Sambucus ebulus (SE) fruits are used for immune stimulation and amelioration of gastrointestinal inflammatory conditions. Currently, there is no scientific evidence of their effects on various aspects of the immune response mechanisms in humans. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the immunomodulatory potential of SE fruit infusion intake in healthy humans. Anthocyanin content was determined with UPLC-ESI-MS/MS. Fifty-three volunteers enrolled in a 4-week SE infusion intake intervention. Blood count, serum total protein, Interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β), Interleukin 6 (IL-6), Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha (TNFα), High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), C3, and C4 levels were measured on automatic analyzers, and Interleukin 8 (IL-8) was measured manually with an ELISA kit. Cyanidin-3-O-galactoside (48.15 mg/g DW), followed by cyaniding-3-sambubioside (43.41 ± 1.07 mg/g DW), were the most abundant anthocyanins in SE samples. A significant decrease in total protein (2.82%), IL-6 (20.15%), TNFα (5.38%), IL-8 (5.50%), C3 (4.16%), and C4 (14.29%) was established in the whole group. Total protein, IL-8, TNFα, and C4 decreased in women (3.11%, 4.76%, 5.09%, and 11.11%), and IL-6 decreased (40.61%) in men. Hb (1.20%) and hematocrit (1.55%) levels decreased in the whole group and in the women group (1.61% and 2.20%). SE fruits exert immune-modulatory activity as revealed by decreased pro-inflammatory status and complement activity markers in healthy volunteers after a 4-week intervention.

Ischemic stroke (IS) is associated with pronounced oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation, which contribute to secondary neuronal damage. This study explored the effects of a six-month intervention with a new formulation containing citicoline, vitamin C, and extracts from green tea and aronia (Cytodeox™) on arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism, lipid peroxidation assessed by total 8-iso-prostaglandin F₂α (8-iso-PGF₂α), and Sirtuin-1 (SIRT1) expression in healthy controls (n = 43) and patients with IS (n = 53), both with and without comorbidities. AA and 8-iso-PGF₂α were quantified in serum using UPLC–MS and ELISA, respectively, and the fold change in SIRT1 expression was assessed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) by RT-qPCR. In healthy controls, Cytodeox™ significantly lowered AA and 8-iso-PGF₂α levels. IS patients showed markedly increased baseline 8-iso-PGF₂α, indicating severe oxidative stress. Following supplementation, 8-iso-PGF₂α levels increased in patients with comorbidities, particularly diabetes mellitus (DM), whereas an exploratory analysis suggested a decreasing trend in patients without comorbidities. SIRT1 expression was significantly upregulated in IS patients, with the most pronounced increase observed in the DM subgroup, while remaining unchanged in controls. These findings suggest a protective, antioxidant, and membrane stabilising effect of Cytodeox™ under conditions of preserved or moderately impaired redox homeostasis, supporting its potential role as a preventive or early supportive intervention.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of a new formulation combining citicoline, vitamin C, and extracts from green tea and aronia (Cytodeox™) on the lipid profile and redox status in healthy individuals following a six-month intervention. Additionally, we examined whether these effects depend on lifestyle factors such as body mass index (BMI), alcohol consumption, smoking and physical activity. Forty-three volunteers aged 40–65 (F31/M12) completed the study. Prior to the intervention, all participants filled out a questionnaire assessing their health status and lifestyle habits. At baseline and after supplementation, anthropometric and physical parameters were measured, and fasting blood samples were collected from all participants. Furthermore, all participants were grouped based on their gender and lifestyle habits. Cytodeox™ significantly reduced lipid profile parameters and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in the overall group. The analysis of these effects in relation to lifestyle habits revealed that smoking, but not alcohol consumption, negatively influences the effects of the supplement. Surprisingly, the beneficial effects were observed in the overweight group and those leading a sedentary lifestyle. The results strongly suggest that six months of supplementation with Cytodeox™ can improve the lipid profile and redox status, even in individuals with some poor lifestyle habits.

Purpose: Androgens seems to play an important role in prostate cancer (PCa) pathogenesis. Some studies reveal that possible testosterone deficiency could be involved in PCa development and progress. Others indicate that men with high testosterone levels have increased risk in developing more aggressive PCa and poor response to therapy. The objective of the present study is to establish a possible correlation between serum total testosterone levels (TT), prostate specific antigen (PSA) and clinical markers evaluating the aggressiveness of the tumor process in PCa patients.\ud Material/Methods: A total of eighty males, aged from 52 to 84 years (mean age 66.28 ± 6.015 years), with histologically confirmed PCa, entered the study. Diagnosis of PCa was established by systemic transrectal ultrasound-guided tru-cut prostate biopsies (10 cores at least). Detected tumors were graded using the Gleason grading system. Serum TT and PSA were analyzed immunochemically. Pearson correlation statistics with a level of significance set at p < 0.05 was used for data analysis.\ud Results: Strong significant positive correlation (Pearson r=0.90, p7).\ud Conclusions: Our results confirm the hypothesis that low testosterone levels are related to poor prognosis and increased severity of PCa