Saccharomyces cerevisiae peptides have been investigated in several preclinical studies for their potential benefits in inflammatory bowel diseases such as colitis. Most of the available evidence comes from in vitro and animal models rather than human clinical trials. These peptides, derived from the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, have shown anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory effects in laboratory settings. For example, studies in mice with chemically induced colitis have demonstrated that administration of S. cerevisiae peptides can reduce histological damage, decrease pro-inflammatory cytokine production (such as TNF-α and IL-6), and improve markers of intestinal barrier function (e.g., tight junction proteins).

The mechanism is thought to involve modulation of the gut immune response and enhancement of epithelial barrier integrity. However, there is currently a lack of large-scale, well-controlled human clinical trials specifically evaluating S. cerevisiae peptides as a treatment for colitis. Most human studies have focused on probiotics containing live yeast, such as Saccharomyces boulardii, rather than isolated peptides from S. cerevisiae. As such, while the scientific rationale exists and early findings are promising, the evidence base is preliminary and not yet robust enough to warrant strong recommendations for clinical use in colitis.