We use essential cookies (authentication, your saved goals/stack) by default. With your permission we'll also enable privacy-respecting analytics (Vercel Web Analytics, anonymous load-time metrics) and error-replay diagnostics (Sentry — DOM snapshots only when an error fires) so we can fix bugs faster. Learn more
Eld8.5
Elderberry Research
Likely helpsHigh safety
41 peer-reviewed studies
What the evidence says
Likely helps
Elderberry appears to help in 5 of 5 studies with measurable effects — the evidence leans clearly favourable.
Most evidence is from high-quality meta-analyses and randomised trials published 2004–2026 with a typical study size of 40 participants.
Based on 41 studies · 3 meta-analyses · 15 RCTs · 2,546 total participants
Confidence
High
What the studies found
5helped· 36 more without graded effect data
By outcome
Cold, flu & antiviralMay reduce cold/flu duration by 2-4 days · Within 48 hours of symptom onset
Likely helps36 studies
InflammationAnthocyanin-rich profile provides antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects · 1-2 weeks
Mostly mechanism / observational11 studies
Safety profile
Mostly mechanism / observational8 studies
Cognitive function
Mostly mechanism / observational7 studies
Glucose & metabolic
Mostly mechanism / observational4 studies
Heart & blood pressure
Mostly mechanism / observational4 studies
Therapeutic & clinical
Mostly mechanism / observational4 studies
Vision & eye health
Too few graded studies2 studies
Weight management
Too few graded studies2 studies
Women's health
Too few graded studies2 studies
By the numbers
Pulled from 29 studies with measurable effects
Likely real effects
60%
across studies
People studied
2,546
typical study: 40 people
Strongest designs
18
3 pooled, 15 randomised
Showed benefit
100%
5/5 studies
How long studies ran
1–4 weeks
4
3+ months
1
Populations Studied
General population8
Not specified6
Animal models of neurodegenerative diseases1
Botanical products for immune health1
Active research area
25 studies in the last 5 years · Latest meta-analysis: 2024
200420152026
1Systematic ReviewCited 2×2025
On the other hand, Sc. baicalensis and Pa. ginseng exert their anti-IAV effect via immunomodulation.
Arumugam H et al. · Journal of applied microbiology (2025)
On the other hand, Sc. baicalensis and Pa. ginseng exert their anti-IAV effect via immunomodulation.
Peganum harmala, on the contrary, exhibits a direct virucidal effect against IAV.
Stabnikova O et al. · Plant foods for human nutrition (Dordrecht, Netherlands) (2024)
These fruits have a great potential to be used in functional food making.
The possibilities of using the fruits of wild-grown shrubs in the preparation of functional foods and examples of their implementation for the manufacturing of dairy, bakery and meat products are considered.
This review provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of research on the neuroprotective potential of Sambucus and its derivatives, offering valuable insights for the development of dietary strategies to promote brain health and prevent age-related cognitive decline.
Merecz-Sadowska A et al. · International journal of molecular sciences (2024)
In vivo studies using animal models of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, have shown that Sambucus compounds can improve cognitive function, motor performance, and neuronal survival while attenuating neuroinflammation and oxidative damage.
Furthermore, the potential of Sambucus as a functional food ingredient is discussed, highlighting its application in various food products and the challenges associated with the stability and bioavailability of its bioactive compounds.
This review provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of research on the neuroprotective potential of Sambucus and its derivatives, offering valuable insights for the development of dietary strategies to promote brain health and prevent age-related cognitive decline.
Demonstrating elderberry, turmeric, and functional mushrooms as examples, this review aims to provide industrial professionals and scientists an overview of current United States regulations, testing approaches, and trends for label compliance verification to ensure the safety of botanical products marketed for "immune health."
You H et al. · Critical reviews in food science and nutrition (2024)
Meanwhile, consumers showed increased attention to dietary supplement ingredient labels, especially concerning authenticity and ingredient claims.
This review highlights the regulatory requirements and recommendations for analytical approaches, including chromatography, spectroscopy, and DNA approaches for ingredient claim verification.
From this perspective, the aim of this review is to provide an overview of the bioactive compounds present in the different constitutive parts of walnut by-products and elderberries, which present a specific or common activity related to human health and the protection of agricultural crops in the context of sustainable development.
Sandu-Bălan Tăbăcariu A et al. · Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) (2024)
During recent years, walnut by-products and elderberries have attracted the attention of researchers, and investigations have focused on the species' valuable constituents and active properties.
It is hoped that this contribution will support future investigations on elderberries.
Ren Y et al. · Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) (2024)
Based on these components, salicylic acid and its acetate derivative, aspirin, have long been used for the treatment of different disorders.
