Global Ingredient Risk Index Botanical

Elderberry (Sambucus)

Sambucus nigra

Also known as: Elderberry, Sambucus nigra, black elder, sambucol

23 მარ 2026

LOW RISK 3.0/10 How?

This ingredient is classified as unclassified risk (GIRI score: 3.0/10).

Known Safety Concerns

Raw berries/flowers/leaves contain cyanogenic compounds -- must be processed
Theoretical concern in autoimmune conditions from immune stimulation
GI distress if improperly prepared or in excess
May interact with immunosuppressant medications

Contraindications

Raw berries/flowers/leaves contain cyanogenic compounds -- must be processed
Theoretical concern in autoimmune conditions from immune stimulation

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Information not yet available for this ingredient profile.

Elderberry extracts are used for immune support and cold/flu management. Clinical trials show modest reduction in duration of cold/flu symptoms. Raw elderberries contain cyanogenic glycosides that require heat processing to be safe. Elderberry may stimulate cytokine production, raising theoretical concerns in autoimmune conditions. Generally well tolerated at standard doses.

Scientific Name: Sambucus nigra

Information not yet available for this ingredient profile.

SETI Score 50/100

Risk Level High risk

Scientific Confidence Low

Evidence Strength Limited

Key Benefit Botanical

Key Safety Concern Raw berries/flowers/leaves contain cyanogenic compounds -- must be processed

Evidence Reviewed 10 PubMed studies

Scientific Confidence Low

Based on study quality, consistency, and recency

Executive Summary — Ingredient Assessment

SETI Score 50/100

Risk Level High risk

Evidence Strength Limited

Main Benefit Botanical

Main Safety Concern Raw berries/flowers/leaves contain cyanogenic compounds -- must be processed

Ingredient Elderberry (Sambucus)

Scientific name Sambucus nigra

Scientific Evidence Overview

10 studies reviewed
0 high-quality studies (meta-analysis or RCT)
Main clinical benefit observed: Botanical
Evidence consistency: High consistency across studies (100%)

Safety Signals

Raw berries/flowers/leaves contain cyanogenic compounds -- must be processed
Theoretical concern in autoimmune conditions from immune stimulation
GI distress if improperly prepared or in excess
May interact with immunosuppressant medications

Evidence Strength Limited

Final Scientific Assessment

The available scientific evidence for Elderberry (Sambucus) indicates notable safety signals that warrant caution. Use should be considered carefully and monitored, particularly in sensitive populations or alongside other medications.

Ingredient Elderberry (Sambucus)

Evidence reviewed 10 peer-reviewed studies (last 10 years)

Scientific name Sambucus nigra

50 /100

Total SETI Score

High risk

Evidence quality	10/40
Evidence consistency	20/20
Safety signals	0/20
Study recency	10/10
Evidence transparency	10/10

Evidence Summary

10 studies reviewed
0 high-quality studies (meta-analysis or systematic review)
0 studies identified benefits or no safety concern (GREEN)
10 studies reported limited or advisory safety evidence (YELLOW)

Evidence Policy

Only peer-reviewed scientific literature indexed in PubMed or comparable databases is included in this evaluation. Commercial websites, blogs, and marketing materials are excluded. All references include direct traceable links to source documents.

Last updated: 23 მარ 2026, 18:48

Evidence Distribution

10 Other / unclassified

Observational / other LOW evidence YELLOW
Elderberry and Linden Flowers Ethanol-Water Extracts: Extraction Type Effect, Analysis and Biological Activity Determination. ↗

PMID 41828765 ↗

Journal Molecules

Year 2026

Study type Observational / other

Evidence strength LOW evidence

PubMed link https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41828765/

Polak B et al.. Elderberry and Linden Flowers Ethanol-Water Extracts: Extraction Type Effect, Analysis and Biological Activity Determination.. Molecules. 2026. PMID:41828765.
Observational / other LOW evidence YELLOW
Chemical Class-Driven Polyphenolic Profiles Shape In Vitro Regenerative Activity of Four Medicinal Plants Relevant to Burn Wound Healing. ↗

PMID 41754786 ↗

Journal Pharmaceuticals (Basel)

Year 2026

Study type Observational / other

Evidence strength LOW evidence

PubMed link https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41754786/

Rou0219ca OJ et al.. Chemical Class-Driven Polyphenolic Profiles Shape In Vitro Regenerative Activity of Four Medicinal Plants Relevant to Burn Wound Healing.. Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 2026. PMID:41754786.
Observational / other LOW evidence YELLOW
From Elderflower to Bioactive Extracts: Phytochemical Characterization and Anti-Inflammatory Activity. ↗

