Researchers saying Sambucol fights Bird Flu

[kaseyb (Supermom!)]

http://www.nutraingredients.com/news/ng.asp?id=65394

 

 

26/01/2006 - Sambucol, a standardized extract of black elderberry, has been found to fight the avian flu virus H5N1, revealed British researchers last week.

 

A team at Retroscreen Virology, an institute associated with the University of London, said that the extract was at least 99 per cent effective against the H5N1 virus and significantly neutralized the infectivity of the virus in cell cultures.

 

Dr Madeleine Mumcuoglu, the Israel-based developer of Sambucol, said the good results confirmed her earlier findings on the product, which is currently marketed around the world as a natural supplement for fighting common flu.

 

“It is active against lots of different types of flu viruses and I did my PhD on its effect on a non-virulent strain of bird flu so the results did not surprise me,” she told NutraIngredients.com.

 

“But I'm very happy with these results, especially as the work was done by Dr John Oxford, a reputable specialist in flu,” she added.

 

Dr Mumcuoglu stressed that the results could in no way demonstrate a benefit for humans infected with the bird flu strain that has killed more than 70 people, mostly in South East Asia, since the outbreak began in 2003. Nor will she be able to test it in a human trial.

 

But she is looking into starting an animal trial using ferrets, which have similar flu symptoms to humans.

 

Dr Mumcuoglu added that bird flu is still a lower threat than common flu, thought to kill about 25,000 people in the UK alone each year through complications.

 

While the new bird flu results might boost sales of Sambucol, it is the evidence from two human clinical trials on human flu that has created a significant market for the product. The double blind, placebo-controlled studies – the first done in Israel, and the second in Norway – both found that people who took the elderberry supplement got rid of flu in half the time of the placebo group, or after two to three days compared to about six.

 

Dr Mumcuoglu says Sambucol blunts the haemaglutinin spikes on the outside of viruses and stops them from entering cells where they reproduce, cause the cell to explode and allow the virus to continue invading the body.

 

An in vitro study has also shown Sambucol to be effective in increasing the production of four inflammatory cytokines, suggesting that the supplement may have an immuno-stimulatory effect and therefore be worth taking all year round to prevent flu and other disease.

 

Jerusalem-based Razei Bar Industries now produces more than 1.5 million bottles of Sambucol syrup, with average growth of 10 per cent each year.

 

"I didn't invent anything," claims Dr Mumcuoglu. "Elderberry has been known from the beginning of time. What people didn't know is what the active ingredient is, how to keep it intact and how to formulate to keep it active."

 

This active substance has not been patented to protect the firm's market. While several copycat products are available in healthstores, Razei Bar says it has tested several of these and found none of the active ingredient.

 

The new laboratory results were presented at a press conference held in the Royal Society of Medicine, London last week. Another trial is now underway at Hadassah Medical Organization Ein Kerem in Israel.

[kaseyb (Supermom!)]

Oh rats! I'm sorry, Darlene. I just saw you already posted on this article. My bad, my bad. I need a good whoopin' for this boo.

 

 

[Mother]

This was actually the article that made me start to DOUBT that Sambucol should be used in AF. It was that part about elderberry increaseing the cytokines. That is the LAST thing you would want in the Avialn Flu according to all that I've read.

 

It IS extremely affective against regular flu and viruses that do not cause the immune system to go into overdrive. There is also a possibliity that used with other herbs that counteract that particular trait of elderberry, it could still be effective with AF with very effective results. I'm still searching.

 

 

[kaseyb (Supermom!)]

Mother, I discussed this with my dh earlier today and he said that if researchers seriously find that Sambucol does the trick, then the stuff will be flying off store shelves....or, at the least, it will hit the news bigtime just like Tamiflu did.

 

Like you, I'm still wondering.....

 

At this point in time I'm stocking up on high-powered immune busting sugar and chocolate - to battle any cytokene storm.

[gardnmom]

It is also one of the traits of the Avian Flu that it tends to turn to pneumonia very quickly, this is the point at which I would use it, when and if it becomes apparent that the storm has taken place, then I think the elderberry or sambucol would be just the right booster to help knock it down, along with Echinacea, which is most effective for 10 days.

[Mother]

Sorry, according to the article I found on fluwiki, chocolate would do the same thing that sambucol would. set off a cytokine storm which is NOT the thing to do.

 

But, I really think I should stock up on Peeps cause it didn't say anything about THEM setting off any kind of storm.

[kaseyb (Supermom!)]

Lois, do you grow your own cone flowers and make your own echinacea at all? I'd like to do it so wondered if anyone here has experience with it.

 

Mother, well that does it. Chocolate Peeps are in my medicine box!

[gardnmom]

I don't grow my own cone flowers, I do buy the herb for making my own tincture. I have had to put in boxes for my gardens and that was one of several that we didn't have room for.

[Mother]

Chocolate PEEPS? They have chocolate PEEPS? I do know that you can dip Peeps in chocolate and they make a great desert.