Abstract

Sambucus nigra L. products - Sambucol - are based on a standardized black elderberry extract.
They are natural remedies with antiviral properties, especially against different strains of influenza
virus. Sambucol was shown to be effective in vitro against 10 strains of influenza virus. In a double-
blind, placebo-controlled, randomized study, Sambucol reduced the duration of flu symptoms to 3-4
days. Convalescent phase serum showed a higher antibody level to influenza virus in the Sambucol
group, than in the control group. The present study aimed to assess the effect of Sambucol products
on the healthy immune system - namely, its effect on cytokine production. The production of
inflammatory cytokines was tested using blood - derived monocytes from 12 healthy human donors.
Adherent monocytes were separated from PBL and incubated with different Sambucol preparations
i.e., Sambucol Elderberry Extract, Sambucol Black Elderberry Syrup, Sambucol Immune System
and Sambucol for Kids. Production of inflammatory cytokines (IL-1 beta, TNF-alpha, IL-6, IL-8) was
significantly increased, mostly by the Sambucol Black Elderberry Extract (2-45 fold), as compared to
LPS, a known monocyte activator (3.6-10.7 fold). The most striking increase was noted in TNF-alpha
production (44.9 fold). We conclude from this study that, in addition to its antiviral properties,
Sambucol Elderberry Extract and its formulations activate the healthy immune system by increasing
inflammatory cytokine production. Sambucol might therefore be beneficial to the immune system
activation and in the inflammatory process in healthy individuals or in patients with various diseases.
Sambucol could also have an immunoprotective or immunostimulatory effect when administered to
cancer or AIDS patients, in conjunction with chemotherapeutic or other treatments. In view of the
increasing popularity of botanical supplements, such studies and investigations in vitro, in vivo and in
clinical trials need to be developed.

Methods
The antimicrobial activity of the elderberry extract was determined by bacterial growth
experiments in liquid cultures using the extract at concentrations of 5%, 10%, 15% and 20%. The
inhibitory effects were determined by plating the bacteria on agar plates.
Also, flavonoids in the berries of S. nigra L. bind to and prevent H1N1-type IV infection in vitro

Nevertheless, both virus strains show reduced titres after pre-treated MDCK cells were infected with the
pre-treated strains, which were subsequently incubated in the presence of the extract for 48 h.

The difference in the effect of the extract on the propagation of the two strains may reflect different
viral dependencies on the factors or mechanisms blocked by the extract and therefore the extract might
have different inhibitory potentials towards diverse types of IV. Looking at the different treatment
regimens, pre-treatment of the cells had only a moderate effect in reducing KAN-1 titre in a single cycle
replication (data not shown). The result would suggest that elderberry liquid extract blocks factors on
the cell surface needed by KAN-1 (and therefore perhaps by other IV) for efficient infection of MDCK
cells

 It should be noted that the experiments were otherwise performed with pre-treated virus and cells and
that the cells were further incubated in the presence of the diluted extract. Since preliminary results of
other investigations indicate an inhibitory effect of elderberry liquid extracts against influenza A and B
viruses

BAZGA EKSTRAKT

Elderberries are one of my most-used go-to remedies for cooler months.

The dried berries of the Sambucus nigra plant are naturally high in immune-
boosting compounds that are specifically shown to help beat the cold and flu
more quickly. They can be used to make a variety of remedies, and my favorite
is this simple elderberry syrup.

Elderberries have a taste completely of their own. It is a pleasant taste when

sweetened but can be quite bitter naturally. My family has used them to make
the best jelly I’ve ever had. You can’t go into it thinking it is going to taste like
something familiar but I assure you it is delicious when done correctly. The
taste is impossible for me to explain, it’s sort of floral, sort of bitter…

Any time you switch to frozen berries to replace the dried you will want to use
a recipe that calls for fresh berries. Frozen berries equate more closely to fresh
than to dried and therefore you should be using a bit more, not less. So 2/3
cup dried berries should be changed to around 1 cup frozen (or fresh). To be
honest, I haven’t found a source for fresh berries and I like the results of using
dried so much that I haven’t tried a batch using frozen. I will definitely have to
give that a try.

There is a spicy taste that turns my son off from having it. I think I will omit the
ginger this time and see how it tastes.

If it seems spicy it probably is the ginger, but you could also reduce the
cinnamon a little.
The syrup is actually really good. Some people even eat it on coconut flour
pancakes or in homemade ice cream. You could definitely sub maple syrup… it
might even taste better. It is possible to drink it tea, though without the
honey/syrup, it might be slightly bitter.