As shown in Fig. 6o, the administration of A18 during pregnancy induced the expression of Cyp1a1 in the offspring pup intestine, and also significantly reduced NEC severity as manifest by reduced Il6 (Fig. 6p) and Tnf-α (Fig. 6q) and Tlr4 expression (Fig. 6r) in the neonatal gut, and improved histology (Fig. 6s) and NEC severity (Fig. 6t). Here, IL6 is linked to necrotizing enterocolitis.