Solar radiation has harmful effects on exposed skin, producing accelerated aging processes (wrinkles, dryness, telangiectasia, dyspigmentations). Also, there is an increased ROS generation in skin exposed to the UV-A and UV-B radiation. This results in oxidative stress, photodamage of skin macromolecules and photocarcinogenesis processes. In order to prevent this, botanical extracts with antioxidant properties can be used in anti-photoaging preparations, as a substitute for traditional sunscreen products. Plant extracts, rich in natural polyphenols, exert fewer sensitization effects on skin and are very effective against oxidative damaging caused by UV radiation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antioxidative activity of different elder (Sambucus nigra L.) fruit extracts. Active components of S. nigra, such as polyphenols, have an important biological activity. Fruit extracts were obtained by the maceration method using four different solvents (methanol - ME, propylene glycol 45% v/v - PE, ethanol 70% v/v - EE and distilled water - WE). To study antioxidant activity we used different in vitro assays: 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay and β-carotene bleaching assay. The concentrations at which 50% of the DPPH radicals were scavenged (IC50) were 3.54, 3.94 and 12.07 mg/ml for the samples EE, ME and PE, respectively. The sample WE showed a stronger scavenging activity (IC50 value was 2.62 mg/ml). FRAP values were 242.29 and 686.43 μmol Fe²⁺/g of dry extract for PE and ME samples, respectively. Higher values were obtained using the EE and WE samples, 793.54 and 934.81 μmol Fe²⁺/g of dry extract, respectively. Sample EE was the most active in the β-carotene bleaching assay (IC50 was 0.235±0.004 mg/ml). Extracts WE and PE showed similar, but lower percentage of inhibition of β-carotene bleaching. FRAP assay showed a significant (p < 0.05) negative correlation (r = - 0.975) with radical scavenging capacity (IC50 values).The extract WE (distilled water was used as a solvent) exhibited the highest radical scavenging activity and had the highest ferric reducing potential.

1. Y. Matsumura, H. N. Ananthaswamy, “Toxic effects of ultraviolet radiation on the skin,” Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol., vol. 195, no. 3, pp. 298 – 308, Mar. 2004.
   DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2003.08.019
   PMid: 15020192
2. J. A. Nichols, S. K. Katiyar, “Skin photoprotection by natural polyphenols: anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and DNA repair mechanisms,” Arch. Dermatol. Res., vol. 302, no. 2, pp. 71 – 83, Mar. 2010.
   DOI: 10.1007/s00403-009-1001-3
   PMid: 19898857
   PMCid: PMC2813915
3. F. Afaq, H. Mukhtar, “Botanical antioxidants in the prevention of photocarcinogenesis and photoaging,” Exp. Dermatol., vol. 15, no. 9, pp. 678 – 684, Sep. 2006.
   DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0625.2006.00466.x
   PMid: 16881964
4. L. Chen, J. Y. Hu, S. Q. Wang, “The role of antioxidants in photoprotection: A critical review,” J. Am. Acad. Dermatol., vol. 67, no. 5, pp. 1013 – 1024, Nov. 2012.
   DOI: 10.1016/j.jaad.2012.02.009
   PMid: 22406231
5. V. V. da Silva et al., “Chemical stability and SPF determination of Pothomorphe umbellata extract gel and photostability of 4-nerolidylcathecol,” Int. J. Pharm., vol. 303, no. 1-2, pp. 125 – 131, Oct. 2005.
   DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2005.07.006
   PMid: 16129576
6. R. Stevanato, M. Bertelle, S. Fabris, “Photoprotective characteristics of natural antioxidant polyphenols,” Regul. Toxicol. Pharmacol., vol. 69, no. 1, pp. 71 – 77, Jun. 2014.
