A new study has found how the Elderberry Fruit might aid in the fight against Influenza. The study showed compounds derived from Elderberries could directly stop the entry and replication of the virus in human cells. They also found that Elderberry can support a person’s immune response to the Flu virus.
Elderberry’s Flu-Fighting properties have been observed for a long time. This study, however, took a comprehensive look into the actual mechanisms by which the Elderberry phytonutrients combat infections from Influenza and “provide a potent direct antiviral effect against the Flu Virus”. Commercially farmed Elderberries were used in this study. The Elderberries were turned into a serum and applied to cells before, during and after being infected with the Influenza Virus.
The phytonutrients found in the Elderberry serum were shown to be effective in stopping the virus from actually infecting the cells. Surprising to the researchers was that these phytonutrients were actually more effective at stopping viral multiplication in the later stages of the Influenza cycle after the cells had already been infected with the virus. Additionally, the Elderberry phytonutrients showed a mild inhibitory effect in the early stages of the Influenza Virus cycle and stronger effects in the after infection phase. It seems the Elderberry Extract directly blocked viral Glycoproteins (Glycoproteins may help the virus avoid the host’s immune system) and indirectly increased the expression of proinflammatory cytokines (like IL-6, IL-8 and TNF, which may be good when they stimulate the immune system to fight a foreign pathogen more efficently). Researchers found these observations to be surprising and very important because by blocking the Viral Cycle at multiple stages there is an increased chance of stopping the Viral Infection completely.
In conclusion, researchers found that Elderberry shows more than one means of providing therapeutic action against Influenza infections.
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