The anthocyanin‐enriched extract of <i>Vaccinium corymbosum</i> exerted in vitro and ex vivo antiproliferative and anti‐inflammatory activities

Abstract Background Vaccinium corymbosum berries represent a source of anthocyanins and polyphenols studied and tested for their healthy potential. The present study was aimed at isolating, characterizing, and quantifying the anthocyanin‐enriched fraction obtained from blueberry and at assessing its biological and protective effects against head and neck cell lines and under inflammatory‐related conditions. V. corymbosum berries extract was subjected to colorimetric analysis, antioxidant evaluation, and HPLC‐DAD analysis. This extract was characterized by chlorogenic acid and 12 glycosylated anthocyanins, being the most abundant delphinidin‐3‐O‐galactoside, delphinidin‐3‐O‐arabinoside, malvidin‐3‐O‐galactoside, malvidin‐3‐O‐glucoside, and malvidin‐3‐O‐arabinoside. The blueberry extract (BL) was further used in extensive biological evaluation. Head and neck cell lines, namely CAL27 and A253, were treated at different concentrations in order to evaluate cell migration ability and ErbB receptors and antioxidant enzymes gene expression. Results The gene expression analysis highlighted the capability of BL to reduce ErbB receptors expression in CAL27 cell lines. The same treatments induced an opposite effect in A253 cell line for ErbB2/ErbB3 receptors. Moreover, in A253 cell line, BL increased SOD2 levels and reduced cell migration. The action of BL was also studied in an ex vivo experimental model of colon inflammation and was effective both in reducing the lipopolysaccharide‐induced gene expression of different proinflammatory biomarkers involved in colon inflammation, among which tumor necrosis factor α, interleukin (IL)‐6, and in stimulating the gene expression of the anti‐inflammatory cytokine IL‐10. Conclusion The content of specific anthocyanins and chlorogenic acid can be considered responsible of such biological activities providing a new food supplement as coadjuvant of standard therapies.