Metabolomic insights into the beneficial effects of dietary purple potato on DSS-induced murine colon colitis

• Sixty-eight fecal metabolites were altered by dietary purple potato (PP) in colitis. • PP reverses 13 out of 25 DSS-affected fecal metabolites. • Six microbial metabolites from PP linked to M2 macrophage differentiation. • PP shows potential against microbial dysbiosis for inflammatory bowel disease. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is characterized by disturbances in intestinal flora and metabolomic profiles. Building on previous findings that purple potato (PP) supplementation suppresses inflammation and restores intestinal barrier in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-treated mice, this study examined changes in the fecal metabolome in the same cohort. Mice were fed 0 % or 10 % PP for 7 weeks, with DSS administered in the fifth week of dietary treatment followed by one-week normal drinking water recovery. A total of 68 metabolites, including amino acids, fatty acids, organic acids, carbohydrates, and polyamines, were significantly altered across the groups. PP supplementation reversed changes in 13 of the 25 DSS-altered metabolites. Six microbial metabolites derived from PP polyphenols were identified and positively correlated with M2 macrophage polarization. Data suggest that dietary PP is effective in reducing inflammation and improves gut metabolites in DSS-induced colitis mice, offering a potential dietary therapy for managing IBD.