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Dietary supplement

Elderberry Sambucus 400 mg Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by Vitamin World

Capsule Category: Botanical
Most serious interaction: Moderate
The interaction bottom line Most serious interaction: Moderate

Elderberry Sambucus 400 mg is a dietary supplement by Vitamin World with 1 active ingredient. Its ingredients are commonly taken for colds, flu (influenza), other respiratory infections.Based on those ingredients, 121 medications have a known interaction with it, the most serious rated moderate. The ingredients most likely to interact are Elderberry. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.

HelloPharmacist Scorecard of Elderberry Sambucus 400 mg by Vitamin World

Our pharmacy team’s full take, with four database checks built into the cards below — a summary of what is known, not a grade of the product itself.

From our pharmacy team — supplement deep dive

What’s inside

Full disclosure
Ingredient Transparency · database check
Full

Every active ingredient lists its own amount on the label.

Why this rating?
  • The label discloses an exact amount for 1 of its 1 active ingredient.
  • No proprietary blends here — you can verify the dose of every single component.

Elderberry Sambucus 400 mg contains one active ingredient: elderberry (also called black elder or Sambucus nigra), a berry extract dosed at 400 mg per capsule. The supplement also includes gelatin and vegetable magnesium stearate as inactive ingredients — the capsule shell and a flow agent to keep the powder moving through the machine that fills it.

Does it work?

No specific claim
Evidence for Intended Use · database check
By FDA rules, dietary supplements can’t claim to treat, cure, or prevent disease — so labels speak in careful marketing language. We discern each product’s intended use from its name, label claims, and label statements, then grade the clinical evidence for that use. How these ratings are computed
General wellness

This Elderberry product is marketed for general wellness, not a specific health condition, so there's no single claim to grade — see Elderberry's own graded uses on its monograph.

Why this rating?
  • The label markets general wellness (“Antioxidant health”), not a specific health condition, so there is no single claim to grade against clinical-evidence data.

The evidence we hold on elderberry does not support a clear benefit for the conditions it's marketed for — allergic rhinitis (hay fever), heart disease, chronic fatigue, COPD, brain function, or respiratory infections all carry a rating of insufficient reliable evidence. That doesn't mean it doesn't work; it means the research so far isn't strong or complete enough to say either way.

The evidence, ingredient by ingredient Elderberry

How safe is it?

Well-documented data
Safety Information · database check
Well characterized

Adverse-effect, pregnancy, and general safety data are on file for most of these ingredients.

Why this rating?
  • We hold adverse-effect (side-effect) data for 1 of the 1 matched ingredient.
  • Pregnancy & breastfeeding safety ratings cover 1 of 1.
  • General safety write-ups exist for 1 of 1.
  • Remember: this measures how much safety information exists. Thin data is not the same as being safe.

Properly prepared elderberry products from ripe fruit are generally well tolerated. The real danger is raw or unripe berries, seeds, leaves, or bark from the elder tree — these contain a toxin (cyanogenic glycosides) that can cause nausea, vomiting, severe diarrhea, weakness, dizziness, numbness, and confusion.

Cooking eliminates that toxin, so a commercial supplement like this one should be safe from that angle. There is not enough reliable safety information to recommend elderberry during pregnancy or while breastfeeding — talk with your doctor or pharmacist before taking it if you're pregnant or nursing.

One case report also flagged autoimmune hepatitis (liver inflammation) in a patient with an existing autoimmune disease who took elderberry long-term, though the dose and duration were unknown.

Side effects, ingredient by ingredient Elderberry

Meds to double-check

Moderate interaction found
Known Interaction Concern · database check
Moderate identified

The most serious documented interaction for these ingredients is Moderate. Check your medications for a personalized result.

Why this rating?
  • 1 of the 1 matched ingredient can interact with medications — Elderberry.
  • The most serious interaction on file is rated Moderate.
  • Some involve high-stakes drug classes: immunosuppressants / transplant drugs.
  • For scale: 121 individual medications appear in the full list. A big number alone doesn't make a product dangerous — what matters is whether YOUR medication is on it, so run yours through the interaction checker on this page.

Before taking this product, check with your doctor or pharmacist if you take any immunosuppressant medication (drugs used after organ transplant or for immune disorders). Also confirm it's safe to combine with pazopanib (Votrient), a cancer medication.

Both carry a Moderate risk of interaction with elderberry.

Check your own medication Run your meds through the checker above

The bottom line

Scorecard at a glanceFully disclosed formula marketed for general wellness rather than one specific gradeable purpose. Moderate medication interactions have been identified, and safety information is well characterized.

Elderberry may be worth considering if you're looking for immune support, but the evidence for specific conditions isn't solid yet. If you take any immunosuppressant medication or pazopanib (a cancer drug), you need to check with your doctor or pharmacist before starting — this supplement could interfere with how those work or increase your side effects.

Same conversation applies if you're pregnant, breastfeeding, or have an autoimmune disease.

