Anthocyanin-rich black elderberry extract improves markers of HDL function and reduces aortic cholesterol in hyperlipidemic mice

Serum high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) is a risk factor considered to be protective of atherosclerosis. However, atherosclerosis is an inflammatory disease and contributes to impairment in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) function, including reductions in HDL-C, HDL antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. Anthocyanins are polyphenols that have demonstrated antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The objective of this study was to determine whether an anthocyanin-rich black elderberry extract (Sambucus nigra) (BEE) (13% anthocyanins) would protect against inflammation-related impairments in HDL function and atherosclerosis in apoE(-/-) mice, a mouse model of hyperlipidemia and HDL dysfunction. We fed an AIN-93M diet supplemented with 1.25% (w/w) BEE or control diet to 10 week old male apoE(-/-) mice for 6 weeks. The BEE fed to mice was rich in cyanidin 3-sambubioside (similar to 9.8% w/w) and cyanidin 3-glucoside (similar to 3.8% w/w). After 6 weeks, serum lipids did not differ significantly between groups, while aspartate transaminase (AST) and fasting glucose were reduced in BEE-fed mice. Hepatic and intestinal mRNA changes with BEE-feeding were consistent with an improvement in HDL function (Apoa1, Pon1, Saa1, Lcat, Clu) and a reduction in hepatic cholesterol levels (increased Ldlr and Hmgcr, reduced Cyp7a1). In BEE-fed mice, serum paraoxonase-1 (PON1) arylesterase activity was significantly higher. In addition, mice fed BEE had significantly lower serum chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2 (CCL2) compared to control-fed mice. Notably, we observed significant reductions in total cholesterol content of the aorta of BEE-fed mice, indicating less atherosclerosis progression. This study suggests that black elderberry may have the potential to influence HDL dysfunction associated with chronic inflammation by impacting hepatic gene expression.