There is provided the use of a functional thylakoid extract, particularly in admixture with a physiologically acceptable carrier, in pharmaceutical application, in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease, and method for the treatment thereof. The inflammatory bowel disease may comprise several diseases associated with inflammation of the small intestine, large intestine (colon), rectum or anus (anal sphincter), and may be particularly selected from ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.