Ka. Youdim et al., Incorporation of the elderberry anthocyanins by endothelial cells increases protection against oxidative stress, FREE RAD B, 29(1), 2000, pp. 51-60
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.