PMID 41683541 ↗

Journal Molecules

Year 2026

Study type Observational / other

Evidence strength LOW evidence

PubMed link https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41683541/

Koval M et al.. From Elderflower to Bioactive Extracts: Phytochemical Characterization and Anti-Inflammatory Activity.. Molecules. 2026. PMID:41683541.
Observational / other LOW evidence YELLOW
Elderberry (Sambucus nigra L.): an ethnopharmacological, phytochemical and biological review for a prospective nutraceutical plant. ↗

PMID 41665742 ↗

Journal Inflammopharmacology

Year 2026

Study type Observational / other

Evidence strength LOW evidence

PubMed link https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41665742/

Khalil AM et al.. Elderberry (Sambucus nigra L.): an ethnopharmacological, phytochemical and biological review for a prospective nutraceutical plant.. Inflammopharmacology. 2026. PMID:41665742.
Observational / other LOW evidence YELLOW
Observation of climatic parameters and plant phenology in the international phenological garden of Klaipu0117da University Botanic Garden, Lithuania. ↗

PMID 41627525 ↗

Journal Int J Biometeorol

Year 2026

Study type Observational / other

Evidence strength LOW evidence

PubMed link https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41627525/

Klimienu0117 A et al.. Observation of climatic parameters and plant phenology in the international phenological garden of Klaipu0117da University Botanic Garden, Lithuania.. Int J Biometeorol. 2026. PMID:41627525.
Observational / other LOW evidence YELLOW
Comparison of the phenolic and antioxidant potential of five European herbal remedies by effect-directed analysis using offline two-dimensional liquid chromatography-high resolution mass… ↗

PMID 41603958 ↗

Journal Anal Bioanal Chem

Year 2026

Study type Observational / other

Evidence strength LOW evidence

PubMed link https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41603958/

Hu00e4u00dfler M et al.. Comparison of the phenolic and antioxidant potential of five European herbal remedies by effect-directed analysis using offline two-dimensional liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry.. Anal Bioanal Chem. 2026. PMID:41603958.
Observational / other LOW evidence YELLOW
Current Knowledge and Utilization of Medicinal Plants and Fungi in Northeastern Croatia. ↗

PMID 41600130 ↗

Journal Plants (Basel)

Year 2026

Study type Observational / other

Evidence strength LOW evidence

PubMed link https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41600130/

Krstin L et al.. Current Knowledge and Utilization of Medicinal Plants and Fungi in Northeastern Croatia.. Plants (Basel). 2026. PMID:41600130.
Observational / other LOW evidence YELLOW
Comparative Review of Cardioprotective Potential of Various Parts of Sambucus nigra L., Sambucus williamsii Hance, and Their Products. ↗

PMID 41516333 ↗

Journal Int J Mol Sci

Year 2026

Study type Observational / other

Evidence strength LOW evidence

PubMed link https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41516333/

Olas B. Comparative Review of Cardioprotective Potential of Various Parts of Sambucus nigra L., Sambucus williamsii Hance, and Their Products.. Int J Mol Sci. 2026. PMID:41516333.
Observational / other LOW evidence YELLOW
Historical texts as a potential resource for plant-based antiviral agents against SARS-CoV-2: the example of the Receptarium of Burkhard III von Hallwyl… ↗

PMID 41799383 ↗

Journal Front Pharmacol

Year 2025

Study type Observational / other

Evidence strength LOW evidence

PubMed link https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41799383/

Vahekeni N et al.. Historical texts as a potential resource for plant-based antiviral agents against SARS-CoV-2: the example of the Receptarium of Burkhard III von Hallwyl from 16th-century Switzerland.. Front Pharmacol. 2025. PMID:41799383.
Observational / other LOW evidence YELLOW
Expression of Concern for Interfering with Lipid Raft Association: A Mechanism to Control Influenza Virus Infection By Sambucus nigra [Iran J Pharm… ↗

PMID 41589548 ↗

Journal Iran J Pharm Res

Year 2025

Study type Observational / other

Evidence strength LOW evidence

PubMed link https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41589548/

Ijpr EI. Expression of Concern for Interfering with Lipid Raft Association: A Mechanism to Control Influenza Virus Infection By Sambucus nigra [Iran J Pharm Res. 2017; 16 (3): e124953].. Iran J Pharm Res. 2025. PMID:41589548.

