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Elderberry
•Last Updated: November 15, 2023
Elderberry (Sambucus spp., especially S. nigra) is a fairly ubiquitous fruit that is known on most continents. Elderberry is best known for its antiviral, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory uses, though it enjoys a broad variety of traditional and cultural applications.
Elderberry is most often used for
Last Updated:November 15, 2023
Elderberry (Sambucus spp), particularly S. nigra, is a shrub recognized for its traditional uses in food and medicine, particularly in flu prevention and immune support. The berries are rich in anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compounds, as well as essential nutrients like B vitamins and ascorbic acid.
Elderberry is primarily beneficial for preventing and treating respiratory infections, particularly those caused by viruses like COVID-19 and influenza, and it can enhance immune response during stressful situations. Additionally, clinical trials have explored its effects on cardiovascular disease, eczema treatment, gingivitis prevention, and lipid or carbohydrate oxidation.
Elderberry has several drawbacks, including the presence of the toxin sambunagrin in its leaves, stems, and unripe or uncooked fruit, which can cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Additionally, people who are immunocompromised or have autoimmune conditions should avoid medicinal use of elderberry without medical supervision, and there are reports that associate elderberry consumption with acute pancreatitis and allergic reactions.
Elderberry's positive effects are primarily attributed to its high polyphenol content, which provides anti-inflammatory and antioxidative benefits. Key flavonols and anthocyanins in elderberry contribute to its antioxidant capacity and may help reduce inflammation and defend against infections and malignancies.
Note that Elderberry is also known as:
- Black elderberry
- Blue elderberry
- Sambucus nigra
- Sambucus canadensis
- Sambucus caerulea
- Black elder
- European alder
- Sambucus
- Boor tree
Elderberry should not be confused with:
- American elder
- Elderflower
- Dwarf elder
Most studies administer elderberry in lozenge, capsule, syrup, or juice forms, with doses ranging from 175 to 900 mg/day (15 to 177 mL in liquid forms) over periods of 48 hours to four weeks when used for treatment, and for up to 12 weeks when used as a preventative measure.[4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13]
Research FeedRead all studies
- ^Black Elderberry: Calscape. Sacramento, CA: California Native Plant Society.
- ^Plant of the Week: American Black Elderberry (Sambucus nigra L. ssp. Canadensis (L.) R. Bolli). Washington, DC: US Forest Service
- ^Elderberry
- ^Hawkins J, Baker C, Cherry L, Dunne EBlack elderberry (Sambucus nigra) supplementation effectively treats upper respiratory symptoms: A meta-analysis of randomized, controlled clinical trials.Complement Ther Med.(2019-Feb)
- ^Chan V, Wang L, Allman-Farinelli MEfficacy of Functional Foods, Beverages, and Supplements Claiming to Alleviate Air Travel Symptoms: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Nutrients.(2021-Mar-16)
- ^Curtis PJ, Kroon PA, Hollands WJ, Walls R, Jenkins G, Kay CD, Cassidy ACardiovascular disease risk biomarkers and liver and kidney function are not altered in postmenopausal women after ingesting an elderberry extract rich in anthocyanins for 12 weeks.J Nutr.(2009-Dec)
- ^Farahani AM, Aryanian Z, Memariani Z, Mozaffarpur SA, Shirafkan HA Comparison of the Effect of Topical Preparation of L. and Hydrocortisone on Hand Eczema: A Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial.J Altern Complement Med.(2021-Apr)
