Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40211112›Full record

ArticleMolecular medicine (Cambridge, Mass.)2025

D-chiro-inositol effectively counteracts endometriosis in a mouse model.

Martina Placidi, Giovanni Casoli, Teresa Vergara, Andrea Bianchi, Domenica Cocciolone, Silvia Zaccardi, Guido Macchiarelli, Maria Grazia Palmerini, Carla Tatone, Arturo Bevilacqua and 1 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Molecular medicine (Cambridge, Mass.), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Martina Placidi *Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, Via G. Petrini, 67100, L'Aquila, Italy.
Giovanni Casoli *Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, Via G. Petrini, 67100, L'Aquila, Italy.
Teresa VergaraDepartment of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, Via G. Petrini, 67100, L'Aquila, Italy.
Andrea BianchiDepartment of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, Via G. Petrini, 67100, L'Aquila, Italy.
Domenica CoccioloneDepartment of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, Via G. Petrini, 67100, L'Aquila, Italy.
Silvia ZaccardiDepartment of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, Via G. Petrini, 67100, L'Aquila, Italy.
Guido MacchiarelliDepartment of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, Via G. Petrini, 67100, L'Aquila, Italy.
Maria Grazia PalmeriniDepartment of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, Via G. Petrini, 67100, L'Aquila, Italy.
Carla TatoneDepartment of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, Via G. Petrini, 67100, L'Aquila, Italy. carla.tatone@univaq.it.
Arturo BevilacquaDepartment of Dynamic, Clinical Psychology and Health Studies, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185, Rome, Italy. arturo.bevilacqua@uniroma1.it.
Giovanna Di EmidioDepartment of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, Via G. Petrini, 67100, L'Aquila, Italy.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundEndometriosis, a common condition affecting 5-10% of women of reproductive age, is the growth of endometrial-like tissue outside the uterus, leading to pain and infertility. Current treatments, such as surgery and hormonal therapy, offer limited long-term benefits. This study investigated the potential of D-chiro inositol (DCI), a natural compound that influences ovarian steroidogenesis, to treat endometriosis and compared its efficacy with a progestin drug such as Dienogest (DG).

methodsWe established a non-surgical mouse model of endometriosis in CD1 mice. Uterine horns were removed from donor mice, cut into fragments and inoculated in recipient mice by intraperitoneal injection. Endometriosis progression was assessed at 15, 21 and 28 days after transplantation, with the 28-day window being the most effective. The mice were then randomly assigned to four experimental groups, which received for 28 days: water (EMS); DCI 0.4 mg/die (DCI); DCI 0.2 mg/die and Dienogest 0.33 ng/die (DCI + DG); DG 0.67 ng/die (DG). At the end of the treatments, endometriotic lesions, ovaries and circulating estradiol levels were analyzed.

resultsThe results showed that treatment with DCI, both alone and in combination with DG, significantly reduced the number, size and vascularization of endometriotic lesions compared to the EMS control group. Histological analysis confirmed a decrease in endometriotic foci across all treatment groups, with the most pronounced effects in the DCI group. To investigate the underlying molecular mechanisms, we found that DCI led to a significant reduction in the expression of Sirt1 and an increase in E-Cadherin, indicating a reduction in EMT transition relevant for lesion development. In addition, DCI decreased cell proliferation and,blood vessel formation, as evaluated by PCNA and CD34, respectively. Futhermore, in the ovary, DCI treatment downregulated the expression of aromatase (Cyp19a1), the enzyme critical for estrogen biosynthesis, and increased the number of primordial to antral follicles, suggesting a beneficial effect on ovarian folliculogenesis.

conclusionsBy modulating proliferation, EMT transition and aromatase activity, DCI emerges as a promising compound for endometriosis treatment.

Indexed as

EndometriosisInositolAnimalsAromataseDisease Models, AnimalEstradiolFemaleMiceNandroloneOvaryAromatasedienogestEstradiolInositolNandroloneAromataseDCIDGE-CadherinEMTEndometriosisSirt1

Identifiers

PMID40211112
PMCPMC11987403

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.