Polyphenols as a Diet Therapy Concept for Endometriosis—Current Opinion and Future Perspectives

Agata Gołąbek; Agata Gołąbek-Grenda; Katarzyna Kowalska; Anna Olejnik

doi:10.3390/nu13041347

Polyphenols as a Diet Therapy Concept for Endometriosis—Current Opinion and Future Perspectives

Agata Gołąbek, Agata Gołąbek-Grenda, Katarzyna Kowalska, Anna Olejnik

Nutrients · 2021 · vol. 13(4) , pp. 1347 · doi:10.3390/nu13041347 · PMID:33919512 · PMC8074087 · W3155181579

review OA: gold CC0 ⤵ 41 in-corpus citations

📄 Open PDF View on OpenAlex View on PubMed View at publisher

⚙ AI-generated summary by claude@2026-06, 2026-06-07 ⓘ

This review explores how polyphenols, plant-derived compounds with phytoestrogen effects, may offer a natural therapeutic strategy for endometriosis by modulating key molecular targets involved in its progression.

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

Abstract

Endometriosis represents an often painful, estrogen-dependent gynecological disorder, defined by the existence of endometrial glands and stroma exterior to the uterine cavity. The disease provides a wide range of symptoms and affects women's quality of life and reproductive functions. Despite research efforts and extensive investigations, this disease's pathogenesis and molecular basis remain unclear. Conventional endometriosis treatment implies surgical resection, hormonal therapies, and treatment with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, but their efficacy is currently limited due to many side effects. Therefore, exploring complementary and alternative therapy strategies, minimizing the current treatments' adverse effects, is needed. Plants are sources of bioactive compounds that demonstrate broad-spectrum health-promoting effects and interact with molecular targets associated with endometriosis, such as cell proliferation, apoptosis, invasiveness, inflammation, oxidative stress, and angiogenesis. Anti-endometriotic properties are exhibited mainly by polyphenols, which can exert a potent phytoestrogen effect, modulating estrogen activity. The available evidence derived from preclinical research and several clinical studies indicates that natural biologically active compounds represent promising candidates for developing novel strategies in endometriosis management. The purpose of this review is to provide a comprehensive overview of polyphenols and their properties valuable for natural treatment strategy by interacting with different cellular and molecular targets involved in endometriosis progression.

My notes (saved in your browser only)

Condition tags

endometriosis

MeSH descriptors

Dietary Supplements Endometriosis Phytochemicals Plants, Edible Polyphenols Apoptosis Apoptosis Cell Proliferation Cell Proliferation Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometrium Endometrium Estrogens Estrogens Female Humans Inflammation Neovascularization, Pathologic Oxidative Stress

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 (100)

Cited by (41)

Source provenance

europepmc: last seen: 2026-06-12T06:13:51.797165+00:00
openalex: last seen: 2026-06-10T17:14:06.276822+00:00
pubmed: last seen: 2026-05-13T22:24:43.494969+00:00

License: CC0 · commercial use OK

[1] 17β-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase-2 Deficiency and Progesterone Resistance in Endometriosis via openalex

[2] Active compounds present inRosmarinus officinalis leaves andScutellaria baicalensis root evaluated as new therapeutic agents for endometriosis via openalex

[3] Adhesion in Physiological, Benign and Malignant Proliferative States of the Endometrium: Microenvironment and the Clinical Big Picture via openalex

[4] Advantages of the association of resveratrol with oral contraceptives for management of endometriosis-related pain via openalex

[5] Ameliorative Effects of Quercetin and Metformin and Their Combination Against Experimental Endometriosis in Rats via openalex

[6] Angiogenesis and Endometriosis via openalex

[7] Anti‐Angiogenic Alternative and Complementary Medicines for the Treatment of Endometriosis: A Review of Potential Molecular Mechanisms via openalex

[8] Anti-angiogenic effects of green tea catechin on an experimental endometriosis mouse model via openalex

[9] Antifibrotic properties of epigallocatechin-3-gallate in endometriosis via openalex

[10] Antioxidant supplementation reduces endometriosis-related pelvic pain in humans via openalex

[11] Apigenin induces ROS‐dependent apoptosis and ER stress in human endometriosis cells via openalex

[12] Apigenin inhibits tumor necrosis factor α–induced cell proliferation and prostaglandin E2 synthesis by inactivating NFκB in endometriotic stromal cells via openalex

[13] Apoptosis and endometriosis via openalex

[14] Apoptosis in Endometriosis via openalex

[15] A potential novel treatment strategy: inhibition of angiogenesis and inflammation by resveratrol for regression of endometriosis in an experimental rat model via openalex