Dapagliflozin, an FDA-approved antidiabetic drug, has been developed based on the conclusions obtained from a structure-activity relationship study for a simple hydrolyzable tannin, β-pentagalloylglucoside (β-PGG).
Thus, the present review focuses on the development of therapeutic agents from elderberries and their small-molecule secondary metabolites.
The perspectives and possibilities of using these compounds are presented, taking into account the problems resulting from their bioavailability.
Sergiel I · Postepy biochemii (2024)
Flavonoids present in food are transported by passive diffusion (hydrophobic aglycones) and by active transport (hydrophilic glycosides).
Individual classes of flavonoids differ in the amount they appear in food, the metabolites they produce and their possible impact on health.
The aim of this review is to summarize the current knowledge on the potential use of selected flavonoids in the treatment of diseases of various etiologies, with an indication of their anticancer and antiviral effects.
This review examined current evidence and discussions about the health-related effects of black elderberry, which contains many biologically active components such as polyphenols, phenolic acids, flavonols, proanthocyanidins and anthocyanins, as well as terpenes and lectins, and offered some suggestions on its use in the future.
Sanlier N et al. · Current nutrition reports (2024)
9Polyphenolic composition and health benefits of elderberry extractsSystematic ReviewCited 33×2023
The role of elderberry in enhancing human health alone with the pharmacological basis, the cellular pathways, and the molecular mechanisms underlying the observed health benefits of elderberry fruit extracts will be also reviewed.
Osman AG et al. · Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) (2023)
Compared with other fruit, elderberry is a very rich source of anthocyanins (approximately 80% of the polyphenol content).
In the current review, the chemical composition of the polyphenolic content of the European elderberry (Sambucus nigra) and the American elderberry (Sambucus canadensis), as well as the analytical techniques employed to analyze, characterize, and ascertain the chemical consistency will be addressed.
Further, the factors that influence the consistency of the polyphenolic chemical composition, and hence, the consistency of the health benefits of elderberry extracts will be presented.
As we move toward a vision of health promotion and resilience rather than a sole focus on disease prevention and treatment, further work in this area of dietary supplements is of utmost importance.
Crawford C et al. · Nutrients (2022)
Immune health products represent approximately 10% of all US dietary supplement sales.
The studies included eight of the 27 supplement ingredients identified through a market-driven scoping review.
Those ingredients used in single ingredient products were echinacea, elderberry, garlic, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin E, and zinc.
12Upper respiratory tract infection duration and incidenceSystematic ReviewCited 2×2021
Thirty-three studies were included.
van der Gaag EJ et al. · Critical reviews in food science and nutrition (2021)
Thirty-three studies were included.
The incidence of respiratory infections or symptoms was shown to be reduced in some studies when probiotics, prebiotics, growing-up milk, fish oil, kiwi, garlic and xylitol were taken.
Duration was favorably influenced by the intake of elderberry, kiwi, probiotics and fish oil.
13Immunomodulatory effects of nutrients in SARS-CoV-2 infectionSystematic ReviewCited 9×2022
It will also provide a brief overview on some of the clinical trials that are in progress to assess the role of nutritional supplements, either alone or in combination with other pharmacological drugs, in fight against COVID-19.
Yaseen MO et al. · International journal for vitamin and nutrition research. Internationale Zeitschrift fur Vitamin- und Ernahrungsforschung. Journal international de vitaminologie et de nutrition (2022)
These nutritional and dietary supplements are potential candidates to curb the convulsive unfolding of novel COVID-19, in combination with other standard treatment protocols.
Keeping in view these facts, nutritional and dietary supplements can be used along with other management modalities.
In this review, various search engines were used to exploit available literature in order to provide a comprehensive review on nutritional and dietary supplements with respect to the viral infections.
14Elderberry effects on vascular functionSystematic ReviewCited 12×2022
Journal of Food Biochemistry
Festa J et al. · Journal of food biochemistry (2022)
Elderberries have been previously used as a natural remedy for treating influenza, cold, and consequently cardiovascular health due to a high content of cyanidin-3-glucoside (C3G) a major anthocyanin found in the human diet.
The literature reported many studies demonstrating that EE has both antiviral and vascular protective properties that should be further investigated as a nutritional component used against the (in)direct effect of SARS-CoV-2 in vascular function.
15Obesity and inflammation regulationSystematic ReviewCited 218×2017
This review discusses the interplay between inflammation and obesity, and their subsequent regulation via the use of dietary anthocyanins, suggesting an alternative dietary strategy to ameliorate obesity and obesity associated chronic diseases.
Lee YM et al. · Nutrients (2017)
Recently, food-derived bioactive compounds have been spotlighted as a regulator against various chronic diseases due to their low toxicity, as opposed to drugs that induce severe side effects.
