# Evaluation of _Sambucus nigra_ L. Biopotential as an Unused Natural Resource
## 3 Results and Discussion
### Total Bioactive Compounds and Phenolic Components
#### 3.1.2 Phenolic Profile  
Quantitative analysis of 48 selected phenolics in obtained extracts was performed by LC-MS/MS technique and it resulted in the quantitative determination of 18 compounds (Tables 1 and 2). The analysis revealed chlorogenic acid as the most abundant phenolic acid in extracts of fresh elderberry fruits, particularly in H\({}_{2}\)O extracts. The highest content of chlorogenic acid was observed in H\({}_{2}\)O MAE (0.935 \(\upmu\)g/mg), while the lowest was found in UAE and MAC extracts (0.881 and 0.642 \(\upmu\)g/mg, respectively). The presence of chlorogenic acid in 50% EtOH extracts of fresh elderberry fruits ranged from 0.714-0.824 \(\upmu\)g/mg, with no statistically significant difference between extracts obtained by modern and traditional extraction techniques. Furthermore, H\({}_{2}\)O extracts obtained by modern extraction techniques were better sources of protocatechuic acid than corresponding 50% EtOH extracts. Regarding extracts obtained by the traditional extraction technique, it was observed that 50% EtOH MAC extract was richer in protocatechuic acid than H\({}_{2}\)O MAC extract. \(p\)-Hydroxy benzoic acid (\(p\)-OH) has been identified in the fresh elderberry fruit extracts, with the highest concentration in water and ethanol extracts (0.126 and 0.119 \(\upmu\)g/mg, \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c c c c} \hline \hline
**Extraction Technique** & **UAE** & **MAE** & **MAC** & **UAE** & **MAE** & **MAC** \\ \hline
**Solvent** & \multicolumn{3}{c}{**H\({}_{2}\)O**} & \multicolumn{3}{c}{**50\% EtOH**} \\ \hline
**Phenolic Acids and Ursolic Acid** & & & & & \\
**Acid** & & & & & \\ \hline \(p\)-OH benzoic acid & 0.093 \(\pm\) 0.006 \({}^{\rm d}\) & 0.112 \(\pm\) 0.002 \({}^{\rm c}\) & 0.126 \(\pm\) 0.008 \({}^{\rm a}\) & 0.113 \(\pm\) 0.007 \({}^{\rm c}\) & 0.110 \(\pm\) 0.007 \({}^{\rm c}\) & 0.119 \(\pm\) 0.007 \({}^{\rm b}\) \\ Protatechuic acid & 0.316 \(\pm\) 0.025 \({}^{\rm d}\) & 1.188 \(\pm\) 0.070 \({}^{\rm a}\) & 0.285 \(\pm\) 0.021 \({}^{\rm c}\)d & 0.244 \(\pm\) 0.020 \({}^{\rm e}\) & 0.513 \(\pm\) 0.025 \({}^{\rm b}\) & 0.406 \(\pm\) 0.032 \({}^{\rm c}\) \\ \(p\)-Coumaric acid & 0.040 \(\pm\) 0.004 \({}^{\rm d}\) & 0.056 \(\pm\) 0.005 \({}^{\rm b}\) & 0.050 \(\pm\) 0.004 \({}^{\rm c}\) & 0.034 \(\pm\) 0.003 \({}^{\rm e}\) & 0.061 \(\pm\) 0.006 \({}^{\rm a}\) & 0.041 \(\pm\) 0.004 \({}^{\rm d}\) \\ Gallic acid & 0.011 \(\pm\) 0.001 \({}^{\rm d}\) & 0.029 \(\pm\) 0.003 \({}^{\rm a}\) & 0.017 \(\pm\) 0.002 \({}^{\rm c}\) & 0.009 \(\pm\) 0.001 \({}^{\rm e}\) & 0.023 \(\pm\) 0.002 \({}^{\rm b}\) & 0.011 \(\pm\) 0.001 \({}^{\rm d}\) \\ Caffe acid & 0.021 \(\pm\) 0.001 \({}^{\rm c}\) & 0.026 \(\pm\) 0.002 \({}^{\rm b}\) & 0.079 \(\pm\) 0.006 \({}^{\rm a}\) & 0.027 \(\pm\) 0.002 \({}^{\rm b}\) & 0.024 \(\pm\) 0.002 \({}^{\rm b}\) & 0.024 \(\pm\) 0.002 \({}^{\rm b}\) \\ Quinic acid & 21.58 \(\pm\) 2.148 \({}^{\rm b,c}\) & 21.15 \(\pm\) 2.005 \({}^{\rm c}\) & 20.56 \(\pm\) 1.956 \({}^{\rm d}\) & 17.16 \(\pm\) 1.716 \({}^{\rm e}\) & 22.37 \(\pm\) 2.227 \({}^{\rm a}\) & 21.71 \(\pm\) 2.111 \({}^{\rm b}\) \\ Chlorogenic acid & 0.881 \(\pm\) 0.093 \({}^{\rm a,b}\) & 0.935 \(\pm\) 0.279 \({}^{\rm a}\) & 0.643 \(\pm\) 0.001 \({}^{\rm d}\) & 0.714 \(\pm\) 0.131 \({}^{\rm d}\) & 0.735 \(\pm\) 0.015 \({}^{\rm d}\) & 0.824 \(\pm\) 0.015 \({}^{\rm b}\) \\ Ursolic acid & 0.002 \(\pm\) 0.000 \({}^{\rm d}\) & \({}^{\rm c}\)LOD \({}^{\rm a}\) & 2.486 \(\pm\) 0.075 \({}^{\rm c}\) & 6.623 \(\pm\) 0.255 \({}^{\rm a}\) & 4.978 \(\pm\) 0.149 \({}^{\rm b}\) \\ \hline \hline \(\pm\)3 SD. Means within each row with different superscripts (\({}^{a-b}\)) differ significantly (\(p\leq\) 0.05) \({}^{\ast}\)-LoD limit of detection ** Analyzed, but not detected: Apin, Apigenin, Apigenin 7-O-glucose, Baicalin, Chrysooriol, Daidzein, Genistein, Epigallocatechin gallate, Luteolin, Luteolin & \\
7-O-glucose, Matiresinol, Myricetin, Sinapic acid, Syringic acid, Secisoladicresinol, Vitexin. & & & \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular}
\end{table}