[16] A prospective study of dietary fat consumption and endometriosis risk via openalex

[17] A randomized exploratory trial to assess the effects of resveratrol on VEGF and TNF-α 2 expression in endometriosis women via openalex

[18] Aromatase as a target for treating endometriosis via openalex

[19] Association of the Precursor of Interleukin‐1β and Peritoneal Inflammation—Role in Pathogenesis of Endometriosis via openalex

[20] Baicalein reduces endometriosis by suppressing the viability of human endometrial stromal cells through the nuclear factor-κB pathway in vitro via openalex

[21] Cell Adhesion Molecules and Endometriosis via openalex

[22] Chronic Niche Inflammation in Endometriosis-Associated Infertility: Current Understanding and Future Therapeutic Strategies via openalex

[23] Combined inhibition of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), fibroblast growth factor and platelet-derived growth factor, but not inhibition of VEGF alone, effectively suppresses angiogenesis and vessel maturation in endometriotic lesions via openalex

[24] Curcumin arrests endometriosis by downregulation of matrix metalloproteinase-9 activity. via openalex

[25] Curcumin as anti-endometriotic agent: Implication of MMP-3 and intrinsic apoptotic pathway via openalex

[26] Curcumin attenuates proangiogenic and proinflammatory factors in human eutopic endometrial stromal cells through the NF‐κB signaling pathway via openalex

[27] Curcumin Attenuates TNF‐α‐induced Expression of Intercellular Adhesion Molecule‐1, Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule‐1 and Proinflammatory Cytokines in Human Endometriotic Stromal Cells via openalex

[28] Curcumin inhibits endometriosis endometrial cells by reducing estradiol production. via openalex

[29] Cutting SRC-1 down to size in endometriosis via openalex

[30] Daidzein-rich isoflavone aglycones inhibit cell growth and inflammation in endometriosis via openalex

[31] Diagnostic potential of peritoneal fluid biomarkers of endometriosis via openalex

[32] Dienogest in long-term treatment of endometriosis via openalex

[33] Diet and endometriosis risk: A literature review via openalex

[34] Dietary therapy: a new strategy for management of chronic pelvic pain via openalex

[35] Effect of Soy Isoflavones on Endometriosis via openalex

[36] Effects of acupuncture for the treatment of endometriosis-related pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis via openalex

[37] Endometrial and peritoneal expression of aromatase, cytokines, and adhesion factors in women with endometriosis via openalex

[38] Endometriosis via openalex

[39] Endometriosis and endometriosis-associated cancers: new insights into the molecular mechanisms of ovarian cancer development via openalex

[40] Endometriosis‐associated nerve fibers and pain via openalex

[41] Endometriosis-Associated Ovarian Cancer: The Origin and Targeted Therapy via openalex

[42] Endometriosis: Epidemiology, Diagnosis and Clinical Management via openalex

[43] Endometriosis still a challenge. via openalex

[44] Endometriosis: where are we and where are we going? via openalex

[45] Estrogen-independent inhibition of curcumin on formation of endometriotic foci in rats with experimental endometriosis via openalex

[46] Estrogen Receptor β Modulates Apoptosis Complexes and the Inflammasome to Drive the Pathogenesis of Endometriosis via openalex

[47] Evolution of medical treatment for endometriosis: back to the roots? via openalex

[48] Fas and Fas-Ligand in Eutopic and Ectopic Endometrium of Women With Endometriosis: The Possible Immune Privilege of Ectopic Endometrium via openalex

[49] Genetic links between endometriosis and cancers in women via openalex

[50] Genistein causes regression of endometriotic implants in the rat model via openalex

[51] Growth mechanisms of endometriotic cells in implanted places: a review via openalex

[52] Hematogenous Dissemination of Mesenchymal Stem Cells from Endometriosis via openalex

[53] Hormonal Therapy in Women of Reproductive Age with Endometriosis: an Update via openalex

[54] Immunology of endometriosis via openalex

[55] Immunosuppressive activity of peritoneal fluid in women with endometriosis. via openalex

[56] Inhibitory effect of curcumin in human endometriosis endometrial cells via downregulation of vascular endothelial growth factor via openalex

[57] Inhibitory effect of curcumin on angiogenesis in ectopic endometrium of rats with experimental endometriosis via openalex

[58] Inhibitory effect of resveratrol on the growth and angiogenesis of human endometrial tissue in an In Vitro three-dimensional model of endometriosis via openalex

[59] Is Endometriosis Associated with Systemic Subclinical Inflammation? via openalex

