Why Are Elderberries Good for Your Immunity?
According to a study done by researchers at the University of Sydney, elderberries possess antiviral characteristics and can fight against viruses and infections.
One of the study’s co-authors, Golnoosh Torabian, Ph.D. explains that their study has shown the powerful and direct antiviral effect of elderberries against the flu virus.
It works by impeding the early stages of the infection via blockage of the key viral proteins that play a role in the viral attachment and entry into the cells.
What Did the Researchers Discover?
For the study, the team tested the effect of commercially farmed elderberries which they processed into a serum. The serum was administered at various stages of the influenza cycle, including before an infection with a flu virus and during the infection.
The team concluded that the phytochemicals (the natural substances of the elderberry serum) had a mild inhibitory effect shortly before the virus was about to infect a cell. But, when the cell was infected, the same chemicals had a major effect on stopping the propagation of the virus.
This observation was surprising and very important as blocking the viral cycle at different stages has a higher chance of impeding the viral infection, according to Peter Valtchev, Ph.D. and co-author of the study,
According to the study, the application of the elderberry solution also strengthened the reactions of the cells against the virus. They stimulated the release of certain cytokines. These are chemical messengers that the immunity uses to communicate between various cell types and create a more effective response against invading pathogens.
The study concluded that the antiviral abilities of elderberries happen thanks to anthocyanidins or plant pigments that they contain. Other research has found that anthocyanidins also possess antioxidant effects which means that they can keep the cells safe from damage.
