Elderberry
Herb ·Exploratory record · not publication-reviewed ·Updated July 13, 2026
Rich in anthocyanins with antiviral properties, popular for cold and flu support.
Exploratory record, not a reviewed medical publication.
See the editorial and medical-review policies for the publication gate.
This generated database record has not completed a claim-level review by a qualified human medical reviewer. Bibliography links and evidence labels are not approval. The page remains available for reference and is excluded from search indexing.
What the research says.
A quick, data-only summary. The full evidence, dosing, and sources are below.
Elderberry is a herb most often used for antiviral, immune support, cold/flu recovery. NutriStack rates the overall evidence as moderate. A typical adult dose is 500-1,000 mg daily during illness, commonly taken as standardized extract (elderberry syrup or capsules). This profile indexes 14 sources.
The bottom line
Evidence rating moderate. Most-documented uses: antiviral, immune support, cold/flu recovery. 14 sources indexed (2001–2023), with 0 interaction records on file.
How it works, mechanistically.
Core mechanism
Anthocyanins and flavonoids inhibit viral neuraminidase (similar to oseltamivir), preventing viral entry into cells. Stimulates cytokine production for immune activation.5,9
Dosing & protocol.
What it actually costs.
Real-world pricing across three quality tiers. Assumes Elderberry Extract / Syrup.
Assumes 500-1,000 mg/day during illness. Vendor basis: iHerb, Vitacost, Amazon marketplace, and NOW elderberry products; syrups usually price above capsules. Updated 2026-05-28.
The same dose, as food.
How much you'd eat to match a supplemental dose.
Only cooked elderberries should be used; raw elderberry plant parts can be unsafe.
Full safety detail.
Side effects
- GI upset
- Allergic reactions (rare)
Contraindications
- Autoimmune diseases
- Immunosuppressants
- Never eat raw elderberries
Sources, by evidence tier.
Numbered references. Citations throughout the page link here.
Meta-analyses & systematic reviews
1- 1Black elderberry (Sambucus nigra) supplementation effectively treats upper respiratory symptoms: A meta-analysis of randomized, controlled clinical trialsPMIDHawkins J et al. · Complementary Therapies in Medicine · 2019
Elderberry supplementation substantially reduced upper respiratory symptoms in meta-analysis of randomized controlled clinical trials.
Randomized controlled trials
7- 2Clinical Effectiveness of a Combination of Black Elder Berries, Violet Herb, and Calendula Flowers in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: The Results of a Double-Blinded Placebo-Controlled StudyPMIDKirichenko TV, Sobenin IA, Markina YV et al. · Biology · 2020
Kirichenko TV, Sobenin IA, Markina YV et al.. Clinical Effectiveness of a Combination of Black Elder Berries, Violet Herb, and Calendula Flowers in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: The Results of a Double-Blinded Placebo-Controlled Study. Biology. 2020
- 3The effects of oral supplements with Sambucus nigra, Zinc, Tyndallized Lactobacillus acidophilus (HA122), Arabinogalactans, vitamin D, vitamin E and vitamin C in otitis media with effusion in children: a randomized controlled trialPMIDDella Volpe A, Ricci G, Ralli M et al. · European review for medical and pharmacological sciences · 2019
Della Volpe A, Ricci G, Ralli M et al.. The effects of oral supplements with Sambucus nigra, Zinc, Tyndallized Lactobacillus acidophilus (HA122), Arabinogalactans, vitamin D, vitamin E and vitamin C in otitis media with effusion in children: a randomized controlled trial. European review for medical and pharmacological sciences. 2019
- 4Elderberry Supplementation Reduces Cold Duration and Symptoms in Air-Travellers: A Randomized, Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Clinical TrialPMIDTiralongo E, Wee SS, Lea RA · Nutrients · 2016
Reduced cold duration by 2 days and severity scores significantly
- 5Elderberry flavonoids bind to and prevent H1N1 infection in vitroPMIDRoschek B Jr et al. · Phytochemistry · 2009
Elderberry flavonoids bind to and inhibit H1N1 neuraminidase activity in vitro, comparable to Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) anti-influenza activity.
