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What is Elderberry? Elderberry is shrub native to tempeate areas that has many traditional health benefits and folkloric legends…..(more)

Elderberry Preparation Elderberry are available as fruits and are cooked to make jams,cakes and pies. Elderberry tea is made from extract and taken 3 -4 times a day…(more)

Scientific Name: Sambucus nigra, Sambucus Canadensis

Other Names: Elderberry, Black elder, American Elderberry, European elder, German elder, Common elder, Elder flower, Bore tree, and Pipe tree.

Elderberry (Sambucus) is a medium to large deciduous shrub or tree composed of about 5 to 20 species in the Caprifoliaceae, or honeysuckle, family. The American Elderberry usually grows to about 4 meters while its cousins in European areas can grow to a height over 8 meters. Elderberry produces dense thickets. The Elderberry is native to temperate to sub temperate areas such as in Europe, Asia, North Africa and the eastern and northern United States.

The leaves are arranged in opposite pairs, pinnately compound with five to nine toothed leaflets that is around 5-10 cm long and 3-5 cm wide. In summer, it bears large clusters of small white edible flowers about 20 to 30 cm in diameter. The individual sweet smelling flowers are about 5 to 6 centimeters in diameter, each with five petals. In spring, the flowers turn to small clusters of small edible blue-black or deep purple berries about 3 to 5 cm in diameter each. While other plant parts are considered toxic.

Elderberry has many traditional benefits that were enjoyed by people throughout the centuries. Elderberry bears fruits and flowers that are edible when cooked. Elderberry are used to make tea, wines, jams, cakes, and others. Elderberry leaves and other parts though considered toxic offers health benefits when used for external purposes.

Other Chemical Constituents of Elderberry

chlorogenic acid Flavonoids ( rutin, quercetin ), sambunigrin, sambucine, terpenes,

Elderberry has been traditionally and widely used herbal plant for its medicinal benefits. In some European folklore, elderberry is believed to even possess legendary properties such as its ability to ward off evil spirits and as a bringer of good luck when planted near one’s home. On the other hand, it will bring bad luck to cut down an elderberry tree.

Elderberry flower extracts have been traditionally used to prepare elderberry tea for treating colds, coughs, fevers and flu. Elderberry has been claimed to fight infections and inflammation. Elderberry leaf, bark, root and flower extracts are being used to treat many skin diseases and problems including psoriasis, eczema, boils, cuts, burns and wounds.

Other health benefits from elderberry include increased body resistance from illness, weight loss, and improved digestive system, as laxative, diuretic, and treatment for nervous system disorders. Elderberry is likewise being used to treat cancer.

Antioxidant Health Benefit from Elderberry Wine

In a study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 2010 entitled “Elderberry (Sambucus nigra L.) wine: a product rich in health promoting compounds” it has been reported that the color components, antioxidative potential, and total phenolic content are abundant in elderberry wine. These compounds were comparable and even exceed the antioxidative potentials of other fruit derived wines. The study further suggests that elderberry wine possess active phenolics that have beneficial antioxidative activity.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20735034

Antifungal Health Benefits of Elderberry Compounds

In a study published in a journal the Molecules, 2010 entitled “Antifungal effect of (+)-pinoresinol isolated from Sambucus williamsii” has shown that a biphenolic compound isolated from the herb Sambucus williamsii (elderberry) used in traditional medicine possess antifungal activity without hemolytic effects on human erythrocytes. The study further suggests that elderberry has potential health benefits in the therapeutic treatment of fungal infectious in humans.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20657496

Laxative Effect of Elderberry Compounds

In a study published in BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2010 entitled “Randomized clinical trial of a phytotherapic compound containing Pimpinella anisum, Foeniculum vulgare, Sambucus nigra, and Cassia augustifolia for chronic constipation” has reported that the laxative efficacy and safety of A phytotherapic compound containing Pimpinella anisum L., Foeniculum vulgare Miller, Sambucus nigra L., and Cassia augustifolia for the treatment of constipation has been confirmed. The study further suggests that the phytotherapic compound assessed has laxative efficacy and is a safe alternative option for the treatment of constipation.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20433751

Wound Healing Benefit of Elderberry Methanolic Extract

A study has been conducted to verify the Turkish folkloric medicinal tradition of using elderberry extracts to treat wounds. The study that was published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2010 entitled “Wound healing potential of Sambucus ebulus L. leaves and isolation of an active component, quercetin 3-O-glucoside” revealed that that the methanolic extract of Sambucus ebulus leaves displayed remarkable wound healing activity in mice. This study confirmed the wound healing benefits of elderberry extract.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20132876

Potential Therapeutic Activity for Diabetes of Elderberry Extract.

A study published in Journal of Physiology and Biochemistry, 2009 entitled “The effects of Sambucus nigra polyphenols on oxidative stress and metabolic disorders in experimental diabetes mellitus” reported that the polyphenols found in elderberry extracts exhibits a polyphenolic protection in rats with diabetes mellitus preserving the atherogen risk at normal limits in comparison to increased levels in a control group.
The study further suggests that Sambucus nigra represents a possible dietary adjunct for the treatment of diabetes and a potential source for the discovery of new orally active agent(s) for future diabetes therapy
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20119824

Antiviral Activity of Flavanoids from Elderberry Extract.

In a study published in Phytochemistry. 2009 entitled “Elderberry flavonoids bind to and prevent H1N1 infection in vitro” showed that the elderberry extract inhibited Human Influenza A (H1N1) infection in vitro with an IC(50) value of 252+/-34 microg/mL. That flavonoids from the elderberry extract bind to H1N1 virions and, when bound, block the ability of the viruses to infect host cells. This study confirms the traditional health benefits and medicinal use of elderberry tea and extracts in the treatment of flu or influenza.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19682714

Antioxidant Activity of Elderberry Flower Extract

In a study published in Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences, 2009 entitled “Antioxidant activities of methanol extract of Sambucus ebulus L. flower” reported that
Elderberry extracts exhibits antioxidant activity against cell scavenging chemicals which is dose dependent.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19579986

Antibacterial Activity of Elderberry extract.

In a study published in BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2011 entitled “Inhibitory activity of a standardized elderberry liquid extract against clinically-relevant human respiratory bacterial pathogens and influenza A and B viruses” showed that elderberry liquid extract is active against human pathogenic bacteria as well as influenza viruses. The study further suggests that elderberry extract can provide additional health benefit against influenza infection by inhibiting the growth of bacteria which may cause pneumonia.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21352539

Where can you buy elderberry?

Fresh elderberry fruits can be bought in select groceries and health shops

Elderberry can be found in prepared foods such as jams, cakes and pies.

Elderberry tea, tincture and liquid extracts may be bought in health stores or online stores such as in amazon’s Natural Elderberry Concentrate, 16 fl oz liquid

Elderberry Dosage:

Follow as directed in the product labels

For influenza, it is common practice to take 1 tsp of elderberry syrup which may also be in a form of a tea, four times a day.

Elderberry does not have serious side effects and considered safe when used properly and for a short period.

Elderberry fruit is considered slightly toxic and can cause serious side effects such as dizziness, nausea, vomiting and stomach pain when eaten raw. However when cooked, it is considered safe. Other plant parts are considered toxic and intended for external use only.

Elderberry can boost the immune system and can have unfavorable side effects for people who are suffering from “auto-immune diseases” such as multiple sclerosis (MS), lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and othes.

Pregnant and Breast feeding Women. There are no sufficient information that establish elderberry to be safe for pregnant and breast feeding women. Use is not recommended

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