Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) affects millions of people worldwide, and current treatments often fail to provide lasting symptom relief. Now, researchers have developed a new stem cell-based model of the human gut that could help scientists discover more effective treatments. Their findings were; stem cell reportpoint out that glycyrrhizin, a natural compound found in black licorice, is a promising candidate to reduce intestinal inflammation and prevent cell death.
IBD is a chronic disease characterized by ongoing inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract. Common symptoms include persistent diarrhea, abdominal pain, fatigue, and other complications that can seriously impact daily life. Researchers estimate that around 4 million people worldwide are living with the disease, and that number continues to grow.
Treatments such as anti-inflammatory drugs and immune-targeted drugs are available, but many patients do not respond adequately or their symptoms persist despite treatment.
Stem cell model mimicking human intestinal disease
One of the challenges in developing new IBD treatments is finding laboratory models that accurately reflect the human intestinal wall. High-throughput screening (HTS), which allows scientists to rapidly test thousands of potential drug compounds, relies on reliable systems to study this disease.
To address this issue, a research team led by Masaru Takahashi at the University of Tokyo in Japan created a human gut model using stem cells. The scientists then triggered IBD-like symptoms by exposing the tissue to key inflammatory proteins associated with the patient’s disease.
The researchers confirmed that this protein caused inflammation and cell death in intestinal tissue grown in the lab. After establishing the model, the researchers screened about 3,500 compounds to look for substances that could protect cells.
Black licorice compound emerges as a top candidate
The strongest performer was glycyrrhizin, a natural ingredient found in black licorice. Previous research had already suggested that this compound could be useful in cellular and animal models of IBD, but the new study provides further support for its potential benefits.
In a stem cell-derived intestinal model, glycyrrhizin significantly reduced intestinal cell death. Similar effects were seen in IBD mice, where the compound reduced inflammation levels and reduced damage to intestinal cells.
Possibilities for future IBD treatments
Researchers say their findings show that stem cell-derived gut models can be a valuable tool for discovering new drugs for inflammatory bowel disease. Although early results are promising, additional clinical research is needed to determine whether glycyrrhizin can safely and effectively treat IBD in people without causing harmful side effects.
