Kiwi Root Extract Inhibits the Development of Endometriosis in Mice by Downregulating Inflammatory Factors

Tingting Liao; Shenzhi Zhao; Tong Zhou; Jiajia Song; Xianping Huang; Huiqiu Xiang; Yanyan Lin; Jiajia Chen; Zhangye Xu

doi:10.1155/2021/4536132

Kiwi Root Extract Inhibits the Development of Endometriosis in Mice by Downregulating Inflammatory Factors

Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2021 Jan 26:2021:4536132. doi: 10.1155/2021/4536132. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Tingting Liao¹, Shenzhi Zhao², Tong Zhou¹, Jiajia Song¹, Xianping Huang¹, Huiqiu Xiang¹, Yanyan Lin¹, Jiajia Chen¹, Zhangye Xu¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325027, China.
² Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325027, China.

Abstract

Purpose: To determine whether the kiwi root extract inhibits the development of endometriosis in mice by suppressing inflammatory factors.

Materials and methods: The mouse model of endometriosis was induced by surgery after which the mice were continuously injected with the drug for 14 days. On the 14^th day, the mice were sacrificed, and the peritoneal fluid was obtained for enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Endometrial ectopic tissue was weighed and analyzed by tissue immunochemistry, RT-PCR, western blotting, and gelatin zymography experiment.

Results: Kiwi root extract significantly reduced endometriotic lesion volume and downregulated the proinflammatory cytokines IL-6, IL-8, IL-1β, and TNF-α, as well as the angiogenic factor VEGF-A. It also inhibited the mRNA and protein expression of COX-1 and COX-2, IL-6, TGF-β1, EP₂ receptor, and ER-β in endometriotic lesions but did not affect the expression of MMP-9 and MMP-2.

Conclusions: Kiwi root extract could significantly inhibit the growth of surgery-induced endometriosis in mice. Our results suggest that the kiwi root extract may inhibit the development and progression of ectopic endometrium through disruption of neovascularization and reducing inflammation, which may be beneficial in treating this common gynecological disease.