Last update July 22, 2025

Elder; Elderberry

Likely Compatibility

Fairly safe. Mild or unlikely adverse effects. Compatible under certain circumstances. Follow-up recommended. Read Commentary.

Shrub. The bark, leaves, roots, flowers and fruits are used for traditional medicinal purposes (diuretic, laxative, anti-infective in colds, etc.) without any clinical evidence of their efficacy. It contains flavonoids (quercetin, isoquercitrin and rutin), phenolic acids, terpenes, mineral salts and tannins. (EMA 2014, WHO 2002)

Some of its components, such as quercetin, are excreted in breast milk, and their concentration increases with diets rich in products that contain them, such as elderberry. (Williamson 2025, Romaszko 2014, Song 2013)

Elderberry and other plants contain pro- or anti-oestrogenic endocrine disruptors. (Powers 2015)

Given that it has no proven therapeutic properties, it seems prudent to avoid consumption or to consume it very moderately during breastfeeding.

Suggestions made at e-lactancia are done by APILAM team of health professionals, and are based on updated scientific publications. It is not intended to replace the relationship you have with your doctor but to compound it. The pharmaceutical industry contraindicates breastfeeding, mistakenly and without scientific reasons, in most of the drug data sheets.

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Other names

Elder; Elderberry is also known as


Elder; Elderberry in other languages or writings:

Groups

Elder; Elderberry belongs to these groups or families:

Tradenames

Main tradenames from several countries containing Elder; Elderberry in its composition:

List of 8 tradenames

Pharmacokinetics

Variable Value Unit
Tmax quercetina: 12 hours
T½ quercetina: 50 hours

References

  1. Williamson G, Clifford MN. A critical examination of human data for the biological activity of quercetin and its phase-2 conjugates. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2025;65(9):1669-1705. Abstract
  2. Powers CN, Setzer WN. A molecular docking study of phytochemical estrogen mimics from dietary herbal supplements. In Silico Pharmacol. 2015 Mar 22;3:4. Abstract Full text (link to original source)
  3. Ulbricht C, Basch E, Cheung L, Goldberg H, Hammerness P, Isaac R, Khalsa KP, Romm A, Rychlik I, Varghese M, Weissner W, Windsor RC, Wortley J. An evidence-based systematic review of elderberry and elderflower (Sambucus nigra) by the Natural Standard Research Collaboration. J Diet Suppl. 2014 Abstract
  4. Romaszko E, Wiczkowski W, Romaszko J, Honke J, Piskula MK. Exposure of breastfed infants to quercetin after consumption of a single meal rich in quercetin by their mothers. Mol Nutr Food Res. 2014 Abstract
  5. EMA. Sambucus nigra, fructus. Assessment report. 2014 Full text (in our servers)
  6. EMA. Sambucus Nigra, flos. Assessment report. 2014 Full text (in our servers)
  7. Song BJ, Jouni ZE, Ferruzzi MG. Assessment of phytochemical content in human milk during different stages of lactation. Nutrition. 2013 Abstract Full text (link to original source) Full text (in our servers)
  8. WHO. World Health Organization. Geneva. WHO monographs on selected medicinal plants. Volume 2. WHO monographs. 2002 Full text (link to original source) Full text (in our servers)

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