The effect of Sambucol, a black elderberry-based, natural product, on the production of human cytokines: I. Inflammatory cytokines

Sambucus nigra L, products - Sambucol - are based on a standardized black e lderberry extract, They are natural remedies with antiviral properties, esp ecially against different strains of influenza virus. Saunbucol was shown t o 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 anti body level to influenza virus in the Sambucol group, than in the control gr oup. The present study aimed to assess the effect of Sambucol products on the he althy immune system - namely, its effect on cytokine production. The produc tion of inflammatory cytokines was tested using blood - derived monocytes f rom 12 healthy human donors, Adherent monocytes mere separated from PBL and incubated with different Sambucol preparations i.e.,Sambucol Elderberry Ex tract, 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 Elderberr y 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 (4 4.9 fold). We conclude from this study that, in addition to its antiviral properties, Sambucol Elderberry Extract and its formulations activate the healthy immun e system by increasing inflammatory cytokine production. Sambucol might the refore be beneficial to the immune system activation and in the inflammator y process in healthy individuals or in patients with various diseases. Samb ucol could also have an immunoprotective or immunostimulatory effect when a dministered to cancer or AIDS patients, in conjunction with chemotherapeuti c or other treatments. In view of the increasing popularity of botanical su pplements, such studies and investigations in vitro, in vivo and in clinica l trials need to be developed.