A new source for developing multi-functionalproducts: biological and chemical perspectiveson subcritical water extracts of Sambucusebulus L

any other technique. Excellent solvating properties and selectivity combined with finely tuned reactivity of subcritical water enable exploitation of the potential of plants. Herein subcriticalwater extractionwas used for recovery of bioactive compounds from leaves, roots and fruits of Sambucus ebulus L. Extracts obtained were characterized in terms of biological and chemical fingerprints. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Results obtained by using several antioxidant assays that focused on differentmechanisms showed that subcritical water extracts of Sambucus ebulus were powerful antioxidants. Enzyme inhibitory effects were tested against 𝜶-amylase, 𝜶-glucosidase and tyrosinase, and the results showed the anti-diabetic potential of the extracts aswell as its possible use with skin disorders. Antiproliferative properties were detected on three cell lines (A-549; LS-174 T; HeLa) and showed prominent cytotoxicity against all tumor cell lines. Inhibitory concentrations obtained were in the range 0.58–8.10 𝝁g mL-1. Generally, the SCW extracts from leaves exhibited stronger biological activities with higher levels of phenolic compounds comparedwith the roots andfruits of Sambucusebulus.Gallic acid, catechin andcaffeic acidwere identified asmajor components
in these extracts and these components seem to relate with observed biological activity.