Here we describe the beneficial effects of dietary anthocyanins on obesity-induced metabolic disorders and inflammation.
This review discusses the interplay between inflammation and obesity, and their subsequent regulation via the use of dietary anthocyanins, suggesting an alternative dietary strategy to ameliorate obesity and obesity associated chronic diseases.
16Antiviral properties against influenzaSystematic ReviewCited 47×2017
Here, we evaluate the state of current scientific research concerning the use of elderberry extract and related products as antivirals, particularly in the treatment of influenza, as well as their ...
Porter RS et al. · Phytotherapy research : PTR (2017)
Here, we evaluate the state of current scientific research concerning the use of elderberry extract and related products as antivirals, particularly in the treatment of influenza, as well as their safety and health impacts as dietary supplements.
While the extent of black elder's antiviral effects are not well known, antiviral and antimicrobial properties have been demonstrated in these extracts, and the safety of black elder is reflected by the United States Food and Drug Administration approval as generally recognized as safe.
A deficit of studies comparing these S. nigra products and standard antiviral medications makes informed and detailed recommendations for use of S. nigra extracts in medical applications currently impractical.
17Nutraceutical effects on COVID-19 symptomsSystematic ReviewCited 28×n=19 · very small study2022
Based on the results obtained so far, quercetin, astaxanthin, luteolin, glycyrrhizin, lactoferrin, hesperidin and curcumin have shown encouraging data suggesting their use to prevent and counteract the symptoms of this pandemic infection.
Alesci A et al. · Natural product research (2022)
Several studies were conducted to implement antiviral drug therapy, until the arrival of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines.
Numerous scientific investigations have considered some nutraceuticals as an additional treatment of COVID-19 patients to improve their clinical picture.
In this review, we would like to emphasize the studies conducted to date about this issue and try to understand whether the use of nutraceuticals as a supplementary therapy to COVID-19 may be a valid and viable avenue.
18Neuroprotective effects of polyphenolsSystematic ReviewCited 85×2016
We are also presenting data on the ability of an extract derived from elderberry, Sambucus nigra, possessing elevated polyphenolic content and antioxidant capacity to protect neuronal cells against oxidizing agents.
Spagnuolo C et al. · Current topics in medicinal chemistry (2016)
For this reason, an adequate antioxidant strategy may improve the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases and dementia.
Several studies support the neuroprotective abilities of polyphenolic compounds resulting in neuronal protection against injury induced by neurotoxins, ability to suppress neuroinflammation and the potential to promote memory, learning and cognitive functions.
We critically reviewed here the therapeutic potential of pure herbal compounds (e.g., green tea polyphenol (-)- epigallocatechin-3-gallate, resveratrol, curcumin, quercetin and others) and extracts enriched in polyphenols showing the most promising neuroprotective effects.
19Safety and efficacy of elderberry and elderflowerSystematic ReviewCited 48×2014
This article includes written and statistical analysis of clinical trials, plus a compilation of expert opinion, folkloric precedent, history, pharmacology, kinetics/dynamics, interactions, adverse effects, toxicology, and dosing.
Ulbricht C et al. · Journal of dietary supplements (2014)
An evidence-based systematic review of elderberry and elderflower (Sambucus nigra) by the Natural Standard Research Collaboration consolidates the safety and efficacy data available in the scientific literature using a validated, reproducible grading rationale.
This article includes written and statistical analysis of clinical trials, plus a compilation of expert opinion, folkloric precedent, history, pharmacology, kinetics/dynamics, interactions, adverse effects, toxicology, and dosing.
20Jetlag following eastbound flightsMeta-AnalysisCited 5×n=10 · very small study2021
Overall, 12 of 183 ingredients contained in 199 products had evidence to support claims.
Chan V et al. · Nutrients (2021)
Large benefit
← WorseNo effectBetter →
Likely real
Meta-analysis (random effects model) indicated melatonin reduced self-reported jetlag following eastbound (n = 5) and westbound (n = 4) flights: standard mean difference -0.76 (95% CI = -1.06 to -0.45, I2 0%, p < 0.00001) and -0.66 (95% CI = -1.07 to -0.26, I2 45%, p = 0.001), respectively.
Pycnogenol also reduced edema scores (n = 3), standard mean -4.09 (95% CI = -6.44 to -1.74), I2 98%, p = 0.0006).
Of the 3842 studies identified, 23 met selection criteria: melatonin (n = 10), Pycnogenol (n = 4), various macronutrients (n = 2), caffeine (n = 2), Centella asiatica (n = 1), elderberry (n = 1), Echinacea (n = 1), fluid (n = 1), and Pinokinase (n = 1).