Antioxidative properties of Sambucus nigra extracts

Potential protective effects of elderberry (Sambucus nigra) extracts against oxidative degradation of hyaluronan (HA) were detected in vitro. To induce free-radical-mediated HA degradation, Weissberger’s biogenic oxidative system, which mimics the situation of acute inflammation, was applied. Time- and dose-dependent changes of dynamic viscosity of the HA solutions in the presence and absence of two elderberry extracts produced in 2006 and 2012 were recorded by rotational viscometry (RV). Radical scavenging capacity of both extracts was investigated by the spectrocolorimetric ABTS [2,2′-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt] assay and the “inverted” ABTS assay. Oxygen consumption of the system oxidizing HA either in the absence or presence of the elderberry extracts was determined. The results of RV revealed that an addition of the newer extract (2012) promoted the inhibition of HA degradation more markedly compared to the older extract (2006). The same effect of both extracts on ABTS^·+ scavenging was observed. Inverted ABTS assay demonstrated that colorful substances were not responsible for the radical-scavenging activity. Results of oximetry demonstrated that the effect of the extract from 2006 was more significant than that of the extract from 2012.