The Therapeutic Potential of Berry-Derived and Berry-Based Interventions in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Comprehensive Systematic Review of Preclinical and Clinical Evidence
9 affiliations
- 1Pain Physiology and Pharmacology, IRCCS San Raffaele Roma, 00166 Rome, Italy
- 2Department of Health Sciences, Institute of Research for Food Safety and Health (IRC-FSH), University “Magna Graecia” of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
- 3Agea, Coordinating Body, 00185 Rome, Italy
- 4Department of Health Sciences, University “Magna Graecia” of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
- 5Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University “Magna Graecia” of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
- 6Cardiology Unit, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, 00128 Rome, Italy
- 7Research Unit of Cardiovascular Science, Department of Medicine and Surgery, Università Campus Biomedico di Roma, 00128 Rome, Italy
- 8San Raffaele Sulmona, Viale dell’Agricoltura, 67039 Sulmona, Italy
- 9Department of Human Sciences and Quality of Life Promotion, San Raffaele University, 00166 Rome, Italy
Abstract
Introduction: Berry-derived and berry-based interventions have gained increasing attention for their potential health benefits. Berries are rich in diverse bioactive compounds, including polyphenols and anthocyanins, which are associated with a broad range of biological activities, particularly antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Over the last decade, numerous studies have focused on berries, particularly those from the Ericaceae family (blueberry, cranberry and bilberry), the Solanaceae family (goji berry, Solanum nigrum berries) and the Elaeocarpaceae family (maqui berry). Berries are considered among the best dietary sources of bioactive compounds (BACs). Among chronic gastrointestinal disorders, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) mainly includes Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), both chronic inflammatory conditions of the gastrointestinal tract. The multifactorial nature of IBD significantly impairs quality of life and makes disease management particularly challenging, increasing interest in complementary approaches, in addition to pharmacological treatments, such as phytotherapeutic strategies based on plant-derived bioactive compounds and, in particular, berry-derived and berry-based interventions. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted using PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases. Specific inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied to identify relevant articles published up to July 2026. After the removal of duplicates and a thorough screening of titles, abstracts, and full texts, a total of 19 studies were included, comprising 16 studies conducted on animal models and 3 clinical studies involving patients. The 3 clinical studies corresponded to 5 publications and involved a total of 68 unique participants, as two publications were secondary analyses of the same patient cohorts. These investigations evaluated the possible effects of berry-derived and berry-based interventions in both experimental models and clinical settings. Results: Preclinical studies suggested potential protective effects against intestinal inflammation by reducing pro-inflammatory cytokines, improving epithelial barrier integrity, and restoring gut microbiota composition. The included clinical studies reported improvements in disease activity, fecal calprotectin levels, quality of life, and remission rates in patients with ulcerative colitis. Nevertheless, the available clinical evidence remains limited and heterogeneous, preventing definitive conclusions regarding clinical efficacy. Conclusions: The current clinical data should therefore be considered preliminary. Larger and more rigorous randomized controlled trials are needed to determine whether the biological effects observed in preclinical models translate into clinically relevant benefits in patients with IBD. Overall, preclinical evidence complements clinical findings by providing mechanistic insights that help contextualize and interpret outcomes observed in human studies.
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BibTeX
@article{passacatini2026therapeutic,
title = {{The Therapeutic Potential of Berry-Derived and Berry-Based Interventions in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Comprehensive Systematic Review of Preclinical and Clinical Evidence}},
author = {Lucia Carmela Passacatini and Rosamaria Caminiti and Valeria Mazza and Saverio Nucera and Stefania Proietti and Francesca Oppedisano and Jessica Maiuolo and Roberta Macrì and Maria Serra and Valentina Malafoglia and Federica Marrelli and Andrea Soluri and Myriam Carpenito and Carlo Tomino and Vincenzo Mollace and Sara Ilari and Carolina Muscoli},
journal = {Nutrients},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3390/nu18193280},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13667136},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - The Therapeutic Potential of Berry-Derived and Berry-Based Interventions in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Comprehensive Systematic Review of Preclinical and Clinical Evidence
AU - Lucia Carmela Passacatini
AU - Rosamaria Caminiti
AU - Valeria Mazza
AU - Saverio Nucera
AU - Stefania Proietti
AU - Francesca Oppedisano
AU - Jessica Maiuolo
AU - Roberta Macrì
AU - Maria Serra
AU - Valentina Malafoglia
AU - Federica Marrelli
AU - Andrea Soluri
AU - Myriam Carpenito
AU - Carlo Tomino
AU - Vincenzo Mollace
AU - Sara Ilari
AU - Carolina Muscoli
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/01
JO - Nutrients
DO - 10.3390/nu18193280
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13667136
AB - Introduction: Berry-derived and berry-based interventions have gained increasing attention for their potential health benefits. Berries are rich in diverse bioactive compounds, including polyphenols and anthocyanins, which are associated with a broad range of biological activities, particularly antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Over the last decade, numerous studies have focused on berries, particularly those from the Ericaceae family (blueberry, cranberry and bilberry), the Solanaceae family (goji berry, Solanum nigrum berries) and the Elaeocarpaceae family (maqui berry). Berries are considered among the best dietary sources of bioactive compounds (BACs). Among chronic gastrointestinal disorders, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) mainly includes Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), both chronic inflammatory conditions of the gastrointestinal tract. The multifactorial nature of IBD significantly impairs quality of life and makes disease management particularly challenging, increasing interest in complementary approaches, in addition to pharmacological treatments, such as phytotherapeutic strategies based on plant-derived bioactive compounds and, in particular, berry-derived and berry-based interventions. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted using PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases. Specific inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied to identify relevant articles published up to July 2026. After the removal of duplicates and a thorough screening of titles, abstracts, and full texts, a total of 19 studies were included, comprising 16 studies conducted on animal models and 3 clinical studies involving patients. The 3 clinical studies corresponded to 5 publications and involved a total of 68 unique participants, as two publications were secondary analyses of the same patient cohorts. These investigations evaluated the possible effects of berry-derived and berry-based interventions in both experimental models and clinical settings. Results: Preclinical studies suggested potential protective effects against intestinal inflammation by reducing pro-inflammatory cytokines, improving epithelial barrier integrity, and restoring gut microbiota composition. The included clinical studies reported improvements in disease activity, fecal calprotectin levels, quality of life, and remission rates in patients with ulcerative colitis. Nevertheless, the available clinical evidence remains limited and heterogeneous, preventing definitive conclusions regarding clinical efficacy. Conclusions: The current clinical data should therefore be considered preliminary. Larger and more rigorous randomized controlled trials are needed to determine whether the biological effects observed in preclinical models translate into clinically relevant benefits in patients with IBD. Overall, preclinical evidence complements clinical findings by providing mechanistic insights that help contextualize and interpret outcomes observed in human studies.
SN - 2072-6643
ER -