Elderberry

A bush, with branches that are often curved, that can measure 1 to 10 metres in height - Green-grey fissured bark - Deciduous, opposite and odd pinnate leaves comprising 5 to 7 folioles, regularly serrated, a little more velvety along the veins and releasing a pleasant fragrance when rubbed. The leaves mature early (around 6 March) - Hermaphrodite flowers that appear at the start of summer, very pleasantly fragranced with 5 creamy-white coloured petals placed in flat corymbs of 100 to 240 mm in diameter - Fruits: small purplish-black berries of 6-8 mm arranged in clusters of three seeds, with soft flesh.

Latin name

Sambucus nigra L.

Origin

Europe, Western Asia and North Africa, aside from the mountainous regions.

Used part

The fruit.

Active components

Flavonoids: are known for their antioxidant action but are probably also responsible for the immunostimulant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Anthocyanins: contribute to the antioxidant action.

Lectins (Type II ribosome-inactivating protein, Sambucus nigra agglutinin III): have an antiviral action and inhibit the reproduction of viruses and their adherence to the cell walls.

Tannins: have an astringent and therefore antiseptic effect.

Usage

Elderberry flowers are used for infusions, but are also ideal for the preparation of refreshing lemonades and delicious syrups. In certain regions, these flowers are soaked in a paste to be used to make doughnuts. The berries are edible once cooked and can be used to make jam, syrup and even to produce wine and beer. Both the flowers and the berries are traditionally used to combat a cold. The hollowed stems can be used as whistles, in a practice that dates back to ancient times. Thanks to the presence of anthocyanins and flavonoids, elderberry is a powerful antioxidant capable of protecting the cells against oxidative stress. _1-3 However, it also protects against chills, because it is an immunostimulant. It is possible that certain pectins in the juice of the berries activate the immune system’s non-specific macrophages through the increased production of cytokines._4-5 The flavonoids present prevent the viruses’ ability to infect and replicate._6,7,8,9 The lectins and gallic acid also contribute to this effect. Moreover, elderberry is also active against numerous pathological bacteria. ₁₂ This makes elderberry a broad-spectrum antiviral and antibacterial agent with proven efficacy against colds and influenza-like symptoms. _13,14

Bibliographical references

Antioxidant and Prooxidant Activities of Elderberry (Sambucus nigra) Extract in Low-Density Lipoprotein Oxidation
Peter M. Abuja, Michael Murkovic , and Werner Pfannhauser
J. Agric. Food Chem., 1998, 46 (10), pp 4091–4096
Pubmed: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/231556173
Incorporation of the elderberry anthocyanins by endothelial cells increases protection against oxidative stress.
Youdim KA, Martin A, Joseph JA.
Free Radic Biol Med. 2000 Jul 1;29(1):51-60.
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10962205
Anti-angiogenic, antioxidant, and anti-carcinogenic properties of a novel anthocyanin-rich berry extract formula.
Bagchi D, Sen CK, Bagchi M, Atalay M.
Biochemistry (Mosc). 2004 Jan;69(1):75-80, 1 p preceding 75.
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14972022
Structure-activity relationship of immunomodulating pectins from elderberries.
Ho GT, Ahmed A, Zou YF, Aslaksen T, Wangensteen H, Barsett H
Carbohydrate Polymers 2015,125, 241-248
ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/274723935_Structure-activity_relationship_of_immunomodulating_pectins_from_elderberries
The effect of Sambucol, a black elderberry-based, natural product, on the production of human cytokines: I. Inflammatory cytokines.
Barak V, Halperin T, Kalickman I.
Eur Cytokine Netw. 2001 Apr-Jun;12(2):290-6.
Pubmed: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11399518
Elderberry flavonoids bind to and prevent H1N1 infection in vitro.
Roschek B Jr, Fink RC, McMichael MD, Li D, Alberte RS
Phytochemistry. 2009 Jul; 70(10):1255-61.
+https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19682714
Binding of a natural anthocyanin inhibitor to influenza neuraminidase by mass spectrometry
Swaminathan K, Dyason JC, Maggioni A, von Itzstein M, Downard KM
Anal Bioanal Chem. (2013) 405 (20): 6563–72.
Pubmed: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23748498
Inhibition of several strains of influenza virus in vitro and reduction of symptoms by an elderberry extract (Sambucus nigra L.) during an outbreak of influenza B Panama.
Zakay-Rones Z, Varsano N, Zlotnik M, et al.
J Altern Complement Med 1995;1:361-9.
Pubmed: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9395631
Sambucus nigra extracts inhibit infectious bronchitis virus at an early point during replication
Chen C, Zuckerman DM, Brantley S, Sharpe M, Childress K, Hoiczyk E, Pendleton AR
BMC Vet Res. 2014 Jan 16;10:24.
PMC: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3899428/
The carbohydrate-binding plant lectins and the non-peptidic antibiotic pradimicin A target the glycans of the coronavirus envelope glycoproteins.
Van der Meer FJUM, de Haan CAM, Schuurman NMP, Haijema BJ, Verheije MH, Bosch BJ, Balzarini J, Egberink HF
J Antimicrob Chemother. 2007, 60: 741-749
Pubmed: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17704516
Anti-human rhinovirus activity of gallic acid possessing antioxidant capacity.
Phytother Res. 2010 Sep;24(9):1292-6.
Choi HJ, Song JH, Bhatt LR, Baek SH.
Pubmed: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20104501
Inhibitory activity of a standardized elderberry liquid extract against clinically-relevant human respiratory bacterial pathogens and influenza A and B viruses
Krawitz C, Mraheil MA, Stein M, Imirzalioglu C, Domann E, Pleschka S, Hain T.
BMC Complement Altern Med. 2011 Feb 25;11:16
Pubmed: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21352539
Elderberry Supplementation Reduces Cold Duration and Symptoms in Air-Travellers: A Randomized
Blind Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial
Evelin Tiralongo, Shirley S. Wee, Rodney A. Lea
Nutrients. 2016 Apr; 8(4): 182.
PMC: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4848651/
Pilot clinical study on a proprietary elderberry extract: efficacy in addressing influenza symptoms.
King HF.
Journal of Pharmacology and Pharmacokinetics. 2009;5: 32-43
ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/285223775_Pilot_clinical_study_on_a_proprietary_elderberry_extract_Efficacy_in_addressing_influenza_symptoms

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The health claims relating to other nutrients or substances contained in our products that feature on our site are compliant with Regulation No. 432/2012 of the Commission of 16 May 2012 which establishes a list of authorised health claims authorised in relation to food products, other than those in reference to the reduction of the risk of disease as well as community-based development and child health (cf. website of the European Commission: http://ec.europa.eu/nuhclaims/).