Urinary excretion of cyanidin glycosides and glucuronides in healthy humans after elderberry juice ingestion

Abstract

In a pilot study with 6 females and 1 male, the metabolism of various cyanidin glucosides after oral administration of elderberry juice was investigated. The anthocyanin metabolites were detected in urinary excretion. After ingestion of a bolus quantity of 3.57 g total anthocyanins in a 150 mL elderberry juice concentrate, 0.053% of the administered dose was excreted in urine as glucosidically bound cyanidins within the first 5 hours. Only 0.003% of the ingested anthocyanin glucosides was excreted as cyanidin glucuronide, suggesting that this conversion step might be of minor importance in urinary excretion. © 2004 Hindawi Publishing Corporation.