Educational only — not medical advice; always confirm with your pharmacist. Our editorial policy · How we use AI

Assessment coverage: 1 of 1 active ingredient matched to our full ingredient reviews (monographs). Based on the product label dated May 24, 2013.

This Scorecard evaluates available label information, ingredient evidence, and known medication-safety considerations. It does not independently verify product identity, purity, potency, contamination, or manufacturing quality. How these ratings are computed

At a glance

General information

Key facts about Elderberry Sambucus 400 mg, straight from the product label.

Brand Vitamin World
Barcode (UPC) 074312727313
Net contents 100 Rapid Release Capsule(s)
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD May 24, 2013
DSLD ID 21053
Product type Botanical
Supplement form Capsule
Dietary claims / uses All Other, Structure/Function
Intended target group(s) Adult (18 - 50 Years), Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Sugar Free
From the label
Everything in this section is reproduced from the manufacturer’s own product label — it’s the label speaking, not HelloPharmacist. We show it so you can see exactly what the maker states; we don’t verify or endorse those statements.

Supplement Facts

The label details for Elderberry Sambucus 400 mg by Vitamin World, sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database.

Supplement Facts

Daily Value (DV) Target Group(s):
Adults and children 4 or more years of age
Minimum serving Sizes:
1 Capsule(s)
Maximum serving Sizes:
1 Capsule(s)
UPC/BARCODE
074312727313
IngredientAmount% DV
Elderberry400 mg--

Other ingredients: Gelatin, Vegetable Magnesium Stearate

Tap any ingredient to jump to its full detail below.

Label statements
These statements are the manufacturer’s wording, reproduced from the product label — the label is saying it, not HelloPharmacist. We don’t verify or endorse them.
Precautions

Keep out of reach of children.

Discontinue use and consult your doctor if any adverse reactions occur.

WARNING: If you are pregnant, nursing or taking any medications, consult your doctor before use.

Do not use if seal under cap is broken or missing.

Brand IP Statement(s)

Get healthy.

(C)2013 Vitamin World, Inc.

General Statements

Antioxidant Health*

NATURAL WHOLE HERB

Vitamin World’s Natural Whole Herb products utilize ground plant parts to provide the natural components found in nature. Elderberries contain beneficial flavonoids, plant-based phytochemicals that are known to possess antioxidant properties.* Antioxidants fight against cell-damaging free radicals in the body.*

Vitamin World products are subject to critically stringent quality assurance analysis. Our state-of-the-art laboratory, manufacturing and packaging facilities insure the highest quality nutritional supplements money can buy. Your health & safety are our first priority!

FDA Statement of Identity

Herbal Supplement

Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

DIRECTIONS: For adults, take one (1) capsule three times daily, preferably with meals. Capsules may be opened and prepared as a tea.

Seals/Symbols

QA QUALITY ASSURED

Formulation

No Artificial Color, Flavor or Sweetener, No Preservatives, No Sugar, No Starch, No Milk, No Lactose, No Soy, No Gluten, No Wheat, No Yeast, No Fish. Sodium Free.

FDA Disclaimer Statement

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Storage

Store at room temperature.

General

PROD. #2731 B2731 08C

See for yourself

Elderberry Sambucus 400 mg by Vitamin World label

The label scan from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Tap to enlarge.

What’s inside

The Ingredients in Elderberry Sambucus 400 mg by Vitamin World

This is the 1 active ingredient this product is made of. Select it to open its full monograph.

Serving size1 Capsule(s) Dosage formCapsule Amounts shown are per serving.

Elderberry

Interacts with
121 drugs
400 mg per serving

Elderberry is a popular herbal supplement, mainly taken to help with colds and flu. Some small studies suggest it may modestly shorten cold or flu sym...

Elderberry monograph & interactions

Other (inactive) ingredients: Gelatin, Vegetable Magnesium Stearate. These complete the product’s ingredient list but are not active constituents.

Interaction report

Elderberry Sambucus 400 mg by Vitamin World Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against Elderberry Sambucus 400 mg?

Ask about interactions with your drugs in plain English — “Can I take it with lisinopril?” — and we find you the answer in seconds, ingredient by ingredient.

Go to the checker
121Drugs
121 Moderate

Ingredients driving the most interactions

Each ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects

For each ingredient in Elderberry Sambucus 400 mg with known interactions, here are the types of medications it can affect. Open any type for the detail — or search your exact drug in the checker above.

Elderberry2 drug types · 121 drugs

Immunosuppressants

Theoretically, elderberry might interfere with immunosuppressant therapy due to its immunostimulant activity.
Elderberry has immunostimulant activity, increasing the production of cytokines, including interleukin and tumor necrosis factor.

