Impact of a Chinese Medicinal Formula, Xiao Liu Fang, on the “3A” Ability of Endometrial Stromal Cells in Patients with Endometriosis

Hua Zhou, Qian Zhang, Cong Qi
Molecular therapy oncolytics · 2018 · vol. 12 , pp. 1–8 · doi:10.1016/j.omto.2018.11.001 · PMID:30581987 · W2901181191
article OA: gold CC0 ⤵ 6 in-corpus citations
🔓 Open OA copy View on OpenAlex View on PubMed View at publisher
⚙ AI-generated summary by claude@2026-06, 2026-06-09 ⓘ

This study found that a high dose of Xiao Liu Fang extract inhibits the attachment, aggression, and angiogenesis of endometrial stromal cells, suggesting its potential for treating endometriosis.

One-sentence paraphrase of the abstract; not a substitute for reading it. No clinical advice. How this works

Abstract

The pathogenesis of endometriosis (EMS) is complicated, and treatment results are unsatisfactory. It has become the focus of gynecological research. Analysis targeting the pathogenesis of EMS is the key to providing more effective treatments. In recent years, the superiority of traditional Chinese medicine in treating EMS has been highlighted, so we investigated the impact of a Chinese medicinal formula (Xiao Liu Fang) on the “3A” ability, in situ, of ectopic endometrial stromal cells in patients with EMS. Primary endometrial stromal cells were isolated using a modified net filtration method, cultured, and identified in different groups. Endometrial cell attachment was measured using the methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) colorimetric assay, cell aggression was detected by the transwell cell-invasion assay, and angiogenesis was defined by evaluating the mRNA concentrations of intercellular cell adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1), cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2), matrix metallo peptidase 9 (MMP-9), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Attachment, aggression, and angiogenesis (AAA) plays an important role in EMS, and a high dose of the Xiao Liu Fang extract can be used for the treatment of EMS owing to its inhibition of the AAA of endometrial stromal cells. Therefore, in-depth studies targeting the effective mechanisms and targets of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) are of great significance for the prevention and treatment of EMS. The pathogenesis of endometriosis (EMS) is complicated, and treatment results are unsatisfactory. It has become the focus of gynecological research. Analysis targeting the pathogenesis of EMS is the key to providing more effective treatments. In recent years, the superiority of traditional Chinese medicine in treating EMS has been highlighted, so we investigated the impact of a Chinese medicinal formula (Xiao Liu Fang) on the “3A” ability, in situ, of ectopic endometrial stromal cells in patients with EMS. Primary endometrial stromal cells were isolated using a modified net filtration method, cultured, and identified in different groups. Endometrial cell attachment was measured using the methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) colorimetric assay, cell aggression was detected by the transwell cell-invasion assay, and angiogenesis was defined by evaluating the mRNA concentrations of intercellular cell adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1), cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2), matrix metallo peptidase 9 (MMP-9), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Attachment, aggression, and angiogenesis (AAA) plays an important role in EMS, and a high dose of the Xiao Liu Fang extract can be used for the treatment of EMS owing to its inhibition of the AAA of endometrial stromal cells. Therefore, in-depth studies targeting the effective mechanisms and targets of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) are of great significance for the prevention and treatment of EMS.

My notes (saved in your browser only)

Condition tags

endometriosis

Citation neighborhood

Papers in the corpus that this work cites (lower rings, blue) and that cite this one (upper rings, green). Dot size scales with the paper's in-corpus citation count — bigger dot = more influential within the endo/adeno field. Click a dot to open that paper. [ expand to 2 hops ] — adds papers reached through this work's immediate citers/citees. Heavier; up to 60 extra dots.

References (20)

Cited by (6)

Source provenance

europepmc
last seen: 2026-06-04T01:30:01.192114+00:00
openalex
last seen: 2026-06-04T00:00:01.174412+00:00
pubmed
last seen: 2026-05-13T22:19:25.021412+00:00
License: CC0 · commercial use OK