- ^Kim YR, Nam SHA randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial evaluating of a mouthwash containing Sambucus williamsii var. coreana extract for prevention of gingivitits.Sci Rep.(2022-07-18)
- ^Murkovic M, Abuja PM, Bergmann AR, Zirngast A, Adam U, Winklhofer-Roob BM, Toplak HEffects of elderberry juice on fasting and postprandial serum lipids and low-density lipoprotein oxidation in healthy volunteers: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.Eur J Clin Nutr.(2004-Feb)
- ^Macknin M, Wolski K, Negrey J, Mace SElderberry Extract Outpatient Influenza Treatment for Emergency Room Patients Ages 5 and Above: a Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.J Gen Intern Med.(2020-Nov)
- ^Wieland LS, Piechotta V, Feinberg T, Ludeman E, Hutton B, Kanji S, Seely D, Garritty CElderberry for prevention and treatment of viral respiratory illnesses: a systematic review.BMC Complement Med Ther.(2021-Apr-07)
- ^Crawford C, Brown LL, Costello RB, Deuster PASelect Dietary Supplement Ingredients for Preserving and Protecting the Immune System in Healthy Individuals: A Systematic Review.Nutrients.(2022 Nov 1)
- ^Rust BM, Riordan JO, Carbonero FG, Solverson PMOne-Week Elderberry Juice Treatment Increases Carbohydrate Oxidation after a Meal Tolerance Test and Is Well Tolerated in Adults: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study.Nutrients.(2023-Apr-25)
- ^Elderberry.Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed®).(2006)
- ^Osman AG, Avula B, Katragunta K, Ali Z, Chittiboyina AG, Khan IAElderberry Extracts: Characterization of the Polyphenolic Chemical Composition, Quality Consistency, Safety, Adulteration, and Attenuation of Oxidative Stress- and Inflammation-Induced Health Disorders.Molecules.(2023-Mar-31)
- ^Kolesarova A, Baldovska S, Kohut L, Sirotkin AVBlack Elder and Its Constituents: Molecular Mechanisms of Action Associated with Female Reproduction.Pharmaceuticals (Basel).(2022-Feb-17)
- ^Kesheh MM, Shavandi S, Haeri Moghaddam N, Ramezani M, Ramezani FEffect of herbal compounds on coronavirus; a systematic review and meta-analysis.Virol J.(2022-May-21)
- ^Weissman S, Lo A, Patel R, Mehta TI, Singh V, Aziz M, Belyayeva A, Cherian J, Amrutiya V, Atoot A, Hassan A, Sotiriadis J, Atoot A, Tabibian JHAn Unusual Culprit of Drug-Induced Pancreatitis.Dig Dis Sci.(2020-May)
- ^Szalai K, Schöll I, Förster-Waldl E, Polito L, Bolognesi A, Untersmayr E, Riemer AB, Boltz-Nitulescu G, Stirpe F, Jensen-Jarolim EOccupational sensitization to ribosome-inactivating proteins in researchers.Clin Exp Allergy.(2005-Oct)
- ^Centers for Disease Control (CDC)Poisoning from elderberry juice--CaliforniaMMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep.(1984 Apr 6)
- ^Młynarczyk K, Walkowiak-Tomczak D, Łysiak GPBioactive properties of L. as a functional ingredient for food and pharmaceutical industry.J Funct Foods.(2018-Jan)
- ^Caceres A, Lopez BR, Giron MA, Logemann HPlants used in Guatemala for the treatment of dermatophytic infections. 1. Screening for antimycotic activity of 44 plant extracts.J Ethnopharmacol.(1991-Mar)
- ^di Tizio A, Łuczaj ŁJ, Quave CL, Redžić S, Pieroni ATraditional food and herbal uses of wild plants in the ancient South-Slavic diaspora of Mundimitar/Montemitro (Southern Italy).J Ethnobiol Ethnomed.(2012-Jun-06)
- ^Calvo MI, Cavero RYMedicinal plants used for ophthalmological problems in Navarra (Spain).J Ethnopharmacol.(2016-Aug-22)
