This natural solution promotes the presence of “good bacteria” in the microbiota.
Characterized by chronic inflammation of the digestive walls, inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are very disabling pathologies in daily life and associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer. Among other things, they lead to inflammation of the digestive tract and cause abdominal pain and transit disorders. Although there is no treatment yet to cure them, research is underway to improve the daily lives of patients. To this end, researchers from the University of Missouri in the United States discovered that a juice prepared from a single vegetable could reduce their symptoms.
To achieve their results, the researchers studied 60 mice divided into several groups, each placed in a different situation. One was administered a placebo, another was inoculated with an agent reproducing the symptoms of ulcerative colitis (inflammatory disease of the large intestine), another received this agent and the juice as a natural treatment and finally the last group was administered the juice alone. To monitor the effects of the juice on the mice’s bodies, the researchers observed which ones survived, their weight, the severity of their colitis and the composition of their intestinal flora. The results published in the journal “International Journal of Molecular Sciences” reveal that the mice who consumed the drink as a treatment had a better survival rate and minimal weight loss compared to other rodents. This improvement in their health suggests that the famous juice helped treat the overall health of the rodents for the intestinal inflammation they were experiencing: “These changes in the gut microbiota are associated with improved intestinal barrier function, enhanced colon repair and antioxidant effects, thereby attenuating intestinal damage and colon inflammation”develops in a press release Professor Satyanarayana Rachagani, main author of the study.
This surprising juice is that of red cabbage. Containing a wide range of bioactive compounds that improve digestive health, it produced an anti-inflammatory effect in the colon of mice. Red cabbage stimulated immune system regulatory T cells promoting anti-inflammatory immune balance. “It modifies the composition of the intestinal microbiota by increasing the abundance of good bacteria, which leads to increased production of fatty acids and other metabolites derived from bacteria that reduce inflammation” continues Professor Rachagani. Red cabbage thus seems to be a promising avenue for managing the symptoms of inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis (ulcerative colitis) while promoting a healthy intestinal environment: “These results provide new insights into the mechanisms underlying the therapeutic efficacy of red cabbage in improving IBD. Its ability to modulate the intestinal microbiota, activate anti-inflammatory pathways and improve immune regulation highlights its potential as a valuable therapeutic agent for IBD and associated inflammatory disorders”concludes the researcher.