Schwarzer Holunder: Volkstümliche Anwendungen wissenschaftlich belegt

Zusammenfassung

Der Schwarze Holunder (Sambucus nigra) wird seit dem Mittelalter medizinisch verwendet. Aufgrund unzureichender Dokumentation wurde die Anwendung aber nur für Zubereitungen aus den Blüten bei der überlieferten Indikation »Infektionen der oberen Atemwege« empfohlen, basierend auf der tierexperimentell nachgewiesenen sekretolytischen Wirkung. Inzwischen gibt es aber auch pharmakologische Untersuchungen zur antientzündlichen Wirkung der Blüten und zur antiviralen, bakteriostatischen und antioxidativen Wirkung der Beeren. Mehrere humanpharmakologische Studien haben belegt, dass Anthocyane in geringen Mengen resorbiert und im Urin ausgeschiedenen werden. Doch sind zur Aufklärung des Zusammenhangs zwischen resorbierten Inhaltsstoffen und antioxidativer Wirkung noch weitere Studien erforderlich. Zwei Studien ergaben Hinweise für die Wirksamkeit eines wässrigen Extrakts aus Holunderbeeren bei Influenza. Eine auf Holunder basierende hypokalorische Diät eignete sich als Impuls zur Lebensumstellung, um eine langfristige Gewichtsreduktion zu erzielen. Ob die Kur aufgrund der darin enthaltenen antioxidativ wirksamen Inhaltsstoffe anderen hypokalorischen Diäten überlegen ist, bleibt weiteren Untersuchungen vorbehalten.

Summary

Scientific proof of the traditional use of elderberry as a herbal drug

Since the middle ages, elderberry (Sambucus nigra) is used in traditional medicine. Based on inadequate documentation, use of elderberry has only been recommended for upper respiratory tract infections due to its secretolytic effect demonstrated in animal research. In the meantime, pharmacological investigations also revealed an anti-inflammatory action for elder flower and antiviral, antibacterial and antioxidative effects for elder berries. Several human pharmacological studies have shown that small amounts of anthocyanins are absorbed via the gastrointestinal tract and excreted via the urine. However, further studies are required to elucidate the relation between absorbed compounds and antioxidative effects. There is no doubt that an aqueous elderberry extract alleviates influenza complaints. An elder-based hypocaloric diet has been shown to be appropriate as a starter for life-style change in order to achieve long-term weight reduction. If the diet, due to its antioxidative principle, is superior to other hypocaloric diets, remains to be established.

Schlüsselwörter

Schwarzer Holunder - Sambucus nigra L. - Caprifoliaceae - pharmakologische Wirkungen - klinische Wirksamkeit

Key words

Elderberry - Sambucus nigra L. - Caprifoliaceae - pharmacological activity - clinical effectiveness

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