Compounds and embodiments of a method for treating and/or preventing autoimmune diseases are disclosed. The method includes administering to a subject having an autoimmune disease, such as an inflammatory bowel disease, a therapeutically effective amount of a compound according to formula I wherein X and Y independently are O or NR1; each R1 is independently H or C1-C6 alkyl; ring A is aryl; each R2 independently is H, alkyl, alkoxy, amide, cyano, halo, haloalkyl, hydroxyalkyl, heteroalkyl, heterocyclyl, sulfonyl, sulfonamide, or two R2 groups, taken together with the atom or atoms to which they are attached, combine to form a 4-10 membered ring system; p is 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4; R3 and R4 independently are H or C1-C6 alkyl; and R5 is halo, cyano, or C1-C6 alkyl.