Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) affects millions of people worldwide, and current treatments often fail to provide lasting relief. Now, researchers have developed a new stem cell-based model of the human intestine that could help scientists discover more effective therapies. Their findings, published in Stem Cell Reports, point to glycyrrhizin, a natural compound found in black licorice, as a promising candidate for reducing intestinal inflammation and preventing cell death.
IBD is a chronic condition marked by ongoing inflammation in the digestive tract. Common symptoms include persistent diarrhea, abdominal pain, fatigue, and other complications that can significantly affect daily life. Researchers estimate that around 4 million people around the world are living with the disease, and the number continues to rise.
Although treatments such as anti-inflammatory medications and immune-targeting drugs are available, many patients do not respond well enough or continue to experience symptoms despite therapy.
Stem Cell Model Mimics Human Intestinal Disease
One challenge in developing new IBD treatments is finding a laboratory model that accurately reflects the human intestinal wall. High-throughput screening (HTS), which allows scientists to rapidly test thousands of potential drug compounds, depends on having a reliable system for studying the disease.
To tackle this problem, a research team led by Yu Takahashi at the University of Tokyo in Japan created a human intestine model using stem cells. The scientists then triggered an IBD-like condition by exposing the tissue to a major inflammatory protein linked to the disease in patients.
The team confirmed that the protein caused inflammation and cell death in the lab-grown intestinal tissue. With the model established, the researchers screened roughly 3,500 compounds to search for substances that could protect the cells.
Black Licorice Compound Emerges as a Top Candidate
Among the strongest performers was glycyrrhizin, a naturally occurring ingredient in black licorice. Earlier studies had already suggested that the compound could help in cellular and animal models of IBD, and the new research provided additional support for its potential benefits.
In the stem cell-derived intestinal model, glycyrrhizin significantly reduced intestinal cell death. Similar effects were also seen in mice with IBD, where the compound lowered inflammation levels and reduced damage to intestinal cells.
Potential for Future IBD Treatments
The researchers say the findings demonstrate how stem cell-derived intestinal models could become valuable tools for discovering new drugs for inflammatory bowel disease. While the early results are encouraging, additional clinical studies will be needed to determine whether glycyrrhizin can safely and effectively treat IBD in people without causing harmful side effects.