ACTION

Diaphoretic, Diuretic, Anti-inflammatory.

Elder flowers are ideal for coughs, colds and flu. Its diaphoretic property makes it useful for fever.

KEY CONSTITUENTS

Flavonoids (Quercitol, Kaempferol), Triterpenes, Tannins, Volatile oils, Sterols, Mucilage, Phenolic acids, Linoleic acid, Linolenic acid, p-coumaric acid.

INDICATION

Flu, Common cold and sinusitis. Sambucus nigra contains compounds that are active against flu viruses.

P-coumaric acid is an antioxidant, an antiperoxidant and a lipoxygenase inhibitor.

RESEARCH

Extract of Sambucus nigra inhibited replication of human influenza viruses type A/Shangdong 9/93 (H3N2), A/Beijing 32/92 (H3N2), A/Texas 36/91 (H1N1), A/Singapore 6/86 (H1N1), type B/Panama 45/90, B/Yamagata 16/88 and B/Ann Arbor 1/86. A placebo-controlled, double blind study was carried out on a group of individuals living in an agricultural community (kibbutz) during an outbreak of influenza B/Panama in 1993. Fever, feeling of improvement, and complete cure were recorded during 6 days (Zakay-Rones, Z. et al.,1995).

Aqueous extracts of Sambucus nigra and Arctostaphylos uva-ursi and were tested for their diuretic activities; pharmacological evaluation revealed that they led to an increase in urine flow (Beaux D, et al.,1999)..

REFERENCES

Zakay-Rones, Z. et al. (1995). 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. J Altern Complement Med. 1(4):361-9

Beaux D, Fleurentin J, Mortier F. (1999). Effect of extracts of Orthosiphon stamineus Benth, Hieracium pilosella L., Sambucus nigra L. and Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (L.) Spreng. in rats. Phytother Res May;13(3):222-5

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.