Phytotherapy for Endometriosis

Summary

Preclinical research to investigate the therapeutic effects of Withaferin-A, derived from Withania somnifera, on endometriosis, focusing on lesion growth, pelvic pain, and fertility.

What they want

The research aims to understand the molecular and cellular pathogenesis of endometriosis and identify non-steroidal therapy. It will test the hypothesis that Withaferin-A treatment suppresses endometriotic lesion growth and survival, ameliorates pelvic pain, and restores the endometrial microenvironment to support fertility. Specific aims include determining therapeutic effects of Withaferin-A on endometriotic lesions, endometrium, and central pain mechanisms in endometriosis.

Deliverables

New information on therapeutic effects of Withaferin-A in central mechanisms of pelvic pain, gene expression signatures in pain-brain areas, and their association with chronic pelvic pain in endometriosis
New information on epithelial and stromal cell-specific gene expression signatures in endometriotic lesions and their association with growth and survival of endometriotic lesions
New information on epithelial and stromal cell-specific gene expression signatures in the endometrium and their association with infertility
Establishment of a molecular therapeutic and preclinical basis to use Withaferin-A as a non-steroidal and non-opioid therapy to treat pelvic pain and infertility in women with endometriosis

Technical requirements

Preclinical allograft mouse model of endometriosis
RNA-Seq
Electrophysiology of brain neurons
Ascending and descending pain pathways analysis
Pain behavior assessment
In vivo bioimaging
Fluorescence microscopy
Flow cytometry