Likelihood Possible Evidence B
Pazopanib (Votrient)

Theoretically, elderberry might interact with pazopanib, potentially increasing the risk of adverse effects.
In one case, a 65-year-old patient taking pazopanib for 4 weeks for soft-tissue sarcoma developed severe nausea, loose stools, and elevated alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase levels and was diagnosed with grade 3 liver injury. The patient reported taking elderberry supplements for 2 years, dose unspecified, and was also taking a multivitamin and a calcium supplement. The patient's symptoms and liver enzyme levels improved upon discontinuation of pazopanib and all supplements. Pazopanib treatment was re-initiated, at a lower dose, with no further evidence of liver injury. It was unclear in this case report if the elderberry supplements were derived from the berry, the flower, or the combination.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
The maker

Brand information

Manufacturer and brand details for Elderberry Sambucus 400 mg, from the product label.

Vitamin World

See all Vitamin World products
Phone Number
1-800-228-4533
Web Address
www.vitaminworld.com
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Elderberry Sambucus 400 mg by Vitamin World: Common Questions

Does Elderberry Sambucus 400 mg by Vitamin World interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, Elderberry Sambucus 400 mg has a known interaction with 121 medications. Use the checker to see how it interacts with a specific drug.
How can one product interact with so many drugs?
Elderberry Sambucus 400 mg contains a single active ingredient, and that one ingredient can interact with many different medications on its own. We check it against each medication and show the mechanism responsible.
Where does this information come from?
The product label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD); the interaction data is built on the Natural Medicines database and reviewed by HelloPharmacist pharmacists.
Is this elderberry safe to take if I'm pregnant or breastfeeding?
There isn't enough reliable safety information to recommend elderberry supplements during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist before taking it — they can weigh the risks and benefits for your specific situation.
What is elderberry actually supposed to do?
Elderberry is marketed for immune support and to help with things like cold symptoms, hay fever, and respiratory infections. However, we don't yet have strong enough evidence to say it reliably works for any of these — the research is incomplete or hasn't been solid enough to draw firm conclusions.
Can raw elderberries be toxic?
Yes — raw or unripe elderberries, and the seeds, leaves, and bark of the elder tree, contain a toxin that can cause nausea, vomiting, severe diarrhea, weakness, and dizziness. Cooking kills that toxin, so a prepared supplement like this one avoids that risk.
Are there any side effects from this supplement?
When made from ripe elderberry and properly prepared, this supplement is generally well tolerated. In rare cases, nausea and vomiting have been reported, and one case described liver inflammation in a patient with an existing autoimmune disease — but side effects appear uncommon.
What's in this product besides elderberry?
The capsule contains gelatin (the shell) and vegetable magnesium stearate (a flow agent). These are inactive ingredients — fillers and binders — not active components.
Can this interfere with my medications?
Yes. Elderberry can interact with immunosuppressant drugs (used after transplant or for autoimmune conditions) and with pazopanib, a cancer medication. Both interactions are Moderate in severity. Check your exact medications with the tool on this page, and talk with your doctor or pharmacist before starting.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

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Label information is sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database and reflects the product version on file; always read your actual product label. This page is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Confirm with your pharmacist or doctor before combining supplements and medications.

Elderberry Sambucus 400 mg label
Go deeper

The Full Monographs Behind Elderberry Sambucus 400 mg’s Ingredients

Every ingredient we hold a full HelloPharmacist monograph for — uses, evidence, safety, and the complete interaction list.

Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Elderberry Sambucus 400 mg's label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database; the ingredient interaction data is from the Natural Medicines database, reviewed by our pharmacists.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

The 6 references behind this product’s interaction data

Every citation that drives the interaction findings for this product’s ingredients, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Open an ingredient to browse its citations — links open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

Elderberry 6 references
  1. Barak V, Halperin T, Kalickman I. The effect of Sambucol, a black elderberry-based, natural product, on the production of human cytokines: I. Inflammatory cytokines. Eur Cytokine Netw 2001;12:290-6..
  2. Elderberry (Sambucus species). The Poison Plant Patch, Novia Scotia Museum, 2007. Available at: http://museum.gov.ns.ca/poison/?section=species&id=117 (Accessed 16 October 2009).
  3. European elder. Canadian Poisonous Plants Information System. Available at: http://www.cbif.gc.ca/pls/pp/ppack.jump?p_null=all&p_psn=121&p_type=all&p_sci=comm&p_x=px (Accessed 16 October 2009).
  4. Raus K, Pleschka S, Klein P, Schoop R, Fisher P. Effect of an echinacea-based hot drink versus oseltamivir in Influenza treatment: a randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, multicenter, noninferiority clinical trial. . Curr Ther Res Clin Exp. 2015;20;77:6 PubMed
  5. Ramachandran A, Antala D, Pudasainee P, Panginikkod S, Gupta H. A Plausible Association Between the Use of Elderberry and Autoimmune Hepatitis. Cureus 2022;14(4):e24250. PubMed
  6. Agarwal N, Mangla A. Elderberry interaction with pazopanib in a patient with soft-tissue sarcoma: A case report and literature review. Mol Clin Oncol 2024;20(5):36. PubMed

See these in context on the Elderberry monograph →

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

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