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Updated: Apr 16, 2026
Quantification of Atherosclerosis in Mice
Published on: June 12, 2019
Anthocyanin-rich black elderberry extract improves markers of HDL function and reduces aortic cholesterol in
Nicholas Farrell1, Gregory Norris, Sang Gil Lee
1Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA. christopher.blesso@uconn.edu.
Insights
Black elderberry extract (BEE) improved high-density lipoprotein (HDL) function and reduced atherosclerosis in mice. This suggests potential for black elderberry in managing inflammation-related HDL dysfunction.
Area of Science:
- Nutritional Biochemistry
- Cardiovascular Research
- Pharmacology
Background:
- High-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) is protective against atherosclerosis, but atherosclerosis impairs HDL function.
- Anthocyanins possess antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
- Atherosclerosis is an inflammatory disease linked to impaired HDL function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if black elderberry extract (BEE) protects against inflammation-related HDL dysfunction and atherosclerosis.
- To evaluate BEE's effects in apoE(-/-) mice, a model for hyperlipidemia and HDL dysfunction.
Main Methods:
- Male apoE(-/-) mice were fed a diet with 1.25% (w/w) anthocyanin-rich black elderberry extract (BEE) or control diet for 6 weeks.
- Serum lipids, liver enzymes, glucose, HDL function markers, and aortic cholesterol content were analyzed.
- Hepatic and intestinal gene expression related to HDL function and cholesterol metabolism was assessed.
Main Results:
- BEE feeding reduced aspartate transaminase (AST) and fasting glucose, with no significant changes in serum lipids.
- BEE improved HDL function markers (e.g., increased paraoxonase-1 (PON1) activity) and reduced inflammatory markers (CCL2).
- BEE reduced aortic total cholesterol content, indicating decreased atherosclerosis progression, and modulated hepatic gene expression.
Conclusions:
- Black elderberry extract (BEE) shows potential in mitigating atherosclerosis progression.
- BEE may improve HDL function and counteract chronic inflammation-related impairments.
- Findings suggest BEE influences hepatic gene expression to impact HDL dysfunction.
Abstract:
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 (∼ 9.8% w/w) and cyanidin 3-glucoside (∼ 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.
