Ethnopharmacological relevance: Sambucus nigra L. (Viburnaceae), commonly known as black elderberry, is a native species throughout Europe and Western Asia. Elderberry leaves have been used in traditional European medicine, mainly externally, to treat skin and mucosal diseases. They are usually used as decoctions for washing hemorrhoids, ulcers, insect bites, wounds, scrapes, and gingivitis.
Aim of the study: Our work aimed to scientifically verify the traditional use of the plant material in treating wounds and skin inflammations accompanied by its phytochemical characterization.
Materials and methods: The effect of 70% (v/v) ethanolic extract and its fractions of different polarities on the inflammatory response of cells involved in wound healing (fibroblasts, keratinocytes, and neutrophils) was investigated. In addition, their effect on the migration of keratinocytes to the scratch site in an in vitro wound healing assay and their impact on the activity of the enzymes involved in skin inflammation, were assessed. The chemical composition was analyzed by UHPLC-DAD-MSn, and the structure of the isolated compounds was determined by NMR.
Results: The supportive effect of the elderberry leaves extract towards wound healing and modulation of the inflammatory response was demonstrated by induction of the keratinocytes. Additionally, the extract was shown to affect the cellular secretion of TNF-α and interleukins -1β, -6, and -8. Examinations of fractionated extract have shown that active principles were mainly contained in dichloromethane fraction. Eleven chemical constituents belonging to flavonoids, cyanogenic glycosides, and lignans were isolated and characterized.
Conclusion: The beneficial effect of S. nigra leaves in treating skin diseases has been partially verified and supports its traditional use in skin ailments of different etiologies.
Keywords: Elderberry; Enzymes; Keratinocytes; Sambucus nigra; Skin; Wound healing.
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