Indigo naturalis alleviates dextran sulphate sodium-induced colitis in rats via altering gut microbiota

Indigo naturalis (IN), a traditional Chinese medicine derived from indigo plants, has been widely used in the treatment of UC. We evaluated the effects and mechanisms of IN in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in rats. We found that IN reversed DSS-induced intestinal dysbiosis, including increasing the diversity of the gut microbiota and altering the gut microbiota composition and function.