## 2 Characteristics of Edible Flowers Used for Tinctures  
Edible flowers are defined as harmless and nontoxic flowers with health benefits that can form part of the human diet. The most frequently mentioned edible flowers are rose flowers and petals (_Rosa spp._), elderberry flowers (_Sambucus nigra_ L.), flowers and petals of _Calendula off_. L. and flowers or more often petals of cornflower, _Centaurea cyanus_ L.  
The genus _Rosa_ L. includes over 120 species occurring mainly in the temperate and subtropical zones of the Northern Hemisphere. _Rosa canina_ L. occupies a special place among the wild species. The flowers and petals of _R. canina_ L. are mainly used for the production of oil and rose water [15; 16] and are used in medicine, armotherapy, and the food cosmetic industries. Studies by [PERSON] et al. [17] showed that rose petals of _R. damascena_, _R. gallica_ and _R. canina_ contain simple sugars, organic acids, fatty acids and tocoperhoels. [PERSON] et al. [18] suggest that due to the high content of bioactive compounds, especially polyphenols, including anthocyanins, flavonoids and ellagitannins, _Rosa rugosa_ petals may be a valuable raw material for the production of health-promoting preparations. Research by [PERSON] et al. [19] showed that _Rosa rugosa_ petals exhibit cytotoxic, antioxidant and antibacterial properties. Until now, mainly _R. canina_ L. fruits, but not flowers, have been used for the production of tinctures [20]. An edible flower known since the earliest times is the elderberry flower _Sambucus nigra_ L. The flowers of this plant contain flavonoids (kaempferol, quercetin, naringenin), phenolic acids (of which chlorogenic acid is the most important), and vitamins (mainly vitamins of the B group and vitamin C). The total content of polyphenolic compounds can even be over 1000 mg/100 g fresh weight and can sometimes be higher than in the fruit. The contents depend on the conditions in which the drying of the plant material was performed, the extraction method, and the solvent used, which in turn affects the antioxidant properties of the obtained extracts [21; 22]. Research shows that the temperature of the infusing water is of great importance for the medicinal value of elderberry flowers. Elderberry flowers were used medicinally as a diaphoretic, for colds and flu, as an analgesic for joint pain, and as a diuretic, antiviral and antibacterial agent. Elderberry flower extracts also show antidiabetic activity by activating glucose metabolism, and are used in cardiovascular diseases [23; 24]. The mechanisms of action and the clinical aspect of the action of natural compounds are widely discussed by [PERSON] et al. [25]. Various forms of elderberry flower are increasingly used in food as colorants for juices, drinks, jams, confectionery, teas and in the pharmaceutical industry [22]. _Calendula officinalis_ L., also called marigold, is a medicinal and ornamental plant. Marigold has been used in medicine since ancient times. Today, _Calendula off._ preparations are used mainly in dermatology for the treatment of skin diseases, burns, and also for patients after radiotherapy. Preparations with marigold extract can also be used as protection against sunlight, but their SPF is not high and amounts to 14.8 [26]. [PERSON] et al. [27] showed that marigold extracts possess antibacterial properties. The healing effect of _Calendula off._ is associated with the presence of calendulosides belonging to triterpene saponins, and flavonoids (mainly quercetin derivatives), phytosterols, carotenoids and coumarin [28; 29]. Marigold owes its colour, ranging from yellow through to orange to dark red, to carotenoids, including \(\alpha\)- and \(\beta\)-carotene, flavoxanthin, luteoxanthin, lycopene, and lutein and its derivatives isolated mainly from marigold flowers [30]. Toxicological studies also excluded the risks associated with the use of _Calendula off._ and recognized that the extracts and oils obtained from marigold are safe and can be used in cosmetics [31].