   DOI: 10.1016/j.yrtph.2014.02.014
   PMid: 24607767
7. A. Jarzycka, A. Lewinska, R. Gancarz, K. A. Wilk, “Assessment of extracts of Helichrysum arenarium, Crataegus monogyna, Sambucus nigra in photoprotective UVA and UVB; photostability in cosmetic emulsions,” J. Photochem. Photobiol. B, vol. 128, pp. 50 – 57, Nov. 2013.
   DOI: 10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2013.07.029
   PMid: 24007865
8. M. Radice et al., “Herbal extracts, lichens and biomolecules as natural photo-protection alternatives to synthetic UV filters. A systematic review,” Fitoterapia, vol. 114, pp. 144 – 162, Oct. 2016.
   DOI: 10.1016/j.fitote.2016.09.003
   PMid: 27642040
9. S. Hu, X. Zhang, F. Chen, M. Wang, “Dietary polyphenols as photoprotective agents against UV radiation,” J. Funct. Foods, vol. 30, pp. 108 – 118, Mar. 2017.
   DOI: 10.1016/j.jff.2017.01.009
10. H. G. Duymus, F. Goger, K. H. Can Baser, “In vitro antioxidant properties and anthocyanin compositions of elderberry extracts,” Food Chem., vol. 155, pp. 112 – 119, Jul. 2014.
    DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2014.01.028
    PMid: 24594162
11. S. Jarić et al., “An ethnobotanical study on the usage of wild medicinal herbs from Kopaonik Mountain (Central Serbia),” J. Ethnopharmacol.,vol. 111, no. 1, pp. 160 – 170, Apr. 2007.
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2006.11.007
    PMid: 17145148
12. R. E. U. Manganelli, L. Zaccaro, P. E. Tomei, “Antiviral activity in vitro of Urtica dioica L., Parietaria diffusa M. et K. and Sambucus nigra L.,” J. Ethnopharmacol., vol. 98, no. 3, pp. 323 – 327, Apr. 2005.
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2005.01.021
    PMid: 15814267
13. B. Roschek, R. C. Fink, M. D. McMichael, D. Li, R. S. Alberte, “Elderberry flavonoids bind to and prevent H1N1 infection in vitro,” Phytochemistry, vol. 70, no. 10, pp. 1255 – 1261, Jul. 2009.
    DOI: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2009.06.003
    PMid: 19682714
14. A. Sidor, A. Gramza-Michałowska, “Advanced research on the antioxidant and health benefit of elderberry (Sambucus nigra) in food – a review,” J. Funct. Foods, vol. 18, pp. 941 – 958, Oct. 2015.
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jff.2014.07.012
15. R. Veberic, J. Jakopic, F. Stampar, V. Schmitzer, “European elderberry (Sambucus nigra L.) rich in sugars, organic acids, anthocyanins and selected polyphenols,” Food Chem., vol. 114, no. 2, pp. 511 – 515, May 2009.
    DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2008.09.080
16. S. H. Nile, S. W. Park, “Edible berries: bioactive components and their effect on human health,” Nutrition, vol. 30, no. 2, pp. 134 – 144, Feb. 2014.
    DOI: 10.1016/j.nut.2013.04.007
    PMid: 24012283
17. J. C. Espin, C. Soler-Rivas, H. J. Wichers, “Characterization of the Total Free Radical Scavenger Capacity of Vegetable Oils and Oil Fractions Using 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl Radical,” J. Agric. Food Chem., vol. 48, no. 3, pp. 648 – 656, Mar. 2000.
    DOI: 10.1021/jf9908188
    PMid: 10725129
18. I. F. F. Benzie, J. J. Strain, “The Ferric Reducing Ability of Plasma (FRAP) as a Measure of ‘‘Antioxidant Power’’: The FRAP Assay,” Anal. Biochem., vol. 239, no. 1, pp. 70 – 76, Jul. 1996.