[60] Link between Endometriosis, Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease, and the Health of Women Midlife via openalex

[61] Lipopolysaccharide promotes the development of murine endometriosis‐like lesions via the nuclear factor‐kappa B pathway via openalex

[62] Lymphocytes in Endometriosis via openalex

[63] Morphological changes in mesothelial cells induced by shed menstrual endometrium in vitro are not primarily due to apoptosis or necrosis via openalex

[64] MTA1, a Target of Resveratrol, Promotes Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition of Endometriosis via ZEB2 via openalex

[65] Nanoparticle-Assisted Combinatorial Therapy for Effective Treatment of Endometriosis via openalex

[66] Naringenin ameliorates progression of endometriosis by modulating Nrf2/Keap1/HO1 axis and inducing apoptosis in rats via openalex

[67] Naringenin induces mitochondria-mediated apoptosis and endoplasmic reticulum stress by regulating MAPK and AKT signal transduction pathways in endometriosis cells via openalex

[68] Natural therapies assessment for the treatment of endometriosis via openalex

[69] Novel dietary supplement association reduces symptoms in endometriosis patients via openalex

[70] Novel Drug Targets with Traditional Herbal Medicines for Overcoming Endometriosis via openalex

[71] Novel Therapies Targeting Endometriosis via openalex

[72] Pathogenesis and pathophysiology of endometriosis via openalex

[73] Pathogenesis of endometriosis: Look no further than John Sampson via openalex

[74] Peritoneal endometriosis is an inflammatory disease via openalex

[75] Phytotherapy in endometriosis: an up-to-date review via openalex

[76] Plants as source of new therapies for endometriosis: a review of preclinical and clinical studies via openalex

[77] Prodrug of green tea epigallocatechin-3-gallate (Pro-EGCG) as a potent anti-angiogenesis agent for endometriosis in mice via openalex

[78] Progesterone and Estrogen Signaling in the Endometrium: What Goes Wrong in Endometriosis? via openalex

[79] Progesterone and transforming growth factor-β coordinately regulate suppression of endometrial matrix metalloproteinases in a model of experimental endometriosis via openalex

[80] Promising activity of Anthemis austriaca Jacq. on the endometriosis rat model and isolation of its active constituents via openalex

[81] Puerarin Suppresses Invasion and Vascularization of Endometriosis Tissue Stimulated by 17β-Estradiol via openalex

[82] Puerarin suppresses proliferation of endometriotic stromal cells in part via differential recruitment of nuclear receptor coregulators to estrogen receptor-α via openalex

[83] Quercetin inhibits proliferation of endometriosis regulating cyclin D1 and its target microRNAs in vitro and in vivo via openalex

[84] Regression of Endometrial Implants by Resveratrol in an Experimentally Induced Endometriosis Model in Rats via openalex

[85] Regulation of Inflammation Pathways and Inflammasome by Sex Steroid Hormones in Endometriosis via openalex

[86] Resveratrol and endometriosis: In vitro and animal studies and underlying mechanisms (Review) via openalex

[87] Resveratrol and Endometrium: A Closer Look at an Active Ingredient of Red Wine Using In Vivo and In Vitro Models via openalex

[88] Resveratrol Inhibits Development of Experimental Endometriosis In Vivo and Reduces Endometrial Stromal Cell Invasiveness In Vitro1 via openalex

[89] Resveratrol reduces the expression of insulin‐like growth factor‐1 and hepatocyte growth factor in stromal cells of women with endometriosis compared with nonendometriotic women via openalex

[90] Resveratrol successfully treats experimental endometriosis through modulation of oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation via openalex

[91] Resveratrol treatment reduces expression of MCP‐1, IL‐6, IL‐8 and RANTES in endometriotic stromal cells via openalex

[92] Role of Estrogen Receptor-β in Endometriosis via openalex

[93] Role of oxidative stress in endometriosis via openalex

[94] Self-management in condition-specific health: a systematic review of the evidence among women diagnosed with endometriosis via openalex

[95] Self-management strategies amongst Australian women with endometriosis: a national online survey via openalex

[96] Serum and peritoneal fluid levels of vascular endothelial growth factor in women with endometriosis. via openalex

[97] Serum and Peritoneal Fluid Levels of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in Women with Endometriosis via openalex

[98] Targeting oxidative stress to treat endometriosis via openalex

[99] The bimodal role of matrix metalloproteinases and their inhibitors in etiology and pathogenesis of endometriosis (Review) via openalex

[100] The Complementary and Alternative Medicine for Endometriosis: A Review of Utilization and Mechanism via openalex