- ^Nidal Amin Jaradat, Abdel Naser Zaid, Rowa Al-Ramahi, Malik A Alqub, Fatima Hussein, Zakaria Hamdan, Mahmoud Mustafa, Mohammad Qneibi, Iyad AliEthnopharmacological survey of medicinal plants practiced by traditional healers and herbalists for treatment of some urological diseases in the West Bank/PalestineBMC Complement Altern Med.(2017 May 8)
- ^Lesibana Peter Maema, Martin Potgieter, Salome Mamokone MahloINVASIVE ALIEN PLANT SPECIES USED FOR THE TREATMENT OF VARIOUS DISEASES IN LIMPOPO PROVINCE, SOUTH AFRICAAfr J Tradit Complement Altern Med.(2016 Jul 3)
- ^Moerman, Daniel ENative American Ethnobotany A Database of Foods, Drugs, Dyes and Fibers of Native American Peoples, Derived from Plants.University of Michigan-Dearborn.(2023 Oct)
- ^van der Gaag EJ, Hummel TZFood or medication? The therapeutic effects of food on the duration and incidence of upper respiratory tract infections: a Review of the literature.Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr.(2021)
- ^Tiralongo E, Wee SS, Lea RAElderberry Supplementation Reduces Cold Duration and Symptoms in Air-Travellers: A Randomized, Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Clinical TrialNutrients.(2016 Mar 24)
- ^Guo R, Pittler MH, Ernst EComplementary medicine for treating or preventing influenza or influenza-like illness.Am J Med.(2007-Nov)
- ^Srivastava A, Gupta RC, Doss RB, Lall RTrace Minerals, Vitamins and Nutraceuticals in Prevention and Treatment of COVID-19.J Diet Suppl.(2022)
- ^Yaseen MO, Jamshaid H, Saif A, Hussain TImmunomodulatory role and potential utility of various nutrients and dietary components in SARS-CoV-2 infection.Int J Vitam Nutr Res.(2022-Jan)
- ^Porter RS, Bode RFA Review of the Antiviral Properties of Black Elder (Sambucus nigra L.) Products.Phytother Res.(2017-Apr)
- ^Zafra-Stone S, Yasmin T, Bagchi M, Chatterjee A, Vinson JA, Bagchi DBerry anthocyanins as novel antioxidants in human health and disease prevention.Mol Nutr Food Res.(2007-Jun)
- ^Aguzzi C, Marinelli O, Zeppa L, Santoni G, Maggi F, Nabissi MEvaluation of anti-inflammatory and immunoregulatory activities of Stimunex® and Stimunex D3® in human monocytes/macrophages stimulated with LPS or IL-4/IL-13.Biomed Pharmacother.(2020-Dec)
- ^Barak V, Halperin T, Kalickman IThe effect of Sambucol, a black elderberry-based, natural product, on the production of human cytokines: I. Inflammatory cytokinesEur Cytokine Netw.(2001 Apr-Jun)
- ^Barak V, Birkenfeld S, Halperin T, Kalickman IThe effect of herbal remedies on the production of human inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines.Isr Med Assoc J.(2002-Nov)
- ^Kim YR, Nam SHThe Effect of Mouthwash with Sambucus williamsii var. coreana Extract on Halitosis: A Randomised, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study.Oral Health Prev Dent.(2022-Jun-28)
- ^Jabbari M, Hashempur MH, Razavi SZ, Shahraki HR, Kamalinejad M, Emtiazy MEfficacy and short-term safety of topical Dwarf Elder (Sambucus ebulus L.) versus diclofenac for knee osteoarthritis: A randomized, double-blind, active-controlled trial.J Ethnopharmacol.(2016-Jul-21)
- ^D Bagchi, C K Sen, M Bagchi, M AtalayAnti-angiogenic, antioxidant, and anti-carcinogenic properties of a novel anthocyanin-rich berry extract formulaBiochemistry (Mosc).(2004 Jan)
- ^Shirin Hasani-Ranjbar, Neda Nayebi, Bagher Larijani, Mohammad AbdollahiA systematic review of the efficacy and safety of herbal medicines used in the treatment of obesityWorld J Gastroenterol.(2009 Jul 7)
- ^Ivanova D, Tasinov O, Kiselova-Kaneva YImproved lipid profile and increased serum antioxidant capacity in healthy volunteers after Sambucus ebulus L. fruit infusion consumption.Int J Food Sci Nutr.(2014-Sep)
- ^Ramachandran A, Antala D, Pudasainee P, Panginikkod S, Gupta HA Plausible Association Between the Use of Elderberry and Autoimmune Hepatitis.Cureus.(2022 Apr)
