Molecular targets of dietary phytochemicals for possible prevention and therapy of uterine fibroids: Focus on fibrosis

Abstract

Uterine fibroids (myomas or leiomyomas) are common benign tumors of reproductive aged women. Fibroids are clinically apparent in 20-50% of women, and cause abnormal uterine bleeding, abdominal pain and discomfort, pregnancy complications and infertility. Unfortunately, limited numbers of medical treatment are available but no effective preventive strategies exist. Moreover, the benefits of medical treatments are tempered by lack of efficacy or serious adverse side effects. Fibrosis has recently been recognized as a key pathological event in leiomyoma development and growth. It is defined by the excessive deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM). ECM plays important role in making bulk structure of leiomyoma, and ECM-rich rigid structure is believed to be a cause of abnormal bleeding and pelvic pain/pressure. Dietary phytochemicals are known to regulate fibrotic process in different biological systems, and being considered as potential tool to manage human health. At present, very few dietary phytochemicals have been studied in uterine leiomyoma, and they are mostly known for their antiproliferative effects. Therefore, in this review, our aim was to introduce some dietary phytochemicals that could target fibrotic processes in leiomyoma. Thus, this review could serve as useful resource to develop antifibrotic drugs for possible prevention and treatment of uterine fibroids.

Omega‐3 fatty acids modulate the lipid profile, membrane architecture, and gene expression of leiomyoma cells

“…To date, genetic and epigenetic factors, sex steroids, growth factors, cytokines, chemokines, inflammation, and extracellular matrix (ECM) components are known factors involved in the pathogenesis of leiomyoma (Ciarmela et al, ; Gallagher & Morton, ; Islam, Akhtar, Segars, Castellucci, & Ciarmela, ; Islam et al, ; Protic et al, ; Yang, Mas, Diamond, & Al‐Hendy, ). ECM components, mainly collagen1A1, fibronectin and versican are overexpressed in leiomyoma (Malik & Catherino, ), and their upregulation is induced by activin A (Islam et al, ).…”

Vitamin D and Uterine Fibroids—Review of the Literature and Novel Concepts

“…The least studied factors which affect the risk for UF occurrence are related to lifestyle, diet, nutrition, or place of residence. Especially nutrition and diet can be the gateway to effective prevention of UFs [ 34 , 123 , 124 ]. As the new guidelines from 2018 defined optimal concentration of vitamin D at 40–60 ng/mL ( Figure 1 ) [ 39 ], vitamin D supplementation and sunlight exposure can be the two main clues for UF prevention [ 125 ].…”

Chronic pelvic pain syndrome: Highlighting medicinal plants toward biomolecules discovery for upcoming drugs formulation

“…Only aglycons can be absorbed through the small intestine. In addition, most biologically active phytochemicals are not necessarily the most common in diet (Islam et al, ).…”

“…Only aglycons can be absorbed through the small intestine. In addition, most biologically active phytochemicals are not necessarily the most common in diet(Islam et al, 2017).The metabolic activity of phytochemicals depends on intrinsic activity, relative intestinal absorption, metabolic rate, and elimination rate. Until now, an insignificant number of dietary phytochemicals have been attempted as therapeutic agents against CPPS, being necessary to identify some of the potential dietary phytochemicals that have shown anti-CPPS activities.…”

“…hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)prop-2-enoic acid(Islam, Akhtar, Segars, Castellucci, & Ciarmela, 2017;Xu, Pan, Dong, Yu, & Niu, 2015) KAEMPFEROL Natural flavonol, a type of flavonoid, as an antioxidant by reducing oxidative stress, suppressed collagen deposition, epithelial excrescency and goblet hyperplasia in the lung of ovalbumin-challenged mice, a role as an antibacterial agent, involved in glioblastoma progression; it is currently under consideration as a possible cancer treatment; anti-inflammatory effect.…”