The in vitro supplementation with Sambucus nigra extract promisingly impacts the human gut ecosystem in an individual-dependent way

The study evaluated elderberry extract (EBE), containing 22.45% polyphenols and 10.60% total dietary fiber, on human gut ecosystems using two Simulator of the Human Intestinal Microbial Ecosystem (SHIME®) models inoculated with feces from donors with Type-B and Type-P enterotypes. EBE supplementation induced donor-specific changes, increasing acetic and propionic acids and total polyphenol content. It reshaped the gut microbiome by lowering the Firmicutes-Bacteroidetes ratio and boosting beneficial species such as Akkermansia muciniphila , Bifidobacterium longum , and Bacteroides dorei , while reducing harmful bacteria. Genes linked to amino acid metabolism, vitamin B6 biosynthesis, plant secondary metabolite production, and glutathione metabolism increased, with effects lasting after washout. Functional changes correlated with specific species associated with propanoate metabolism, amino acid metabolism, and plant metabolite biosynthesis. These results demonstrate that daily intake of 600 mg EBE for two weeks modulates the gut ecosystem through both individual-dependent and independent pathways, supporting personalized nutrition approaches.