Elderberry (Sambucus nigra)
What is Elderberry?
Elder is an invasive tree spread throughout most of the world.
It can be found in cold climates like Canada and Scandinavian countries, as well as tropical areas in Central and South America, Southeast Asia, and Australia.
Elder trees are even frequently found in remote areas like the Pacific Islands.
Elder has many uses, especially for upper respiratory infections for its antitussive and antiviral activity.
As an antiviral, it has a relatively narrow range of efficacy, which is specific to enveloped viruses like influenza, and will only have a potent effect in the early stages of viral infection. Elder is highly effective for early-stage viral infection and one of the best herbs to keep around in in the event of early signs of cold or flu.
Featured Elder Products
What is Elder Used For?
Elder is primarily used in the acute stage of respiratory infections. it has the unique ability to structurally inhibit the reproductive cycle of the influenza virus. If used in the early stages of infection elder can be used to prevent widespread infection.
elder is also used for its ability to interact with the central nervous system. For this effect, elder is often used for nerve-related pain.
Traditional Uses of Elder
The use of elder dates back a very long time. Evidence of elder seeds, pollen, and dried fruits have been found at a Bronze Age archaeological site in Tuscany (Italy) [12], a Neolithic site in the French Alps [13], and Durankulak site the Black Sea coast and north-eastern Bulgaria [13].
Elder is used in Ayurvedic medicine, but not in depth. Its berries are used primarily as a diuretic, and aperient, while the bark as a hydragogue, cathartic and anti-epileptic.
In traditional Chinese medicine, elder is known as "mao gu xiao" (Sambucus formosana or Sambucus chinensis) is used (rarely) to treat liver disease. It's considered to be a warm bitter, useful for dispelling blood stasis.
In Indonesia, elder (Sambucus javanica) is used for pain relief, beri beri, and jaundice.
In Western herbal medicine, elder is most commonly used to treat sore throats, and as a purgative or emetic. It's also used to treat wounds (the leaves mainly), or as a diuretic (whole plant).
Elder was commonly combined with herbs like yarrow or boneset in the treatmeent of cold and flu.
Herb Details: Elder
Botanical Information:
There are about 30 different species of elder, 3 of which are most commonly used as medicine. The common names for these species include blue elder (Sambucus nigra), red elder (Sambucus racemosa), and white elder (Sambucus australasica).
Phytochemistry
+ Constituent Breakdown:
Elder contains several hundred compounds.
This includes phosphorous (high), vitamins A, B6, and C.
Also contained are polyphenols, anthocyanins (blue-berries)(cyanidin 3-glucoside, cyanidin-3-sambubioside, cyanidin-3, 5-diglucoside, and cyanidin-3-sambubioside-5-glucoside), anthoxanthins (white berries), ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIPs) (TYPE 2 RIPs; nigrin b, basic nigrin b, SNA, SNA1, and SNLRP, nigrin f, nigrin s, ebulin 1, ebulin r1, ebulin r2. TYPE 1 RIPs; ebulitins), flavonol glycosides (quercetin-3-O-rutinoside, kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside and isorhamnetin-3-O-rutinoside (about 90% of the total flavonoid content)), phenolic acids (5-O-cafeoylquinic acid and 1,5-di-O-caVeoylquinic acid (about 70% of the total phenolic acid content)), triterpenoids (ursolic acid),
What's The Deal With Elders Toxicity Claims?
A group of compounds found in elder called lectins are closely related to the common rat poison — ricin.
Leptins are essentially proteins that can bind with sugars. If leptins like ricin get into the cells, they can interact with our ribosomes (the organelle that does most of the manufacturing of proteins and various other compounds).
The common name given to leptins like ricin that stop the ribosomes from working is referred to as "Ribosome-Inactivating Proteins" or RIPs for short.
RIPs are also thought to be protective against viruses and predators, as well as a way for the plant to store nitrogen.
Several RIPs have been isolated from black elder [18-20].
Similar lectin-compounds can be found in other medicinal plants with similar uses (antiviral), and limitations (emetic) — Phytolacca americana (Phytolacca antiviral protein or PAP).
There are three types of RIPs: Type 1, type 2, and type 3. [19, 20].
Both ebulin and ricin are type two RIPs.
How Elder Leptins Are Different Than Ricin
Despite structural similarities, elder isn't as toxic as ricin — and it's not as toxic as we once thought.
The Ld50 of ebulin 1 was 250 mg/kg, compared to ricins 0.023 µg/kg (intraperitoneal) and 0.0075 µg/kg (intravenous) [22] — that's a huge difference. You would essentially need more than 9000 times the dose of ebulin 1 compared to ricin to reach the same toxic dose.
There are some exceptions.
RIPs such as ebulin f and SELfd are toxic and resist breakdown in the stomach — leading to gastrointestinal irritation and upset.
The solution to this problem is to heat it before using it. The heat breaks reverse the ability for these RIPs to be broken down by pepsin in the stomach — thus preventing the toxic side-effects of ebulin f. [21, 25].
Clinical Applications Of Elder:
Elder is a great antiviral herb, especially for Influenza and some of the other enveloped viral species if used at the early stages of infection.
Cautions:
Elder is an emetic, especially in preparations that contain fresh plant material (unheated). If nausea occurs, dial back the dose. Contrary to popular belief elder is NOT poisonous. Emetics are frequently misinterpreted to be dangerously poisonous.
Elder is thought to decrease the effectiveness of morphine.
+ Contraindications
- Small children
- Caution advised with larger doses
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References:
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