Resveratrol and rutin alleviate DSS-induced ulcerative colitis by affecting the polarization of intestinal epithelial T cells

Resveratrol and rutin, two polyphenolic compounds, can effectively alleviate the symptoms of ulcerative colitis (UC), leading to conflicts in recommending resveratrol- or rutin-rich diets to UC patients, who do not know which type of diet is more effective in alleviating UC symptoms. In this study, administration of resveratrol or rutin alleviated DSS-induced UC mice, including reduction of DAI, serum levels of inflammatory cytokines and oxidant, and improvement of colonic health status. Differentially expressed genes resulting from resveratrol and rutin treatment in DSS-induced UC mice at the genome-wide level from scratch and elucidated the mechanism by which they affected the polarization of intestinal epithelial T cells by promoting Treg cells and inhibiting Th17 cells to alleviate UC symptoms, and rutin was greater than resveratrol. In addition, rutin-rich foods were superior to resveratrol-rich foods in ameliorating UC symptoms in mice. Our findings suggest that UC patients consume rutin-rich foods to better alleviate intestinal inflammation. • Both resveratrol and rutin can alleviate UC symptoms in mice. • Both promoted Treg cells and inhibited Th17 cells in intestinal epithelial T cells. • Rutin was more effective than resveratrol to alleviate UC symptoms. • UC mice consumed rutin-rich foods to better alleviate intestinal inflammation.