Elderberry is known for its tart flavor, similar to a blackberry at peak ripeness. It’s fantastic in salads and an excellent pairing with figs. And, as one new study explains, it may also one day help people reverse insulin resistance.

In December, researchers from the Cleveland Clinic published their study’s findings in the journal Molecular Metabolism, explaining how the tiny elderberry may hold significant powers.

According to the researchers, the key player is cinnamic acid, a compound found in elderberry extract (and other fruits like tart cherries). In the study, mice were fed a high-fat diet with or without elderberry extract. When the animals that consumed the elderberry extract had a normal gut microbiome, a common gut bacterium, Clostridium sporogenes, converted cinnamic acid into a metabolite that helps break down food into energy and is transported from the intestines to the liver. Once there, the team said, it “activates pathways that improve insulin control and reduce fat creation.”