| Ingredients | Amount Per Serving |
|---|---|
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(Sambucus nigra )
(fruit)
(Each 2 capsules contain 10,112 mg of Black Elderberry fresh herb equivalent.)
(organic Black Elderberry (Sambucus nigra) fruit extract PlantPart: fruit Genus: Sambucus Species: nigra Note: Each 2 capsules contain 10,112 mg of Black Elderberry fresh herb equivalent. )
|
158 mg |
|
(Malpighia glabra )
(fruit)
|
642 mg |
Acacia Gum, vegan Capsule (Form: Hypromellose)
Below is general information about the effectiveness of the known ingredients contained in the product Black Elderberry. Some ingredients may not be listed. This information does NOT represent a recommendation for or a test of this specific product as a whole.
INSUFFICIENT RELIABLE EVIDENCE to RATE
INSUFFICIENT RELIABLE EVIDENCE to RATE
Below is general information about the safety of the known ingredients contained in the product Black Elderberry. Some ingredients may not be listed. This information does NOT represent a recommendation for or a test of this specific product as a whole.
POSSIBLY SAFE ...when acerola fruit is used orally and appropriately. Acerola fruit contains an average of 2000 mg vitamin C per 100 grams of fruit, although this content varies widely. Acerola fruit should be consumed in amounts that do not provide more vitamin C than the tolerable upper intake level (UL) of 2000 mg per day for adults (4844).
PREGNANCY AND LACTATION:
Insufficient reliable information available; avoid using in amounts greater than found in foods.
LIKELY SAFE ...when used orally in the amounts typically found in foods. Elderberry has generally recognized as safe (GRAS) status in the US (4912).
POSSIBLY SAFE ...when elderberry fruit extract is used orally, short-term. One specific elderberry fruit extract (Sambucol, Nature's Way) has been used with apparent safety for up to 5 days (5260,12235,103831); another (BerryPharma, Iprona AG) has been used with apparent safety for up to 15 days (91374). A specific elderberry fruit extract lozenge (ViraBLOC, HerbalScience) has been used with apparent safety for 2 days (17022). Other elderberry fruit extracts have been used with apparent safety for up to 12 weeks (21141,21142).
POSSIBLY UNSAFE ...when elder tree leaves and stems, or unripe or uncooked elderberries, are consumed. The unripe green fruit, as well as the leaves and stems of the elder tree, contain a cyanide-producing chemical, which can cause serious toxicity (17020,17021,21143,21144,91374). Cooking eliminates the toxin.
CHILDREN: LIKELY SAFE
when consumed in the amounts typically found in foods.
CHILDREN: POSSIBLY SAFE
when used orally for up to 3 days.
A specific fruit extract (Sambucol, Nature's Way) has been used in doses of 15 mL twice daily for 3 days in children 5 years and older (5260,103831).
CHILDREN: POSSIBLY UNSAFE
when unripe or uncooked elderberries are consumed.
The unripe green fruit, as well as the leaves and stems of the elder tree, contain a cyanide-producing chemical , which can cause serious toxicity (17020,17021,21143,21144,91374). Cooking eliminates the toxin.
PREGNANCY AND LACTATION: LIKELY SAFE
when consumed in the amounts typically found in foods.
There is insufficient reliable information available about the safety of elderberry when used for medicinal purposes; avoid using in amounts greater than those found in foods.
Below is general information about the interactions of the known ingredients contained in the product Black Elderberry. Some ingredients may not be listed. This information does NOT represent a recommendation for or a test of this specific product as a whole.
Theoretically, the antioxidant effects of acerola might reduce the effectiveness of alkylating agents.
 Details
Acerola contains vitamin C, an antioxidant. There is concern that antioxidants might reduce the activity of chemotherapy drugs that generate free radicals, such as alkylating agents (391). In contrast, other researchers theorize that antioxidants might make alkylating chemotherapy more effective by reducing oxidative stress that could interfere with apoptosis (cell death) of cancer cells (14012,14013). More evidence is needed to determine what effect, if any, antioxidants such as vitamin C have on chemotherapy.
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Theoretically, concomitant use of acerola with aluminum salts might increase the amount of aluminum absorbed.
Details
Acerola contains vitamin C. It is thought that vitamin C chelates aluminum, keeping it in solution and available for absorption (10549,10550,10551). In people with normal renal function, urinary excretion of aluminum likely increases, making aluminum retention and toxicity unlikely (10549). However, patients with renal failure who take aluminum-containing compounds, such as phosphate binders, should avoid acerola in doses that provide more vitamin C than the recommended dietary allowances.
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Theoretically, the antioxidant effects of acerola might reduce the effectiveness of antitumor antibiotics.
Details
Acerola contains vitamin C, an antioxidant. There is concern that antioxidants might reduce the activity of chemotherapy drugs that generate free radicals, such as antitumor antibiotics (391). In contrast, other researchers theorize that antioxidants might make antitumor antibiotic chemotherapy more effective by reducing oxidative stress that could interfere with apoptosis (cell death) of cancer cells (14012,14013). More evidence is needed to determine what effects, if any, antioxidants such as vitamin C have on antitumor antibiotic chemotherapy.
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Theoretically, acerola might reduce the clearance of aspirin; however, its vitamin C content is likely too low to produce clinically significant effects.
