Composition of bioactive secondary metabolites and mutagenicity of Sambucus nigra L. Fruit at different stages of ripeness

Abstract

The relationship between the content of bioactive compounds and mutagenic activity of elderberry fruit at different stages of ripeness was investigated. Significant differences in the antioxidant profiles (TLC, HPLC with post-column derivatization) and antioxidant activity (ABTS, DPPH, and FC tests) were observed for studied elderberry extracts. The more ripen the fruit at the time of harvest were, the higher the content of anthocyanins (increase from 0 to 7.8 mg g−1d.w.) and antioxidant activity of the extracts (about 5-fold increase) were. Cyanogenic glycosides were not detected at any stage of ripeness. Accordingly, Ames MPF test (Xenometrix) did not reveal any mutagenicity. Our study suggests that instability of cyanogenic glycosides ensures safety of food/pharmaceutical products based on even not fully ripen elderberry fruit.