Elderberry flavonoids bind to and prevent H1N1 infection in vitro

[Richard D]

Study is in vitro, not in vivo, but hopefully the effects will be similar:



Roschek B Jr, Fink RC, McMichael MD, et al. Elderberry flavonoids bind to and prevent H1N1 infection in vitro. Phytochemistry 2009 Jul;70(10):1255-1261.

PMID: 19682714
doi:10.1016/j.phytochem.2009.06.003

http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0031-9422(09)00238-6

Keywords:
Sambucus nigra L. Caprifoliaceae; Elderberry; Anti-viral flavonoids; DART TOF-MS; Flavonoids; Influenza

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Phytochemistry. 2009 Jul;70(10):1255-61. Epub 2009 Aug 12.

Elderberry flavonoids bind to and prevent H1N1 infection in vitro.

Roschek B Jr, Fink RC, McMichael MD, Li D, Alberte RS.
HerbalScience Group LLC, 1004 Collier Center Way, Suite 200, Naples, FL 34110, USA.

A ionization technique in mass spectrometry called Direct Analysis in Real Time Mass Spectrometry (DART TOF-MS) coupled with a Direct Binding Assay was used to identify and characterize anti-viral components of an elderberry fruit (Sambucus nigra L.) extract without either derivatization or separation by standard chromatographic techniques. The elderberry extract inhibited Human Influenza A (H1N1) infection in vitro with an IC(50) value of 252+/-34 microg/mL. The Direct Binding Assay established that flavonoids from the elderberry extract bind to H1N1 virions and, when bound, block the ability of the viruses to infect host cells. Two compounds were identified, 5,7,3',4'-tetra-O-methylquercetin (1) and 5,7-dihydroxy-4-oxo-2-(3,4,5-trihydroxyphenyl)chroman-3-yl-3,4,5-trihydroxycyclohexanecarboxylate (2), as H1N1-bound chemical species. Compound 1 and dihydromyricetin (3), the corresponding 3-hydroxyflavonone of 2, were synthesized and shown to inhibit H1N1 infection in vitro by binding to H1N1 virions, blocking host cell entry and/or recognition. Compound 1 gave an IC(50) of 0.13 microg/mL (0.36 microM) for H1N1 infection inhibition, while dihydromyricetin (3) achieved an IC(50) of 2.8 microg/mL (8.7 microM). The H1N1 inhibition activities of the elderberry flavonoids compare favorably to the known anti-influenza activities of Oseltamivir (Tamiflu; 0.32 microM) and Amantadine (27 microM).

PMID: 19682714


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Phytochemistry
Volume 70, Issue 10, July 2009, Pages 1255-1261

doi:10.1016/j.phytochem.2009.06.003


Copyright © 2009 Elsevier Ltd All rights reserved.

[coffeenap]

1. Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries!

:rofl:

[Teaser]

4. win.

.

[DeSwiss]

2. Thank you for the info.

And btw, the link is broken.

- K&R

This one is working: http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0031942209002386

[uberblonde]

3. I take this stuff when I have even a hint of respiratory symptoms...

It works like a charm! I feel so better, so fast, I always end up wondering if I was really sick. But if I stop taking it too soon, the symptoms return.

[Control-Z]

6. What is this "stuff"

called in the store? Like if I wanted to buy some, what would I ask for? And what kind of store would I need to go to. Vitamin store? Pharmacy? Produce market?

[intheflow]

8. Elderberry juice.

Or elderberry wine, if you prefer.

[Mrs. Overall]

9. There are quite a few natural remedies (herbal) that contain elderberry--

Sambucol is a brand of elderberry based immune and infection fighting syrups and lozenges. Also, many cold/flu herbal products that contain vitamin C, zinc, and echinacea also contain elderberry, which is sometimes listed as "sambucus".

iherb.com has a great selection of elderberry products (that's where I usually get mine because they have great deals). You can browse around the site by doing a search for elderberry.

[Control-Z]

13. Thanks! n/t

[BuddhaGirl]

15. Sambucus

by Nature's Way.

[rucky]

5. But, but, that's a natural remedy!

Junk science, I tell ya!

[trotsky]

7. It'd be funny if it wasn't so lame.

1) This is an in vitro study. A remedy would be something that worked in vivo. But you knew that, right?

2) TONS of medications have come from naturally-occurring substances. Pharmaceutical processes can isolate the proper chemicals, purify them, and most importantly, mass-produce them.

[rucky]

11. What's lame are all the pharma fundies who pay no attention to #2. n/t

[trotsky]

14. Name-calling.

Typical.

[Richard D]

12. I did point that out.

But in vitro is a step towards in vivo testing and does confirm the anecdotal evidence accumulated over generations that elderberry helps with viral attacks (even when the term "virus" didn't exist).

[Liberation Angel]

10. Sambuca, star anise, sweet gum, licorice

all are natural remedies that are antivirals or have antivirals in them.
They help with lots of bad viruses and bacteria (which is what is killing lots of people who die with H1N1)

Search any of these.

I also have used wild mushrooms such as turkey tail, hen of the woods and chicken of the woods

medicinal mushrooms help

anisette works too (anything with Chinese star anise)

It is used to make Tamiflu but without the bad elements in the mix (altho Tamiflu is now grown otherwise I believe because star anise was running out)

Fivr spices chinese seasoning has star anise too.

Lots of good stuff which helped me

[Celebration]

16. Here is an in vivo study on other flu

1: J Int Med Res. 2004 Mar-Apr;32(2):132-40.
Randomized study of the efficacy and safety of oral elderberry extract in the treatment of influenza A and B virus infections.Zakay-Rones Z, Thom E, Wollan T, Wadstein J.
Department of Virology, Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel.

Elderberry has been used in folk medicine for centuries to treat influenza, colds and sinusitis, and has been reported to have antiviral activity against influenza and herpes simplex. We investigated the efficacy and safety of oral elderberry syrup for treating influenza A and B infections. Sixty patients (aged 18-54 years) suffering from influenza-like symptoms for 48 h or less were enrolled in this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study during the influenza season of 1999-2000 in Norway. Patients received 15 ml of elderberry or placebo syrup four times a day for 5 days, and recorded their symptoms using a visual analogue scale. Symptoms were relieved on average 4 days earlier and use of rescue medication was significantly less in those receiving elderberry extract compared with placebo. Elderberry extract seems to offer an efficient, safe and cost-effective treatment for influenza. These findings need to be confirmed in a larger study.

PMID: 15080016