Plant-based progesterone-like compounds for women's reproductive health
Botanical derived progestins and their impact on women's health
Looking at whether plant-derived compounds that act like progesterone can help women with common uterine conditions such as fibroids, heavy bleeding, or endometriosis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Illinois at Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11304562 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will identify hormone-like compounds found in commonly used botanical supplements and test how those compounds interact with progesterone receptors in laboratory assays. Promising compounds will be studied in animal models to check how they affect the uterus and related tissues and to look for safety concerns. The team will characterize which plant chemicals have progestin activity and how they compare to synthetic progestins. This work is intended to create a foundation for safer, well-studied plant-based options that could move into human testing in the future.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Women with benign uterine conditions (for example fibroids, heavy menstrual bleeding, endometriosis) or those at risk of uterine hyperplasia would be the eventual candidates for therapies developed from this work.
Not a fit: People with uterine cancer or those requiring immediate surgical or established hormonal treatments are unlikely to benefit directly from this early-stage, preclinical research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to safer, affordable plant-based treatments or preventive options for benign uterine conditions such as fibroids, heavy menstrual bleeding, and endometriosis.
How similar studies have performed: Some herbs have traditional use and small studies hint at hormone-like effects, but rigorous identification and safety testing of plant-derived progestins is still relatively new and not yet well established.
Where this research is happening
Chicago, UNITED STATES
- University of Illinois at Chicago — Chicago, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Burdette, Joanna E — University of Illinois at Chicago
- Study coordinator: Burdette, Joanna E
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.