Cyanidin 3-glucoside from Queen Garnet plums and purple carrots attenuates DSS-induced inflammatory bowel disease in rats

We have investigated whether dextran sodium sulphate (DSS)-induced inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in rats can be ameliorated by intervention with cyanidin 3-glucoside (C3G). Rats were given either normal water (C) or 0.5% DSS (D) in drinking water for 12 weeks. C3G 8 mg/kg/day as Queen Garnet plum (Q) juice, purple carrot (P) juice or pure compound was added in food for final 6 weeks to C rats to give CQ, CP and CC groups, and to D rats to give DQ, DP and DC groups. No symptoms of IBD were observed in C, CQ, CP or CC rats. D rats had bloody diarrhoea, ileal and colonic mucosal atrophy, and inflammation. Compared to D rats, DQ, DP and DC rats showed improved stool consistency (P < 0.0001) and bleeding (P < 0.0001), reduced ileum (P < 0.0001) and colon inflammation (P < 0.0001), with no changes in gut microbiota. Thus, supplementation with C3G-containing foods may ameliorate the symptoms of IBD.