Praktické lekárnictvo 3/2021

Potential antiviral effects of elderberry fruits

Elderberry is a valued medicinal plant in our regions, and its flowers are classified as a medicinal product, whereby HMPC recommends its use for the relief of early symptoms of common cold. Less well known is the medical use of elderberry fruits, which are widespread especially in Western Europe. Elderberries are content-rich source of anthocyanins, thanks to which they are used as a natural colorant agent in the food industry, flavonoids and essential oils. Due to the content of cyanogenic glycosides, it is necessary to heat-treat the fruits, after then the medicinal product becomes safe. In the Codex Pharmaceuticus Slovacus MMVII the drug Fructus sambuci is recommended as a phytopharmaceutical: a laxative. However, new research as well as applications in folk medicine suggest the potential of elderberry in the supportive treatment of influenza. Elderberry and its extracts in vitro studies demonstrate immunomodulatory and antiviral activity, with different complementary mechanisms of action. Clinical and in vivo studies suggest that extracts from elderberry could shorten the duration of influenza disease or reduce the amount of supportive medications used.

Keywords: elderberry (fruit), elder (elderberry), Sambucus nigra, influenza, antiviral