Multi-Mechanistic Effects of Xylopia aethiopica Fruits on Uterine Fibroids: Insights From In Vivo and In Silico...

Uterine fibroids (leiomyomas) are hormone-dependent benign tumors driven by progesterone and estradiol. This study investigated the multi-mechanistic effects of Xylopia aethiopica on fibroid pathophysiology using in vivo and in silico approaches. Thirty Wistar rats were induced with fibroids via monosodium glutamate (MSG) and treated with varying doses (100, 200, 400 mg/kg) of X. aethiopica extract. Serum progesterone and estradiol were measured, and molecular docking and protein-protein interaction analyses assessed potential mechanisms. MSG significantly elevated progesterone (30.12 ± 2.43 ng/mL) and estradiol (48.56 ± 3.24 pg/mL), while X. aethiopica normalized these hormones in a dose-dependent manner. Docking studies revealed strong interactions of bioactive compounds, including aporphine, xylopioxyde, and liriodenine with progesterone, estrogen, VEGFR2, and TGF-β receptors, suggesting hormonal, anti-angiogenic, and anti-fibrotic effects. These findings indicate that X. aethiopica exerts pleiotropic actions to restore endocrine balance and inhibit fibroid-promoting pathways, supporting its potential as a natural, multi-targeted therapeutic agent for uterine fibroids.