The excretion and biological antioxidant activity of elderberry antioxidants in healthy humans

The aims of the present study were to asses the renal excretion characteristics of elderberry anthocyanins, and to determine whether the consumption of elderberry juice would enhance postprandial plasma antioxidant status in healthy humans. In eight healthy subjects receiving a single oral dose of elderberry juice, the pharmacokinetic parameters were obtained from 7 h urine excretion. The mean fraction of orally ingested total anthocyanins (sum of cyanidin-3-sambubioside and cyanidin-3-glucoside) excreted unchanged with values of 0.033%, 0.038% and 0.040% after ingestion of 361, 541 and 722 mg, respectively, did not differ significantly (p > 0.05). This is suggestive of a dose-independent urinary excretion of elderberry anthocyanins. Furthermore, plasma antioxidant capacity and total phenolics were significantly increased 1 h after ingestion of 400 ml of elderberry juice. Anthocyanins as the characteristic phenolic compounds in elderberries and elderberry juice were detected as unchanged glycosides in the volunteers' plasma post-intake.