    DOI: 10.1006/abio.1996.0292
    PMid: 8660627
19. I. I. Koleva, T. A. van Beek, J. P. H. Linssen, A. de Groot, L. N. Evstatieva, “Screening of Plant Extracts for Antioxidant Activity: a Comparative Study on Three Testing Methods,” Phytochem. Anal., vol. 13, no. 1, pp. 8 – 17, Jan-Feb. 2002.
    DOI: 10.1002/pca.611
    PMid: 11899609
20. J. A. Mendiola et al., “Screening of functional compounds in supercritical fluid extracts from Spirulina platensis,” Food Chem., vol. 102, no. 4, pp. 1357 – 1367, 2007.
    DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2006.06.068
21. S. M. Stajčić et al., “Chemical composition and antioxidant activity of berry fruits,” APTEFF, no. 43, pp. 93 – 105, Oct. 2012.
    DOI: 10.2298/APT1243093S
22. N. F. Omar et al., “Phenolics, Flavonoids, Antioxidant Activity and Cyanogenic Glycosides of Organic and Mineral-base Fertilized Cassava Tubers,” Molecules, vol. 17, no. 3, pp. 2378 – 2387, Feb. 2012.
    DOI: 10.3390/molecules17032378
    PMid: 22370524
23. I. Gulcin, M. Elmastas, H. Y. Aboul-Enein, “Antioxidant activity of clove oil - A powerful antioxidant source,” Arab. J. Chem., vol. 5, no. 4, pp. 489 – 499, Oct. 2012.
    DOI: 10.1016/j.arabjc.2010.09.016
24. A. Fazio, P. Plastina, J. Meijerink, R. F. Witkamp, B. Gabriele, “Comparative analyses of seeds of wild fruits of Rubus and Sambucus species from Southern Italy: fatty acid composition of the oil, total phenolic content, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of the methanolic extracts,” Food Chem., vol. 140, no. 4, pp. 817 – 824, Oct. 2013.
    DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2012.11.010
    PMid: 23692771
25. R. Mogana, K. Teng-Jin, C. Wiart, “Anti-Inflammatory, Anticholinesterase, and Antioxidant Potential of Scopoletin Isolated From Canarium Patentinervium Miq. (Burseraceae Kunth),” Evid. Based Complement. Alternat. Med., vol. 2013, pp. 1 – 7, Jun. 2013.
    DOI: 10.1155/2013/734824
    PMid: 23878606
    PMCid: PMC3708431
26. D. Granato, A. R. Karnopp, S. M. van Ruth, “Characterization and comparison of phenolic composition, antioxidant capacity and instrumental taste profile of juices from different botanical origins,” J. Sci. Food Agric., vol. 95, no. 10, pp. 1997 – 2006, Aug. 2015.
    DOI: 10.1002/jsfa.6910
    PMid: 25213811
27. A. M. Maisarah, N. B. Amira, R. Asmah, O. Fauziah, “Antioxidant analysis of different parts of Carica papaya,” Int. Food Res. J., vol. 20, no. 3, pp. 1043 – 1048, Jan. 2013.
    Retrieved from: http://www.ifrj.upm.edu.my/20%20(03)%202013/8%20IFRJ%2020%20(03)%202013%20Asmah%20(306).pdf
    Retrieved on: Jan. 20, 2017
28. A. L. Dawidowicz, D. Wianowska, B. Baraniak, “The antioxidant properties of alcoholic extracts from Sambucus nigra L. (antioxidant properties of extracts),” LWT – Food Science and Technology, vol. 39, no. 3, pp. 308 – 315, Apr. 2006.
    DOI: 10.1016/j.lwt.2005.01.005
29. M. M. Bratu, E. Doroftei, T. Negreanu-Pirjol, C. Hostina, S. Porta, “Determination of Antioxidant Activity and Toxicity of Sambucus nigra Fruit Extract Using Alternative Methods,” Food Technol. Biotechnol.,vol. 50, no. 2, pp. 177 – 182, Apr. 2012.
    Retrieved from: http://hrcak.srce.hr/file/124750
    Retrieved on: Jan. 20, 2017