SAN DIEGO — Sambucol has expanded its lineup of black elderberry products with a new gummies version.

The company said Sambucol Black Elderberry Gummies received a strong response in a preview at at the Natural Products Expo West in March, and the product has been embraced by consumers upon its launch.

“The demand for Gummies has been growing for a while. But we wanted to make sure that Sambucol Gummies lived up to the standards of the brand, and I believe we’ve achieved that,” stated Kimberly Weld, vice president at PharmaCare US. “The Gummies are pectin-based, naturally sweetened with no artificial colors, and are suitable for vegetarians and vegans. Best of all, each gummy provides a significant dose of black elderberry, and they taste amazing.”

Sambucol Gummies available at such retailers as Walgreens, CVS Pharmacy, Rite Aid, Safeway, Albertsons, Jewel, Vons, Giant Eagle, Meijer, Bartell Drugs, Acme, Shaw’s and Cub Foods.

The company said Sambucol is a black elderberry extract rich in immune-supporting flavonoids, which are natural antioxidants thought to help protect the body’s cells from the potential damage caused by free radicals. Certain flavonoids, called anthocyanins, are found mainly in the pigments of dark blue and deep purple fruits such as the black elderberry and have an ability to stimulate the body’s immune system.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the highest concentration of anthocyanins are found in black elderberries, nearly double the amount found in any other fruit, the company said, adding that these anthocyanins give black elderberries twice the natural antioxidant capacity of blueberries and significantly more than cranberries.