Malvidin 3‐Glucoside Modulated Gut Microbial Dysbiosis and Global Metabolome Disrupted in a Murine Colitis Model Induced by Dextran Sulfate Sodium

Scope This study aims to elucidate the mechanisms of the anthocyanin malvidin 3‐glucoside (MV) in alleviating gut dysbiosis using a murine colitis model induced by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS). Methods and results The effect of MV on the structure and function of the colon microbiome and microbial metabolism is evaluated using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, global metabolomics, and a network algorithm based on the random‐matrix theory. MV ingestion improved histopathological scores and increased IL10 expression in the colon mucosa of colitis mice. While DSS has a profound effect on the gut microbiome and significantly decreases both microbial richness and evenness, MV further reduces evenness but promotes microbial interactions and restores the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio repressed by DSS. Moreover, MV reduces the abundance of pathogenic bacteria, such as Ruminococcus gnavus , in colitis mice and has a strong modulatory effect on microbial co‐occurrence patterns and gut metabolites. In addition, MV reverses several key inflammatory mediators, including sphingolipid metabolites, from elevated levels in DSS colitis mice. As a bioactive ingredient, MV exerts its effect on the gut microbiome in a mechanism that differs from the whole blueberry. Conclusion MV ingestion ameliorates intestinal inflammation by modulating colon epithelium integrity, gut microbiome, and key inflammatory mediators.