Elderberry is a dark purple fruit that’s a rich source of antioxidants known as anthocyanins. That may boost your immune system. They can help tame inflammation, lessen stress, and help protect your heart, too. Some say elderberry’s health benefits include preventing and treating the common cold and the flu, as well as pain relief. There’s at least some scientific support for these uses.
Traditional uses for elderberry—including for hay fever, sinus infections, toothache, sciatica, and burns.
Elderberry juice syrup has been used for centuries as a home remedy for viral illnesses like the cold and flu. Some researchers have concluded that this syrup shortens the duration of some illnesses and makes them less severe.
Anthocyanins are known to reduce inflammation. Those in elderberry do so by blocking nitric oxide production in your immune system.
Elderberry seems to slow down the inflammatory response, which may lower swelling and the pain it can cause.
Raw unripe elderberries and other parts of the elder tree, such as the leaves and stem, contain toxic substances (e.g., sambunigrin) that can cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea; cooking eliminates this toxin. Large quantities of the toxin may cause serious illness.
Don’t confuse elderberry with American Elder, Elderflower, or Dwarf Elder. These aren’t the same and have different effects.

Children: Elderberry extract is possibly safe in children 5 years of age or older when taken by mouth for up to 3 days. There isn’t enough reliable information to know if it is safe for children younger than 5 years of age to take elderberry. Unripe or uncooked elderberries are possibly unsafe. Don’t give them to children.