Details
Acerola contains vitamin C. It has been suggested that acidification of the urine by vitamin C can decrease the urinary excretion of salicylates, increasing plasma salicylate levels (3046). However, short-term use of up to 6 grams daily of vitamin C does not seem to affect urinary pH or salicylate excretion (10588,10589). The vitamin C content of acerola is typically about 2000 mg per 100 grams. Thus, a clinically significant interaction between acerola and aspirin is unlikely.
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Theoretically, concomitant use of acerola with estrogens might increase estrogenic effects.
Details
Acerola contains vitamin C. Increases in plasma estrogen levels of up to 55% have occurred under some circumstances when vitamin C is taken concurrently with oral contraceptives or hormone replacement therapy, including topical products (129,130,11161). It is suggested that vitamin C prevents oxidation of estrogen in the tissues, regenerates oxidized estrogen, and reduces sulfate conjugation of estrogen in the gut wall (129,11161). When tissue levels of vitamin C are high, these processes are already maximized and supplemental vitamin C does not have any effect on estrogen levels. However, increases in plasma estrogen levels may occur when women who are deficient in vitamin C take supplements (11161).
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Theoretically, acerola might reduce the effectiveness of warfarin; however, its vitamin C content is likely too low to produce clinically significant effects.
Details
Acerola contains vitamin C. High doses of vitamin C may reduce the response to warfarin, possibly by causing diarrhea and reducing warfarin absorption (11566). This occurred in two people who took up to 16 grams daily of vitamin C, and resulted in decreased prothrombin time (9804,9806). Lower doses of 5-10 grams daily of vitamin C can also reduce warfarin absorption, but this does not seem to be clinically significant (9805,9806,11566,11567). The vitamin C content of acerola is typically about 2000 mg per 100 grams. Thus, a clinically significant interaction between acerola and warfarin is unlikely.
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Theoretically, elderberry might interfere with immunosuppressant therapy due to its immunostimulant activity.
Details
Elderberry has immunostimulant activity, increasing the production of cytokines, including interleukin and tumor necrosis factor (10796).
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Theoretically, elderberry might interact with pazopanib, potentially increasing the risk of adverse effects.
Details
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Below is general information about the adverse effects of the known ingredients contained in the product Black Elderberry. Some ingredients may not be listed. This information does NOT represent a recommendation for or a test of this specific product as a whole.
General
...Orally, acerola seems to be well tolerated.
However, a thorough evaluation of safety outcomes has not been conducted.
Serious Adverse Effects (Rare):
Orally: Acerola has been linked with one case of anaphylaxis and one case of rectal obstruction.
Gastrointestinal ...Osmotic diarrhea and gastrointestinal upset have been reported with doses of vitamin C greater than the tolerable upper intake level (UL) of 2000 mg daily (4844). Theoretically this could occur with large doses of oral acerola. A case report describes rectal obstruction with mass consisting of partially digested acerola fruits in a 5-year-old child who had ingested an unknown quantity of fruits daily for 7 days. The child presented with vomiting, abdominal pain and distension, tenesmus, constipation, and dehydration, and required surgical disimpaction (93205).
Immunologic ...There is a case report of a 37 year old man who developed a pruritic rash, dyspnea, and tachycardia 5 minutes after drinking a mixture of apple and acerola juices. He had a history of hay fever, oral allergy symptoms with avocado, celery, walnut, and curry, and contact urticaria with latex, but tolerated apples and apple juice. IgE antibodies to acerola were identified in the patient's serum. Ultimately, cross-reactivity between a latex protein and acerola was determined (93206).
General
...Orally, elderberry extracts prepared from ripe fruit seem to be well tolerated.
Most Common Adverse Effects:
Orally: When adverse effects occur, they are likely due to ingestion of raw and unripe elderberries, or seeds, leaves, and other plant parts. Due to cyanogenic glycosides, these may cause nausea, vomiting, severe diarrhea, weakness, dizziness, numbness, and stupor. Cooking eliminates the toxin.
Gastrointestinal
...Orally, nausea and vomiting have been reported after consuming a specific elderberry and echinacea product
Vogel Bioforce AG) (95650). However, it is unclear if this was due to the elderberry or Echinacea contained in the product.
Raw and unripe elderberries, and the seeds, leaves, and other elder tree parts might cause nausea, vomiting, or severe diarrhea due to cyanogenic glycosides (17020,17021). Cooking eliminates the toxin.
Hepatic ...In one case report, a 60-year-old female with underlying autoimmune disease presented with autoimmune hepatitis after taking elderberry at an unknown dose for several years. The patient presented with nausea, jaundice, abdominal pain, and abdominal distention. Liver function tests returned to baseline 4 weeks after initiating treatment with prednisone 40 mg daily and discontinuing elderberry (110123).
Immunologic ...Elder tree pollen might cause an allergic reaction characterized by rhinitis and dyspnea in some patients who are allergic to grass pollen. These patients might also experience an allergic reaction to elderberry extracts (11095).
Neurologic/CNS ...Raw and unripe elderberries might cause weakness, dizziness, numbness, and stupor due to cyanogenic glycosides (17020,17021). Cooking eliminates the toxin.
