The kynurenine pathway is the main route of tryptophan degradation which gives rise to several neuroactive metabolites. Kynurenic acid is an endogenous antagonist of excitatory receptors, which proved to be neuroprotective in the preclinical settings. Kynurenines have been implicated in the neuroendocrine regulatory processes. Stress induces several alterations in the kynurenine metabolism and this process may contribute to the development of stress-related pathological processes. Irritable bowel disease and gastric ulcer are well-known disorders which are related to psychiatric comorbidity and stress. In experimental conditions kynurenic acid proved to be beneficial by reducing inflammatory processes and normalizing microcirculation in the bowel. Further investigations are needed to better understand the relations of stress and the kynurenines, with the aim of developing novel therapeutic tools for stress-related pathologies. Orv. Hetil., 2015, 156(35), 1402–1405.