Research on Sambucol

[HysteryDiagnosis]

Not opinions, or prejudices or wishful thinking. No witch hunt, pogrom or torches and pitchforks. No bull, no kidding.


http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12455180

Isr Med Assoc J. 2002 Nov;4(11 Suppl):919-22.
The effect of herbal remedies on the production of human inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines.
Barak V, Birkenfeld S, Halperin T, Kalickman I.
Source

Immunology Laboratory for Tumor Diagnosis, Department of Oncology, Hadassah University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel. [e-mail]
Abstract
BACKGROUND:

Some herbal remedies are sold as food additives and are believed to have immune-enhancing properties.
OBJECTIVES:

To study the effect of five herbal remedies--Sambucol Black Elderberry Extract, Sambucol Active Defense Formula and Sambucol for Kids (with known antiviral properties), Protec and Chizukit N (containing propolis and Echinacea, claimed to be immune enhancers)--on the production of cytokines, one of the main components of the immune system.
METHODS:

The production of four inflammatory cytokines (interleukin-1 beta, tumor necrosis factor alpha, and IL-6 and IL-8) and one anti-inflammatory cytokine (IL-10) was tested using blood-derived monocytes from 12 healthy donors.
RESULTS:

The Sambucol preparations increased the production of five cytokines (1.3-6.2 fold) compared to the control. Protec induced only a moderate production of IL-8 (1.6 fold) and IL-10 (2.3 fold) while Chizukit N caused only a moderate increase in IL-10 production (1.4 fold). Both Protec and Chizukit N caused moderate decreases in IL-1 beta, TNF alpha and IL-6 production. Lipopolysaccharide, a known activator of monocytes, induced the highest levels of cytokine production (3.6-10.7 fold).
CONCLUSIONS:

The three Sambucol formulations activate the healthy immune system by increasing inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines production, while the effect of Protec and Chizukit N is much less. Sambucol could therefore have immunostimulatory properties when administered to patients suffering from influenza (as shown before), or immunodepressed cancer or AIDS patients who are receiving chemotherapy or other treatments.
Comment in

Isr Med Assoc J. 2002 Nov;4(11 Suppl):944-6.

PMID:
12455180


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http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12455180

Eur Cytokine Netw. 2001 Apr-Jun;12(2):290-6.
The effect of Sambucol, a black elderberry-based, natural product, on the production of human cytokines: I. Inflammatory cytokines.
Barak V, Halperin T, Kalickman I.
Source

Immunology Laboratory for Tumor Diagnosis, Department of Oncology, Hadassah University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel.
Abstract

Sambucus nigra L. products - Sambucol - are based on a standardized black elderberry extract. They are natural remedies with antiviral properties, especially against different strains of influenza virus. Sambucol was shown to be effective in vitro against 10 strains of influenza virus. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized study, Sambucol reduced the duration of flu symptoms to 3-4 days. Convalescent phase serum showed a higher antibody level to influenza virus in the Sambucol group, than in the control group. The present study aimed to assess the effect of Sambucol products on the healthy immune system - namely, its effect on cytokine production.

The production of inflammatory cytokines was tested using blood - derived monocytes from 12 healthy human donors. Adherent monocytes were separated from PBL and incubated with different Sambucol preparations i.e., Sambucol Elderberry Extract, Sambucol Black Elderberry Syrup, Sambucol Immune System and Sambucol for Kids. Production of inflammatory cytokines (IL-1 beta, TNF-alpha, IL-6, IL-8) was significantly increased, mostly by the Sambucol Black Elderberry Extract (2-45 fold), as compared to LPS, a known monocyte activator (3.6-10.7 fold).

The most striking increase was noted in TNF-alpha production (44.9 fold). We conclude from this study that, in addition to its antiviral properties, Sambucol Elderberry Extract and its formulations activate the healthy immune system by increasing inflammatory cytokine production.

Sambucol might therefore be beneficial to the immune system activation and in the inflammatory process in healthy individuals or in patients with various diseases. Sambucol could also have an immunoprotective or immunostimulatory effect when administered to cancer or AIDS patients, in conjunction with chemotherapeutic or other treatments. In view of the increasing popularity of botanical supplements, such studies and investigations in vitro, in vivo and in clinical trials need to be developed.

PMID:
11399518


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[CanSocDem]

1. Good answer!

Not that facts are enough to quell the occasional outbursts of righteous indignation that flareup here but comeuppance is always fun to watch......

:hi:


.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

2. And in other news..... cigarettes are good for you according to the medical establishment, and

they help with digestion. I saw it on the tee vee several decades ago.

[mopinko]

3. IF this is true, people with arthritis or chron's should

avoid at all costs. tnf is the main culprit in these diseases.