539. Sambucus, N.F.—Elder.
Botanical name:
539. SAMBUCUS, N.F.—ELDER. The dry flowers of Sambu'cus canaden'sis Linné. Collected when in full bloom and rapidly dried, the commercial drug being composed of the small, yellowish, somewhat wheel-shaped and shriveled flowers, mixed with a few expanded ones; usually detached from their peduncles, which are mixed with them. They have a sweetish, somewhat bitter taste, and a slight, peculiar, agreeable odor, due to a very small quantity of volatile oil. The European elder (S. nigra) resembles S. canadensis. Constituents: Besides volatile oil, they contain sugar, mucilage, fat, wax, resin, pectin, albuminoids, and probably a little tannin. Stimulant, carminative, and diaphoretic. Dose: 30 to 60 gr. (2 to 4 Gm.).
