Endometriosis is characterized by enhanced cellular proliferation, migration, and resistance to apoptosis, contributing to lesion persistence and progression. Targeting cellular plasticity and mesenchymal-associated functions may therefore represent a promising therapeutic strategy. Here, we investigated the effects of Pelargonium graveolens essential oil (PGEO) on proliferation, apoptosis, migration, cytoskeletal organization, transcriptional regulation, and metabolic alterations in human endometriotic 12Z cells. PGEO treatment suppressed proliferative capacity in a concentration-dependent manner and significantly impaired cell migration, accompanied by reduced β-tubulin expression and decreased levels of mesenchymal-associated markers CD73 and CD105. Increased GRP78 expression together with ultrastructural alterations, including cytoplasmic vacuolization and mitochondrial and endoplasmic reticulum changes, indicated activation of cellular stress responses. Although transcriptional analysis revealed increased CCND1 and PIK3CA mRNA levels, these changes did not parallel the observed suppression of proliferation, suggesting compensatory regulatory responses. Untargeted metabolomic profiling revealed alterations in energy metabolism characterized by increased levels of glycolysis-related metabolites, reduced levels of several amino acids including glutamine and histidine, and changes in lipid-associated metabolites. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that PGEO suppresses proliferative and migratory behavior in endometriotic cells while modulating cytoskeletal, transcriptional, and metabolic pathways, highlighting its potential as a candidate for further investigation in endometriosis-targeted therapeutic strategies.
Karakoç et al. (2026) studied this question.