RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Current drugs for the treatment of endometriosis are not able to completely cure the condition, and significant side effects hinder the continuation of treatment. Therefore, it is necessary to search for new drug candidates. In the present paper, the use of plant extracts is highlighted. Babassu oil and Copaiba oil resin have several therapeutic properties. We investigated the in vitro effects of two nanoemulsions containing oil extracted from Babassu (Orbignya speciosa) nuts (called SNEDDS-18) and/or oil resin extracted from Copaiba trunk (Copaifera langsdorffii) (called SNEDDS-18/COPA) on cultured human eutopic endometrium stromal cells from endometrial biopsies of patients without (CESC) and with (EuESC) endometriosis as well as human stromal cells from biopsies of endometriotic lesions (EctESC). METHODS: CESC, EuESC, and EctESC were taken and treated with SNEDDS-18 and SNEDDS-18/COPA to evaluate their effects on cytotoxicity, cell morphology, proliferation, and signaling pathways. RESULTS: After 48 h of incubation with SNEDDS-18 and SNEDDS-18/COPA, cell viability and proliferation were inhibited, especially in EctESC. The lowest concentration of both nanoemulsions reduced cell viability and proliferation and broke down the cytoskeleton in EctESCs. After 24 h of treatment a decrease in IL-1, TNF-α, and MCP-1 was observed, as well as an increase in IL-10 production. CONCLUSIONS: Both nanoemulsions can affect endometriotic stromal cell behaviors, thus revealing two potential candidates for new phytotherapeutic agents for the management of endometriosis.
RESUMEN
OBJECTIVES: The hormonal treatment for endometriosis frequently fails to completely eradicate endometriotic implants. A new therapeutic treatment is needed. This study investigates the in-vitro effect of Copaifera langsdorffii oil-resin on human eutopic and ectopic endometrium stromal cell cultures (EuESCs and EctESCs). METHODS: A nanocomposite system containing the copaiba oil-resin (NanoCOR) was developed and acute toxicity test was performed. Endometrial stromal cells (ESCs) from non-endometriotics controls (CESCs), EuESCs and EctESCs were isolated and treated with different concentrations of NanoCOR, at different time intervals to evaluate its effect on cell morphology, proliferation, viability, necrosis and apoptosis induction. KEY FINDINGS: When treated with 50 µg/ml of NanoCOR, the morphology of EctESCs changed, as the actin microfilaments were disorganized, disassembled or disrupted. Moreover, at 24 h of treatment with NanoCOR, the EctESCs viability was inhibited, and a significant number of these cells underwent apoptosis. In EuESCs, these effects were observed only at 48 h. Finally, the treatment of EctESCs with NanoCOR increased the lactate dehydrogenase release into the extracellular medium more than in EuESCs. CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate that NanoCOR has a greater impact on the behaviour of human endometriotic stromal cells than on the eutopic endometrium stromal cells, supporting the idea that NanoCOR should be further investigated as a novel and valuable alternative to treat endometriosis.