- ^Förster-Waldl E, Marchetti M, Schöll I, Focke M, Radauer C, Kinaciyan T, Nentwich I, Jäger S, Schmid ER, Boltz-Nitulescu G, Scheiner O, Jensen-Jarolim EType I allergy to elderberry (Sambucus nigra) is elicited by a 33.2 kDa allergen with significant homology to ribosomal inactivating proteins.Clin Exp Allergy.(2003 Dec)
- ^Agarwal N, Mangla AElderberry interaction with pazopanib in a patient with soft‑tissue sarcoma: A case report and literature review.Mol Clin Oncol.(2024 May)
- ^Or Han, N. et alEstimating the extent of adulteration of the popular herbs black cohosh, echinacea, elder berry, ginkgo, and turmeric – its challenges and limitationsNatural Product Reports.(2024-08)
- ^Holst L, Havnen GC, Nordeng HEchinacea and elderberry-should they be used against upper respiratory tract infections during pregnancy?Front Pharmacol.(2014 Mar 4)
- ^Ulbricht C, Basch E, Cheung L, Goldberg H, Hammerness P, Isaac R, Khalsa KP, Romm A, Rychlik I, Varghese M, Weissner W, Windsor RC, Wortley JAn evidence-based systematic review of elderberry and elderflower (Sambucus nigra) by the Natural Standard Research CollaborationJ Diet Suppl.(2014 Mar)
- Carbohydrate Oxidation - Rust BM, Riordan JO, Carbonero FG, Solverson PMOne-Week Elderberry Juice Treatment Increases Carbohydrate Oxidation after a Meal Tolerance Test and Is Well Tolerated in Adults: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study.Nutrients.(2023-Apr-25)
- Total cholesterol - Murkovic M, Abuja PM, Bergmann AR, Zirngast A, Adam U, Winklhofer-Roob BM, Toplak HEffects of elderberry juice on fasting and postprandial serum lipids and low-density lipoprotein oxidation in healthy volunteers: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.Eur J Clin Nutr.(2004-Feb)
- Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Symptoms - Macknin M, Wolski K, Negrey J, Mace SElderberry Extract Outpatient Influenza Treatment for Emergency Room Patients Ages 5 and Above: a Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.J Gen Intern Med.(2020-Nov)
- Dental Health Metrics - Kim YR, Nam SHA randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial evaluating of a mouthwash containing Sambucus williamsii var. coreana extract for prevention of gingivitits.Sci Rep.(2022-07-18)
- Eczema Symptoms - Farahani AM, Aryanian Z, Memariani Z, Mozaffarpur SA, Shirafkan HA Comparison of the Effect of Topical Preparation of L. and Hydrocortisone on Hand Eczema: A Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial.J Altern Complement Med.(2021-Apr)
- Risk Of Cardiovascular Disease - Curtis PJ, Kroon PA, Hollands WJ, Walls R, Jenkins G, Kay CD, Cassidy ACardiovascular disease risk biomarkers and liver and kidney function are not altered in postmenopausal women after ingesting an elderberry extract rich in anthocyanins for 12 weeks.J Nutr.(2009-Dec)
- Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Risk - Crawford C, Brown LL, Costello RB, Deuster PASelect Dietary Supplement Ingredients for Preserving and Protecting the Immune System in Healthy Individuals: A Systematic Review.Nutrients.(2022 Nov 1)
- Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Symptoms - Wieland LS, Piechotta V, Feinberg T, Ludeman E, Hutton B, Kanji S, Seely D, Garritty CElderberry for prevention and treatment of viral respiratory illnesses: a systematic review.BMC Complement Med Ther.(2021-Apr-07)
- Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Symptoms - Hawkins J, Baker C, Cherry L, Dunne EBlack elderberry (Sambucus nigra) supplementation effectively treats upper respiratory symptoms: A meta-analysis of randomized, controlled clinical trials.Complement Ther Med.(2019-Feb)