Abstract
The present review summarizes the current knowledge concerning provenance, properties, physiological and therapeutic actions of elderberry and the bioactive molecules present in the plant, with emphasis on their action on female reproduction. Elderberry or black elder (Sambucus nigra L.) attracts attention due to its easy cultivation and high availability of bioactive compounds. Most of the available data concerning black elder’s therapeutic action are focused on its effects such as activation of immune processes and anti-inflammatory processes (cytokine production, etc.) and regulation of hormones and their receptors in cancer cells. The effects of elderberry on reproduction have been poorly investigated so far. Nevertheless, conducted studies so far demonstrate the stimulatory influence of black elder extract and its constituents, such as rutin, anthocyanins and agglutinins, on the viability and steroidogenesis of healthy ovarian cells as well as their ability to promote apoptosis and reduce the viability and proliferation of ovarian cancer cells. Furthermore, the action of black elder extract and its constituent biomolecules, such as anthocyanins and lectins, on embryogenesis and the embryonal estradiol-estradiol receptor system have also been reported. The available information, despite limitations, suggest the applicability of black elder constituents for improvement of reproductive processes in animal biotechnology, animal production and assisted reproduction, as well as for prevention and treatment of reproductive disorders (including cancer) in veterinary and human medicine.
Highlights
The search for new regulators of reproduction is important for the solution of various problems of modern society
The present observations suggest the stimulatory influence of black elderberry substances on the viability of healthy ovarian cells and the ability of elderberry to promote apoptosis and reduce the viability of cultured ovarian cancer cells
The comparison of the action of elderberry and its constituents indicates that its action on ovarian cell viability and proliferation can be due to the presence of rutin, anthocyanins and/or agglutinins
Summary
The search for new regulators of reproduction is important for the solution of various problems of modern society. The most natural, accessible and inexpensive sources of antioxidants, which can affect reproductive processes and prevent numerous reproductive disorders, are plants [6,8]. Because of implications on health, there is a growing interest in the use of plant-based antioxidants in the food industry In this regard, replacing synthetic additives with natural bioactive compounds extracted from plants has been an important strategy for food manufacturers [9,10,11]. Due to its health-promoting and sensory properties, elderberry is used primarily in the food and pharmaceutical industries [12] The popularity of this plant among food and pharma producers is growing due to its simple cultivation, high availability and high number and quantity of bioactive compounds with physiological and therapeutic properties [10,13]
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