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. 2021 May 5;41(4):2489–2564. doi: 10.1002/med.21802

Table 4.

Pharmaceuticals that hold multiple molecular targets to different pathophysiology for endometriosis treatment

Pharmaceuticals Classification Proliferation Apoptosis Autophagy Cell migration Cell Invasion Fibrosis Angiogenesis Oxidative stress Immune and inflammation
Melatonin Anxiolytic agent ‐ MMP‐3 63 ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ VEGF, MMP‐9 142 ROS 143 COX‐2 143
Metformin Antidiabetic agent ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ Wnt2 48 ‐ ‐ ‐ Cytokines 149
NAC Amino acid cysteine ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ROS 137 Cytokines 144
Curcumin Curcuminoid ‐ MMP‐3 81 ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ Chemokine and cytokines 253 ‐ Chemokine and cytokines 253
EGCG Catechin E2 167 ‐ ‐ TGF β1 110 TGF β1 110 TGF β1 110 VEGFR270, 129 ROS 130 ‐
TGF β1 110
VEGFR270, 129
Genistein Isoflavone ‐ TGF‐β 85 ‐ NF‐κB 196 NF‐κB 196 ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐
Ginsenoside Steroid glycoside TNF‐α 79 TNF‐α 79 ERα and PRα 103 ‐ ‐ ‐ TNF‐α  79 ‐ Induce NK cells toxicity 103
Puerarin Isoflavone ERs 93 ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ P450AROM 152
Resveratrol Phytoalexin ESR1 66 ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ Cytokines 150 ROS 138 Cytokines, 150 SIRT1 151

Abbreviations: AKT, protein kinase B; AMPK, adenosine monophosphate‐activated protein kinase; CASP, caspases; CHOP, CCAAT/enhancer‐binding protein homologous 10 protein; COX, cyclooxygenase; DPPH, 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl; E2, Estrogen; EGCG, epigallocatechin gallate; ER, estrogen receptor; ERK, extracellular signal‐regulated kinase; ESR1, estrogen receptor 1; HMGB1, high mobility group box 1; H2O2, hydrogen peroxide; IKKB, IκB kinase beta; MAPK, mitogen‐activated protein kinase; MMP, matrix metallopeptidases; NAC, N‐acetyl cysteine; NF‐κB, nuclear factor κB; NK cells, natural killer cells; NOD2, nucleotide‐binding oligomerization domain‐containing protein 2; Nrf2, nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor 2; O2, oxygen; OH, hydroxide; P450AROM, aromatase; PI3K, phosphoinositide 3‐kinases; PR, progesterone receptor; REDD1, protein regulated in development and DNA damage response 1; ROS, reactive oxidative stress; SIRT1, sirtuin 1; TCM, traditional Chinese medicine; TGF, transforming growth factors; TNF, tumor necrosis factor; VEGF, vascular endothelial growth factor; VEGFR, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor; Wnt, wingless‐type mouse mammary tumor virus integration site family.