II. Indications
-
Upper Respiratory Infections or Influenza-like illness (adults)
- Weak evidence of possible benefit
- Folk medicine
III. Contraindications
-
Autoimmune Conditions or Immunosuppressant Use
- Elderberry may have immunostimulant activity
IV. Precautions
- Cyanide-producing chemical is found in raw and unripe elderberries (or leaves)
- Do not ingest raw Elderberry
V. Dosing
- Study doses have varied widely and there is no standardized dose
- Some studies have used 175 mg lozenges four times daily for 2 to 5 days (starting within 1-2 days of URI)
VI. Safety
- Unknown safety in pregnancy (avoid)
- Unknown safety in Lactation (avoid)
- Unknown safety in children (avoid)
VII. Efficacy
-
Influenza
- Small study in Emergency Department
- No evidence of benefit in Influenza duration or severity
- Macknin (2020) J Gen Intern Med 35(11):3271-7 +PMID: 32929634 [PubMed]
-
Upper Respiratory Infection
- Limited evidence in adults of reduced symptom severity when used for prophylaxis or treatment
- Wieland (2021) BMC Complement Med Ther 21(1):112 +PMID: 33827515 [PubMed]
VIII. References
- (2024) Presc Lett 31(9): 54
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Related Studies
| Definition (ALT) | Elderberry. |
| Concepts | Plant (T002) |
| MSH | D027923 |
| SnomedCT | 48411004 |
| English | Elderberries, elderberry, elderberries, Sambucus canadensis L., American elderberry, Sambucus nigra subsp. canadensis (L.) Bolli, Sambucus nigra subsp. canadensis, Sambucus canadensis, Sambucus canadensis (organism), Elderberry, Sambucus canadensis / elderberry, sambucus canadensis/elderber |
| Czech | bezinka |
| Portuguese | Sabugo |
| German | Holunderbeere |
| Spanish | Baya de Saúco, saúco, sauco, Sambucus canadensis (organismo), Sambucus canadensis |
| French | Sureau, Sureaux |
| Italian | Bacca di sambuco, Bacche di sambuco |
| Norwegian | Hyllebær |
| Dutch | Vlierbes |
Ontology: Sambucus nigra (C0331059)
| Definition (MSH) | A plant species in the genus SAMBUCUS, known for the elderberry fruit. The plant is also a source of Sambucus nigra lectins and ribosome-inactivating protein. |
| Concepts | Plant (T002) |
| MSH | D027924 |
| SnomedCT | 22334007 |
| English | Sambucus nigra, Elders, European, European Elder, Black Elders, European Elders, Sambucus nigras, nigras, Sambucus, Elders, Black, nigra, Sambucus, sambucus nigra, common elder, Sambucus nigra L., Black Elder, Elder, Black, Elder, European, European elder, Common elder, Sambucus nigra (organism) |
| Swedish | Sambucus nigra |
| Czech | Sambucus nigra, bez černý |
| Finnish | Sambucus nigra |
| Russian | BUZINA CHERNAIA, БУЗИНА ЧЕРНАЯ |
| Japanese | 西洋接骨木, ブラックニワトコ, 西洋庭常, 黒ニワトコ, セイヨウニワトコ |
| Spanish | Saúco Europeo, Saúco Negro, saúco común, sauco común, Sambucus nigra (organismo), Sambucus nigra |
| French | Grand sureau, Sambucus nigra, Sureau noir |
| Italian | Sambuco nero, Sambuco europeo, Sambucus nigra |
| Polish | Bez czarny |
| Norwegian | Sambucus nigra, Svarthyll |
| German | Holunder, schwarzer, Sambucus nigra, Schwarzer Holunder |
| Dutch | Gewone vlier, Sambucus nigra, Vlier, gewone |
| Portuguese | Sabugueiro Europeu, Sabugueiro Preto, Sambucus nigra |
Ontology: Sambucus nigra preparation (C0885743)
| Definition (ALT) | Black elder. |
| Concepts | Pharmacologic Substance (T121) , Organic Chemical (T109) |
| English | Sambucus nigra preparation, Sambucus nigra / black elder, sambucus nigra/blk elder |
Ontology: Elderberry preparation (C1095913)
| Concepts | Pharmacologic Substance (T121) , Organic Chemical (T109) |
| English | ELDERBERRY EXTRACT, ELDERBERRY, elderberry, Elderberry preparation |
