Incorporation of the elderberry anthocyanins by endothelial cells increases protection against oxidative stress

The objective of this study was to investigate the ability of endothelial c ells (EC) to incorporate anthocyanins and to examine their potential benefi ts against various oxidative stressors. Endothelial dysfunction has been pr oposed to play an important role in the initiation and development of vascu lar disease, with studies having shown that administration of antioxidants improves endothelial function. Elderberry extract contains 4 anthocyanins, which where incorporated into the plasma membrane and cytosol of EC followi ng 4 h incubation at 1 mg.ml(-1). However, incorporation within the cytosol was considerably less than that in the membrane. Uptake within both region s appeared to be structure dependent, with monoglycoside concentrations hig her than that of the diglucosides in both compartments. The enrichment of E C with elderberry anthocyanins conferred significant protective effects in EC against the following oxidative stressors: hydrogen peroxide (H2O2); 2,2 '-azobis(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH); and FeSO4/ascorbic acid (AA). These results show for the first time that vascular EC can incorporat e anthocyanins into the membrane and cytosol, conferring significant protec tive effects against oxidative insult. These findings may have important im plications on preserving EC function and preventing the initiation of EC ch anges associated with vascular diseases. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Inc.