Harnessing Anthocyanins to Mitigate Inflammation, Dysbiosis, and Aging in the Gastrointestinal Tract

The gut microbiota are a dynamic ecosystem that is crucial for immune regulation and maintenance of intestinal barrier integrity. Dysbiosis within this community contributes to the chronic inflammation characteristic of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, for which no definitive cure currently exists. This comprehensive review examines recent preclinical and clinical studies on how anthocyanin-polyphenolic pigments, such as cyanidins and malvidins, modulate gut microbial communities, reduce intestinal inflammation, and counteract age-related declines in immune homeostasis. We analyzed the literature on anthocyanin-microbiota interactions in IBD pathogenesis, focusing on cytokine profiles, barrier function assays, lipopolysaccharide synthesis, oxidative stress markers, and short-chain fatty acid production. Additionally, we explored the relationship among cellular senescence, the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP), and microbiome shifts during intestinal aging. Evidence indicates that anthocyanins consistently suppress key pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, TNF-α, and interferon-γ, while preserving mucosal architecture and reducing lipopolysaccharide load and mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation. These compounds help to restore microbial balance, promote short-chain fatty acid synthesis, and enrich bacterial taxa associated with barrier integrity. In aging models, anthocyanins attenuate oxidative stress, stabilize redox homeostasis, inhibit senescence signaling and SASP secretion, and partially restore anti-inflammatory interleukin-10 levels. In conclusion, anthocyanins are promising dietary therapeutics for IBD management and for mitigating intestinal aging. Future research should transition from murine models to human clinical trials by integrating senolytic strategies, targeted microbiome modulation, and pharmacological dissection of the senescence-microbiome axis to foster disease prevention and promote healthy aging.