Elderberries - An Antiviral Agent

Vesta R&D
27 Jul 2022

Elderberries - An Antiviral Agent


Our lives have changed radically in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Viruses evolve rapidly with us and have become more aggressive allowing them to transmit much more easily throughout the population.

Elderberries are well known for their ability to mitigate symptoms of upper respiratory disorders due to their reported antiviral properties. The ancient knowledge of the Elderberry runs so deep that the “father of medicine”, Hippocrates, adoringly referred to the herb as the “medicine chest” of all herbs because of its endless benefits and the usability of all aspects of the plant.

The black elderberry (Sambucus nigra L.) has been used in folk medicine for centuries to treat influenza, colds, and sinusitis. Elderberries contain high levels of flavonoids, which are naturally occurring plant substances.


1. Influenza Virus

In one study, 60 patients suffering from an influenza virus infection were divided into an elderberry and placebo syrup group. Patients took elderberry syrup or placebo four times a day for 5 days.

In the elderberry group, most of the scores were near the ‘pronounced improvement’ level after 3-4 days, while the placebo group reached this level after 7-8 days.

A score of 0 indicates pronounced problems and a score of 10 indicates no problems (i.e., a higher the score equals a greater improvement in symptoms).

This difference was significant and the results of this study show that elderberry syrup is effective against influenza virus infections.


2 Coronavirus

Sambucus polyphenols have shown antiviral activity against human coronaviruses in laboratory studies. Sambucus nigra flavonoids have also been proposed as target molecules for SARS-CoV2 therapy in 2020.

One research has proved that a germplasm with inhibitory capacity against the S protein (spike) SARS-CoV2, the binding of RBD (receptor-binding domain), and hACE2 (angiotensin converting enzyme 2) in vitro. The results of this study suggest that elderberry extract is effective against SARS-CoV2 infections.

The European black elder (Sambucus nigra) is found in abundance in the spontaneous flora and can provide us elderberries which have been known for thousands of years as having nutritional and healing properties. Polyphenols give elderberries the ability to inhibit coronaviruses, which is a topic of great interest in our current time.


References

Mocanu ML, Amariei S. Elderberries-A Source of Bioactive Compounds with Antiviral Action. Plants (Basel). 2022 Mar 10;11(6):740.

Zakay-Rones Z, Thom E, Wollan T, Wadstein J. Randomized study of the efficacy and safety of oral elderberry extract in the 

treatment of influenza A and B virus infections. J Int Med Res. 2004 Mar-Apr;32(2):132-40.

Boroduske A, Jekabsons K, Riekstina U, Muceniece R, Rostoks N, Nakurte I. Wild Sambucus nigra L. from north-east edge of the

species range: A valuable germplasm with inhibitory capacity against SARS-CoV2 S-protein RBD and hACE2 binding in vitro. Ind

Crops Prod. 2021 Jul;165:113438.



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