In the past few weeks, there have been an increase in advertisements for Sambucol, a product that is touted as boosting one’s immune system. The main ingredient in Sambucol is black elderberry extract. There are other products also available on the market that contain black elderberry products and they are also advertised to help boost the immune system and even help prevent or treat common colds and the flu.

Since I have a greatly suppressed immune system, like many others do, I decided to do some research to see if black elderberry does what it is being touted to do.

Not confuse the matter, but black elderberry is also known by a host of other names: Arbre de Judas, Baccae, Baises de Sureau, Black-Berried Alder, Black Elder, Black Elderberry, Boor Tree, Bountry, Elder, Common Elder. Elder Berry, Elderberries, Elderberry Fruit, Ellanwood, Ellhorn, European Alder, European Black Elder, European Black Elderberry, European Elderberry, European Elder Fruit, European Elderberry, Fruit de Sureau, Grand Sureau, Hautbois, Holunderbeeren, Sabugeuiro-negro, Sambequier, Sambu, Sambuc, Sambuci Sambucus, Sambucus nigra, Sambugo, Sauco, Saúco Europeo, Schwarzer Holunder, Seuillet, Seuillon, Sureau, Sureau Européen, Sureau Noir, Sus, Suseau, Sussier.

The product used for medicinal purposes is the dark purple berry of the European elder tree, NOT the American elder, elderflower or dwarf elder.

Over the years, black elderberry has been used for some cancers, hay fever, increase urine flow, weight loss, headache, toothache, high cholesterol, heart disease, constipation, chronic fatigue, nerve pain, common cold and gum inflammation. However, many of these claims are not fully verified by qualitative research. It is also used as a flavoring for some foods and some even make wine from the black elderberries.

One source warned that using black elderberry could make autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS), lupus or rheumatoid arthritis worse because it does activate the immune system.

WebMD states:

Possibly Effective for

• Constipation. Drinking tea made from elderberry and other ingredients seems to increase the number of stools passed in people who are constipated.
• “The flu,” also called influenza. A specific elderberry juice syrup seems to relieve flu symptoms and reduce the length of time the flu lasts when taken by mouth within 48 hours of the first symptoms. Taking elderberry lozenges within 24 hours of the first symptoms also seems to reduce flu symptoms. Relief seems to occur within 2 to 4 days of treatment for most people. Taking a product that contains elderberry juice and echinacea also seems to relieve symptoms and reduce the length of time flu lasts. It seems to work similar to the prescription drug oseltamivir (Tamiflu).

WebMD goes on to say that there is insufficient evidence that black elderberry helps with heart disease, common cold, gum inflammation, high cholesterol, cancer, chronic fatigue, constipation, H1N1 swine flu, HIV/AIDS, hay fever, headache, nerve pain, toothache, or weight loss.

Pharmacy Times reports a variety of studies that support the claims that black elderberries help shorten the duration of colds and the flu when taken within 2 days of the onset of symptoms. They also refer to a study that showed that people taking black elderberry products have a higher number of antibodies that fight cold and flu viruses.

PubMed (website of the National Library of Medicine and National Institutes of Health) posted:

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… 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. 

While there is insufficient evidence for some of the beneficial claims of black elderberry, there are studies that have been done with control groups and placebos that indicate it does help with recovery from common colds and flu and that it does help boost the immune system. If you have a compromised immune system, like I have, you may consider adding black elderberry to your supplements, but please check with your doctor first, to make sure it doesn’t make some other autoimmune system disorder worse.