## 3 Results
### Comet Assay: SN Challenge  
The investigation into the DNA damage in PBMCs revealed distinctive outcomes across the varied treatment groups. Within the 'Basal Damage' category, where the elderberry concentrations were tested, the group treated with a 1% elderberry concentration ('EbH1') consistently exhibited the lowest mean DNA damage, suggesting a potential protective effect against genotoxic stress. Conversely, the control groups ('C', 'C1', 'C10', and 'C15') displayed varying levels of DNA damage (Figure 5). Analyzing the GDI data, it becomes evident that the optimal outcome emerged with the 1% treatment, showcasing the most minor DNA damage among all the tested concentrations. The extended analysis of the DNA damage in PBMCs using various treatments revealed nuanced outcomes across the distinct experimental groups. In the 'Basal Damage + Oxidative Damage' category, the 'EbH5' subgroup exhibited the lowest observed DNA damage (Figure 6, Basal Damage + Oxidative Damage). Following closely, the 'EbH1' subgroup demonstrated relatively lower DNA damage. Similarly, in the 'Oxidative Damage NET' subgroup, the 'EbH10' subgroup illustrated the least observed DNA damage (Figure 6, Oxidative Damage NET). Turning attention to the GDI data with Fpg (Figure 6, Oxidative Damage NET), it becomes evident that the most favorable outcome was achieved with the 10% treatment, as evidenced by the lowest recorded level of DNA damage. \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c} \hline \hline
**Treatment** & **GDI** & **\% DNA in Tail** \\ \hline \multicolumn{3}{c}{Basal Damage} \\ C & 15.00 & 3.75 \\ C 1 & 7.50 & 1.88 \\ C 5 & 9.50 & 2.38 \\ C 10 & 17.00 & 4.25 \\ C 15 & 13.50 & 3.38 \\ C+ & 137.41 & 34.35 \\ EbH 1 & 14.75 & 3.69 \\ EbH 5 & 17.00 & 4.25 \\ EbH 10 & 19.25 & 4.81 \\ EbH 15 & 20.50 & 5.13 \\ \multicolumn{3}{c}{Basal and Oxidative Damage} \\ C & 44.25 & 11.06 \\ C 1 & 15.00 & 3.75 \\ C 5 & 21.75 & 5.44 \\ C 10 & 23.75 & 5.94 \\ C 15 & 25.25 & 6.31 \\ C+ & 182.50 & 45.63 \\ EbH 1 & 25.75 & 6.44 \\ EbH 5 & 30.50 & 7.67 \\ EbH 10 & 31.50 & 7.88 \\ EbH 15 & 37.50 & 9.38 \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular}
\end{table} 
Table 3: Antigenotoxic effects of elderberry hydrate on DNA damage in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells with H\({}_{2}\)O\({}_{2}\) insult. Figure 5: Assessment of the genetic damage indicator (GDI) in human PBMCs. The mean values of the DNA damage, quantified as arbitrary units using the in vivo Comet assay, were determined in both the unchallenged and SN-challenged groups. The ‘C’ designation corresponds to the control group treated exclusively with PBS. The designations ‘C1’, ‘C5’, ‘C10’ and ‘C15’ correspond to PBS treatment and the respective elderberry hydrolate concentration (1:1%, 5:5%, 10:10%, and 15:15%). ‘C+’ signifies the group subjected solely to SN treatment. The tested groups are distinguished abbreviations denoting the constituent ingredient (EbH: elderberry hydrolate) and the respective elderberry hydrolate concentration (1:1%, 5:5%, 10:10%, and 15:15%). The single asterisk stands for significant differences between ‘EbH15’ and ‘C1’ and ‘C5’. The quadruple as asterisk stands for significant differences between all control groups and ‘C+’ and between ‘C+’ and all treated groups. The error bars represent standard errors. Figure 6: Assessment of the oxidative purine DNA damage following elderberry hydrolate treatment. The figure presents the mean oxidative purine DNA damage values quantified through the advanced Comet assay in human PBMCs post-elderberry hydrolate treatment. The ‘C’ designation corresponds to the control group treated exclusively with PBS. The designations ‘C1’, ‘C5’, ‘C10’ and ‘C15’ correspond to PBS treatment and the respective elderberry concentration (1:1%, 5:5%, 10:10%, and 15:15%). ‘C+’ signifies the group subjected solely to SN treatment. The tested groups are distinguished by abbreviations denoting the constituent ingredient (EbH: elderberry hydrolate) and the respective elderberry hydrolate concentration (1:1%, 5:5%, 10:10%, and 15:15%). The error bars represent standard errors.