• Germany’s Commission E has approved the use of elder flowers for respiratory ailments such as bronchitis, coughs, colds and fever, but not the leaves or berries (Blumenthal, 2000).
• Elder flowers have a diaphoretic effect (promote sweating) and therefore help in lowering fever, as well as nonspecific stimulation of the nervous system, while the berries do not have this effect (Libster, 2002; Weiss and Fintelmann, 2000).
• The berries also have a laxative effect in small doses (Starek, 2001), but may cause nausea and vomiting in larger doses (McCann, 2003; Weiss and Fintelmann, 2000). The leaves, bark and unripe berries can be potentially toxic (Skidmore-Roth, 2003; see safety and precautions section below).
• Elder is also used for its diuretic, anti inflammatory and laxative properties (Barnes et al., 2002; Adame and Adame, 2000). A decoction of the root is used internally against dropsy (congestive heart failure) and an infusion (tea) made from the flowers is said to be useful against insomnia, anxiety and other nervous disorders (Martinez, 1989).
• According to laboratory research, an extract from the leaves, combined with St. John’s wort and soapwort, inhibits the influenza virus and herpes simplex virus (Serkedjieva et al., 1990).
• This herb may also be beneficial in treating the flu (Jaber, 2002). Animal studies have shown the flowers to have anti-inflammatory properties (Mascolo et al. 1990).
• Some constituents in Elder flowers have antimicrobial activity and are employed against infections of the respiratory tract (Holetz et al., 2002).
• Elder flowers are a significant source of Vitamin C (Meletis, 2002), as well as other antioxidants, such as anthocyanidines, for example (Mulleder et al., 2002; Lugasi and Hovari, 2003). Anthocyanins possess beneficial effects on health and contribute antioxidant effects beyond those provided by some essential micronutrients such as ascorbate, tocopherols, and selenium (Milbury et al., 2002). Anthocyanidines absorption in the human body is variable (Wu et al., 2002; Cao and Prior, 1999).
• Elderberry extract contains 4 anthocyanins which may have potential benefits against various oxidative stressors. Endothelial dysfunction has been proposed to play an important role in the initiation and development of vascular disease. Some studies have shown that administration of antioxidants improves endothelial function. Vascular endothelial cells can incorporate anthocyanins into the membrane and cytosol, thereby conferring significant protective effects against oxidative damage (Youdim et al., 2000).
• The free radical scavenging properties of anthocyanidines in Elder may prove beneficial in the treatment of vascular ailments (Roy et al., 2002; Samuelsson, 1999).
• Even though anthocyanidines from elder, like other flavonoids, have antioxidant capability in vitro, this may not be the case in vivo, specifically in human colon cells (Pool-Zobel et al., 1999). |