- 6Randomized study of the efficacy and safety of oral elderberry extract in the treatment of influenza A and B virus infectionsPMIDZakay-Rones Z et al. · Journal of International Medical Research · 2004
Elderberry extract reduced the duration of flu symptoms to 3-4 days compared to 7-8 days for placebo; rescue medication use was significantly less.
- 7Effects of elderberry juice on fasting and postprandial serum lipids and low-density lipoprotein oxidation in healthy volunteers: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studyPMIDMurkovic M, Abuja PM, Bergmann AR et al. · European journal of clinical nutrition · 2004
Murkovic M, Abuja PM, Bergmann AR et al.. Effects of elderberry juice on fasting and postprandial serum lipids and low-density lipoprotein oxidation in healthy volunteers: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. European journal of clinical nutrition. 2004
- 8The effect of Sambucol, a black elderberry-based, natural product, on the production of human cytokines: I. Inflammatory cytokinesPMIDBarak V et al. · European Cytokine Network · 2001
Sambucol increased inflammatory cytokine production (IL-1 beta, TNF-alpha, IL-6, IL-8) by 2-45 fold, activating the healthy immune system.
Reviews & position papers
4- 9The Pros and Cons of Using Elderberry (Sambucus nigra) for Prevention and Treatment of COVID-19PMIDChen C et al. · Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice · 2023
Elderberry may be a safe option for treating viral respiratory illness; no evidence it overstimulates the immune system. Raw berries contain toxic sambunigrin but cooked extracts are safe.
- 10Elderberry Extracts: Characterization of the Polyphenolic Chemical Composition, Quality Consistency, Safety, Adulteration, and Attenuation of Oxidative Stress- and Inflammation-Induced Health DisordersPMIDOsman AG, Avula B, Katragunta K et al. · Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) · 2023
Osman AG, Avula B, Katragunta K et al.. Elderberry Extracts: Characterization of the Polyphenolic Chemical Composition, Quality Consistency, Safety, Adulteration, and Attenuation of Oxidative Stress- and Inflammation-Induced Health Disorders. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland). 2023
- 11Elderberry for prevention and treatment of viral respiratory illnesses: a systematic reviewPMIDWieland LS et al. · BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies · 2021
Five RCTs included; elderberry may reduce duration and severity of colds and influenza, but evidence quality is uncertain and more research is needed.
- 12A Comprehensive Study on the Biological Activity of Elderberry Extract and Cyanidin 3-O-Glucoside and Their Interactions with Membranes and Human Serum AlbuminPMIDStrugała P, Loi S, Bażanów B et al. · Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) · 2018
Strugała P, Loi S, Bażanów B et al.. A Comprehensive Study on the Biological Activity of Elderberry Extract and Cyanidin 3-O-Glucoside and Their Interactions with Membranes and Human Serum Albumin. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland). 2018
Reference material
2- 13Porter RS, Bode RF. A Review of the Antiviral Properties of Black Elder (Sambucus nigra L.) Products. Phytotherapy research : PTR. 2017Source linkedPMID
- 14Anusha Siddiqui S, Redha AA, Esmaeili Y et al.. Novel insights on extraction and encapsulation techniques of elderberry bioactive compounds. Critical reviews in food science and nutrition. 2023Source linkedPMID
Common questions.
Quick answers about Elderberry, drawn from the data on this page.
What is Elderberry?
Rich in anthocyanins with antiviral properties, popular for cold and flu support.
What is Elderberry used for?
Commonly cited benefits of Elderberry include: Antiviral; Immune support; Cold/flu recovery. NutriStack rates the overall evidence as moderate.
What is a typical dose of Elderberry?
A typical adult dose of Elderberry is 500-1,000 mg daily during illness. The commonly recommended form is Standardized extract (elderberry syrup or capsules). These are general ranges, not personalized advice; confirm the right dose with a clinician.
What are the side effects of Elderberry?
Reported side effects include gi upset, allergic reactions (rare). This is educational information; check with a healthcare professional before use.
How strong is the evidence for Elderberry?
NutriStack rates this as Moderate, meaning several aligned RCTs or one large RCT plus supporting reviews. Full tier criteria are at https://nutristackapp.com/methodology/evidence-tiers.
Use this with your stack
Elderberry in NutriStack.
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