Q × L × D × S × 10 = 3.0 / 10

The GIRI Score is the product of four independently computed evidence components, each normalised to 0–1, then scaled to 0–10. Every component is derived exclusively from peer-reviewed references and regulatory data — no editorial judgement is applied.

0 of 10 approved references (score saturates at 10). More peer-reviewed studies = stronger evidence base.

Method: Q = number of approved references ÷ 10 (capped at 1.0)

50%

Limited — mostly case reports or animal studies

Method: L = mean study-level weight across approved references. Level 1 (meta-analysis / systematic review) = 1.0; Level 2 (RCT) = 0.8; Level 3 (cohort/case-control) = 0.6; Level 4 (case report) = 0.4; Level 5 (animal / in-vitro) = 0.2.

Benefit

Risk

50%

Mixed or neutral — roughly equal benefit and risk signals

Method: D = (sum of risk-scored references − sum of benefit-scored references) ÷ total evidence score, then scaled from [−1, 1] to [0, 1]. 0.0 = pure benefit; 0.5 = neutral; 1.0 = pure risk.

50%

One or more monitoring-level safety signals active

Method: S = 0.5 (neutral baseline) + sum of active signal severity deltas ÷ 10. Severity deltas: Critical = +2.0, High = +1.5, Moderate = +1.0, Low = +0.5. Capped at 1.0.

0Q × 5L × 5D × 5S = 3.0 / 10

Final GIRI Score for Elderberry (Sambucus). Risk level thresholds: Low 0–3.0 · Moderate 3.0–5.5 · High 5.5–7.5 · Critical 7.5–10.

Full methodology & data sources

The GIRI Score is computed entirely from structured data — no editorial scoring or subjective weighting is applied at any step.

References: Only approved references are counted. Each reference is assigned an evidence level (L1–L5) and a direction (risk / neutral / benefit) by the reference manager or AI classifier.
Safety Signals: Sourced from regulatory agencies (FDA, EMA, Health Canada, TGA, and others) and pharmacovigilance databases. Only active signals count toward the score.
Formula version: GIRI Score v3.7.0 — Q × L × D × S × 10.
Limitations: The score reflects published evidence and recorded signals as of the last update date. It is not a clinical risk assessment and should not replace advice from a qualified healthcare professional.

LOW RISK 3.0/10

Based on available regulatory signals and scientific evidence, this ingredient presents a low safety concern under normal conditions of use.

LOW
0–3.0

MODERATE
3.0–5.5

HIGH
5.5–7.5

CRITICAL
7.5–10

3.0

The score pin shows exactly where this ingredient falls on the fixed risk scale.

What drove the Low classification for Elderberry (Sambucus)

A score of 3.0 places this ingredient in the Low band. Thresholds: Low 0–3.0 · Moderate 3.0–5.5 · High 5.5–7.5 · Critical 7.5–10.

0 approved references.

Limited — mostly case reports or animal studies (Level 4–5).

Neutral or mixed — benefit and risk signals roughly balanced.

No active signals — S component is at neutral baseline (0.5), contributing no extra risk weight.

No major regulatory restrictions or advisories recorded across monitored jurisdictions (FDA, EMA, Health Canada, TGA, and others).

How are the Low / Moderate / High / Critical thresholds defined?

The four risk levels are fixed score bands. A score is assigned to exactly one level based on where it falls:

Level	Score	Meaning
LOW	0.0 – 2.9	Sparse or predominantly beneficial evidence. No active safety alerts.
MODERATE	3.0 – 5.4	Mixed signals — some risk alongside benefit. Caution at high doses or in sensitive groups.
HIGH	5.5 – 7.4	Multiple studies or regulatory alerts documenting adverse effects. Professional oversight recommended.
CRITICAL	7.5 – 10	Regulatory restrictions in one or more major jurisdictions. Serious documented harm. Avoid without specialist supervision.

Thresholds are fixed constants (GIRI_Score_Utils::LEVEL_THRESHOLDS). They do not change per ingredient and are never subject to editorial adjustment.

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Elderberry (Sambucus)

Safety Profile

Known Safety Concerns

Contraindications

Interactions

Evidence and Scientific Findings

Ingredient Overview

Biological and Chemical Classification

Mechanism of Action

Clinical Evidence of Effectiveness

Pharmacokinetics

Recommended Dosage

SETI — Scientific Evidence Transparency Index

Executive Summary — Ingredient Assessment

Evidence Summary

Evidence Policy

Evidence Distribution

Score Transparency

Risk Level Classification

What drove the Low classification for Elderberry (Sambucus)

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