North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[Charles Paradise <machelp@attglobal.net>]

Real interesting report.   Only other fruit I have heard attributed
with immune-stimulating properties is Tahitian Noni, a citrus-type fruit
from Tahiti, its extract is sold as well.  For this particular brand
I found it at
 http://www.allstarhealth.com/de_p_ref/1044/froog1044/NATURES_WAY_Sambucol_-_Black_Elderberry_Extract.htm
I wish I had confidence in the study.  When the study says
"serum showed a higher antibody level to influenza virus in the Sambucol
group" it strains my credulity.  It sounds hard to isolate antibodys
to specific viruses from serum, if it could be done so easily it wouldn't
seem to take years to even find antibodies to diseases occupying the attention
of several different nation's disease institutes - it makes me suspect
the study is a sham performed for money - but I don't know enough of microbiology
to say for sure.

But, finding immune stimulators is so important that any new stimulator deserves following.  I hope we hear more.
Charlie Paradise

markl wrote:

Elderberry and flu... here is a link to a study showing elderberry does reduce the duration of flu symptoms by about 4 days: http://www.jimronline.net/content/html/fullhtm.asp?ArticleID=445 Here is an abstract discussing what elderberry does to the immune system of a healthy person: 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. Immunology Laboratory for Tumor Diagnosis, Department of Oncology, Hadassah University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel. 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.

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