Elderberry is the dark purple berry of the European or black elder tree (Sambucus nigra). It has been used in folk medicine for colds and flu, and elderberry supplements are promoted mainly for colds, flu and other respiratory infections.
Also known as: black elderberry, Sambucus nigra, European elder.
Elderberry has no intake value or upper limit, and NCCIH gives no standard amount.
It is sold in the US as a dietary supplement. Under the 1994 dietary supplement law (DSHEA), FDA does not approve dietary supplements before they are marketed, and the maker, not FDA, is responsible for safety and labeling. NCCIH says FDA and the Federal Trade Commission have taken action against companies that marketed elderberry products with unsupported claims for COVID-19; there is no good evidence for that use.
What NCCIH says: a small number of studies have looked at elderberry for colds, flu and other upper respiratory infections, and some early research suggests it may relieve symptoms. There is not enough information to show whether it helps any other condition.
Safety, per NCCIH: raw or unripe elderberries and other parts of the tree, such as leaves and stems, contain cyanide-producing substances that can cause nausea, vomiting and severe diarrhea; cooking removes this toxin. Little is known about safety in pregnancy or breastfeeding. If you take any medicine, ask your clinician first.
We could not find a single published half-life or time to peak for elderberry that applies to a supplement dose, so we do not list one. Herbal products are mixtures of many plant compounds, so no single figure would describe them.
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