time. Black elder has been in use for a long time and in various ways in Hungary. Elderberry jam was first produced in the western parts of Hungary; its flowers were dipped in whisked egg and fried. Where cultivated, most of it is used for producing colouring agent but is also made into syrup, mixed fruit jam and juice. The berries cannot be eaten raw, as they contain poisonous sambunigrin. Elder used to play a major role in folklore and beliefs. In an area of Hungary called Cserehat maggots were thought to leave an animal if elderberries were stamped on and covered with soil. In the Palocz region of Hungary, elder offshoots were thrown among pigs in order to protect them from disease. Elder bush planted next to a house was believed to attract lightning.

In some places it is called "beneficial tree", since all of its parts are of use to people. Folk medicine regards it as a "complete pharmacy". The infusion of its flowers is used as diuretic and diaphoretic for colds. Its antitussive effect was discovered in the previous century and it is still used as a medicament in Transylvania. Elder berry is made into curative jam used as a roborant and diaphoretic in case of colds. The berries have a slight laxative and diuretic effect. It is also applied in case of rheumatism. In traditional medicine its bark was used for making vermifugal tea.

In the beauty industry the water solution of fragrances in elder flower is used as a skin conditioner, the extract of the flowers is a skin conditioner, toner, roborant and abirritant, and the extract of the fruits is also a skin conditioner. Elderflower water is recommended for cleansing oily skin, or to be applied as a poultice for tired and baggy eyes as well as a mouth wash or aftershave. Products containing elder flower are highly effective for loose, aging, oil and moisture deficient skin, while flavonoid rich elder berries are beneficial to tired and stressed, aging skin.

►Inflorescence (Sambuci flos)

Flavonoids: 2-3 % (rutin, quercetin, sambucin)
Saponins: (ursolic acid)
Chlorogenic acid
Cyano-glycoside (sambunigrin)
Essential oil: 0.1-0.2%
Mucilage

►Fruit (Sambuci fructus)

Organic acids (malic acid, acetic acid)
Anthocyanins (sambucyanin)
Vitamins (A, C)
Tannins, sugars, essential oil

►Leaf (Sambuci folium)

Tannins
Sambunigrin glycoside