(Antidiabetic) Antidiabetic Potential of Black Elderberry Cultivars Flower Extracts: Phytochemical Profile and Enzyme Inhibition
Antioxidant and Antidiabetic Potential of Black Elderberry Flower Extracts
Publication: Molecules, Vol 29, Issue 23
Elzbieta Studzinska-Sroka, Magdalena Paczkowska-Walendowska, Justyna Kledzik, Agnieska Galanty, Anna Gosciniak, Piotr Szulc, Katarzyna Korybalska, and Judyta Cielecka-Piontek.
Abstract:
Black elderberry (Sambucus nigra L.) flowers are rich in polyphenolic compounds, including chlorogenic acid and quercetin derivatives, which are known for their health benefits, particularly their antioxidant and antidiabetic properties. This study aimed to optimize the extraction conditions using the Box–Behnken model to maximize polyphenol yields from different elderberry flower cultivars and to evaluate their potential for antidiabetic action. The extracts were analyzed for their phytochemical content and assessed for enzyme inhibition, specifically targeting enzymes critical in carbohydrate digestion and glucose regulation. The anti-inflammatory activity was also assessed. Results indicated that the Black Beauty, Obelisk, and Haschberg cultivars demonstrated significant inhibition of α-glucosidase, with a high inhibitory potential against α-amylase enzymes for the Obelisk cultivar. Additionally, high chlorogenic acid content was strongly correlated with enzyme inhibition and antioxidant activity, suggesting its substantial role in glucose regulation. This study underscores the potential of elderberry flower extracts, particularly those rich in chlorogenic acid, as natural agents for managing blood glucose levels, warranting further exploration of their use in antidiabetic applications.
Conclusion:
The PCA findings suggest that chlorogenic acid plays a pivotal role in the antidiabetic potential of elderberry flower extracts, with high content linked to effective α-glucosidase inhibition and antioxidant activity. While most extracts displayed limited α-amylase inhibition, the potent α-glucosidase inhibition aligns with the goal of managing postprandial blood glucose levels. Additionally, the strong antioxidant activity further supports these extracts’ potential role in mitigating oxidative stress—a key factor in diabetes complications, and the anti-inflammatory potential may have a protective effect against diabetes complications.
Overall, black elderberry flower extracts, especially those from specific cultivars, show potential as natural agents for blood glucose regulation, offering a basis for further investigation into their integration into antidiabetic treatments. Further research should focus on using ethanol extracts and, above all, on conducting in vivo studies to validate these in vitro findings and explore the practical applications of elderberry flower extracts, especially of the Black Beauty cultivar in diabetes management.
Link to full article: https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/29/23/5775