Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi
New Delhi, May 11: Researchers have found that a natural compound extracted from black licorice root may help reduce inflammation and protect the intestines in people suffering from inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), offering fresh hope for future treatment options.
The findings of the study were published in the journal Stem Cell Reports.
Inflammatory bowel disease includes conditions such as Crohn's disease and Ulcerative colitis, which cause long-term inflammation and irritation in the digestive tract.
Common symptoms include stomach pain, diarrhoea, bleeding, weight loss and extreme tiredness.
Doctors say IBD occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue in the digestive system, leading to recurring inflammation and damage to the intestines.
Current treatments mainly include anti-inflammatory medicines, steroids and immune-suppressing drugs. However, experts note that many patients continue to experience symptoms and long-term use of some medicines may lead to serious side effects.
The latest research focused on glycyrrhizin, a natural compound found in black licorice root that is known for its anti-inflammatory properties.
Scientists developed a stem cell-based model that closely mimicked human intestinal tissue affected by IBD and tested several compounds to examine their ability to protect intestinal cells from inflammation-related damage.
Among the compounds studied, glycyrrhizin showed the most promising results.
Researchers found that the compound reduced cell death and protected the intestinal lining from injury caused by inflammation. Similar protective effects were also observed in mice affected by inflammatory bowel disease.
According to scientists, glycyrrhizin appears to help calm harmful immune reactions in the gut while protecting healthy intestinal tissue.
Researchers said the study is significant because it used advanced stem cell-derived intestinal tissue instead of relying entirely on animal experiments, which often do not accurately reflect the human body.
The new approach may help speed up the discovery and testing of future treatments for IBD and improve the accuracy of research findings.
However, experts cautioned people against self-medicating with black licorice candies or supplements.
They warned that consuming large quantities of black licorice may lead to serious side effects including high blood pressure, heart problems and low potassium levels.
Scientists clarified that the study involved purified glycyrrhizin under controlled laboratory conditions and not commercial licorice products available in stores.
Researchers stressed that further clinical trials are required to determine the safety, effectiveness and proper dosage of glycyrrhizin before it can be recommended as a treatment for inflammatory bowel disease.