Elderberry juice comes from the elder plant, a tall shrub grown in parts of Europe, Africa and Asia. The elder plant produces dark purple berries, which have been used in folk medicine for centuries to treat conditions such as arthritis, asthma, colds, bacterial infections and constipation. The U.S. Department of Agriculture reports that elderberry has tremendous health value due to its high antioxidant content and ability to treat colds and influenza. These benefits may increase when elderberry is combined with other antioxidants, such as vitamin C.
Resolves Viral Infections
Elderberry has been shown to relieve symptoms such as fever, fatigue, headache, sore throat, coughing and aching, reducing the time necessary to recover from the flu. In a 2004 study conducted by the Department of Virology at Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School in Jerusalem, elderberry relieved flu symptoms an average of four days earlier in patients who received 15 ml of elderberry syrup four times a day. A separate study by the Herbal Science Group of Naples, Florida, found that elderberry prevented the H1N1, or swine flu, virus from infecting host cells in vitro by binding to the virus particles.
Lowers Cholesterol
In a 2004 study by the Department of Food and Chemistry at Graz University of Technology in Graz, Austria, researchers examined the effects of elderberry juice on the cholesterol levels of healthy volunteers. Participants took capsules equivalent to 5 ml of elderberry juice for two weeks. Study authors discovered that elderberry consumption shows a minor effect on serum cholesterol concentrations, and concluded that higher doses may significantly reduce cholesterol.
Protects Against Cellular Damage
Elderberry contains four different anthocyanins, antioxidant pigments with possible health benefits. According to the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University, anthocyanins contain antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties and are beneficial in the treatment of diabetes and ulcers. They also neutralize free radicals, protecting cells from damage caused by the environment and a poor diet and increase the function of the immune system.
References
- Medicine Hunter: The Healing Powers of Elderberry
- U.S. Department of Agriculture: Elderberry
- National Library of Medicine: Medline Plus: Elderberry and Elder Flower
- PubMed.gov: Randomized Study of the Efficacy and Safety of Oral Elderberry Extract in the Treatment of Influenza A and B Virus Infections
- PubMed.gov: Elderberry Flavonoids Bind to and Prevent H1N1 Infection in Vitro
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