Nutritional and Phytochemical Profile of Garden-Grown Sanguisorba

The nutritional composition and polyphenolic profile were determined in leaf and flowering shoots of burnet species (Sanguisorba officinalis, S. officinalis 'Tanna', and S. menziesii), with plant material further separated into leaves and stems. The results demonstrated that these herbs are valuable sources of dietary fiber, as well as being rich in protein and essential minerals. Depending on the morphological part, dietary fiber content ranged from 37.8 to 67.7 g/100 g, protein content from 5.3 to 19.5 g/100 g, and ash content from 3.8 to 9.9 g/100 g. Moreover, Sanguisorba species are particularly abundant in polyphenols (1-11% DM), with ellagitannins such as lambertianin C and sanguiin H-6 being the predominant constituents; in selected samples, they accounted for more than 90% of the total identified polyphenols. Due to their pleasant taste and aroma, and their dietary fiber, protein, and ellagitannin content, an attempt was made to evaluate their suitability as ingredients in food products. The results indicated that leaves are the most suitable for culinary applications into dishes such as soups and smoothies, whereas stems may serve as valuable raw material for dietary fiber- and phenolic-rich preparations. In conclusion, these findings support the promotion of edible herbs that are not only nutritious, palatable, and rich in ellagitannins, but also aesthetically valuable in garden settings and beneficial for pollinators.