Pomegranate compounds may offer new pathways for treating inflammatory bowel disease

Researchers have identified a specific molecular pathway triggered by compounds found in pomegranate that may offer new therapeutic strategies for inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.

When the body breaks down ellagitannins—plant compounds found in pomegranate—it produces a substance called urolithin A. A new study has mapped how urolithin A works to strengthen the intestinal lining. Rather than suppressing inflammation broadly, urolithin A activates a specific protein in the intestinal lining cells known as the aryl hydrocarbon receptor.

This activation triggers a protective signaling cascade involving the protein NLRP6, which acts as an intracellular sensor. This process leads to the controlled release of interleukin-18 (IL-18), a chemical messenger that helps maintain stability in the intestinal environment. While these findings clarify the biological mechanisms of urolithin A, researchers note that this does not yet mean pomegranate or urolithin A supplements are proven treatments for IBD in humans.