Plant-based dietary compounds have shown potential to reduce IBD by regulating signaling pathways such as TGF-β/Smad, TRL-4/NF-κB/MAPK, TLR2-NF-κB, autophagy, pyroptosis, glycolysis/gluconeogenesis and amino acid metabolism, Nrf-2/HO-1, microbiota-macrophage-arginine metabolism, and bile acid metabolism. The gene discussed is HMOX1; the disease is irritable bowel syndrome.