- a The University of Sydney, School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
- b
- Centre for Excellence in Advanced Food Enginomics, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
- c
- PharmaCare Laboratories, Warriewood, NSW 2102, Australia
A chemical compound has been discovered within elderberries that immobilizes the flu virus.
Previous studies have demonstrated elderberries ability to relieve flu symptoms and cut the duration of the illness in half, but a new study explains how this ancient remedy works.
When taken preventively, the unique phytochemicals found in elderberries block the virus from entering, and even from attaching to, our healthy cells.
If the flu has already taken hold, this compound prevents the virus from replicating, thus relieving symptoms and drastically reducing the duration of infection.
Researchers in the study used farmed elderberries (as opposed to wild ones which you can find) which were then turned into a juice serum. The serum was applied to cells before, during, and after they had been infected with the influenza virus.
The observed result was a “potent direct antiviral effect against the flu virus,” said Dr. Golnoosh Torabian.
“It inhibits the early stages of an infection by blocking key viral proteins responsible for both the viral attachment and entry into the host cells.”
The extract was also effective at fighting the virus at later stages of infection, by stimulating infected cells to release cytokines – chemical messengers the immune system uses for communication between different cell types to aid in coordinating a more efficient response.
The Abstract reads:
Elderberry extract is effective in treatment of flu. This study aimed to determine the mechanism of action of elderberry and its primary active compound, cyanidin 3-glucoside (cyn 3-glu), against influenza virus. The direct effect was studied via hemagglutination inhibition assay, plaque reduction assay, and flow cytometry analysis. In addition, to assess the indirect immunomodulatory effect, the modulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines was evaluated. Elderberry showed mild inhibitory effect at the early stages of the influenza virus cycle, with considerably stronger effect (therapeutic index of 12 ± 1.3) in the post-infection phase.
Our data further support both direct effects of elderberry extract by blocking viral glycoproteins as well as indirect effects by increased expression of IL-6, IL-8, and TNF. Cyn 3-glu despite demonstrating a similar direct mechanism of action (IC50 of 0.069 mg/ml) compared to the elderberry juice, did not affect the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines.
In conclusion, elderberry exhibits multiple modes of therapeutic action against influenza infection.
You can probably find wild elderberries growing in your area that you may be able to forage. Please take caution not to eat raw wild elderberries as they are mildly toxic unless cooked or dried and made into a tincture (recipe below).
Learn how to properly make your own natural elderberry medicine by following this link.
Sources:
Sciencedirect.com
Realfarmacy.com
Nutritionreview.org
You can probably find wild elderberries growing in your area that you may be able to forage. Please take caution not to eat raw wild elderberries as they are mildly toxic unless cooked or dried and made into a tincture (recipe below).
Learn how to properly make your own natural elderberry medicine by following this link.
Sources:
Sciencedirect.com
Realfarmacy.com
Nutritionreview.org
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