Traditional Chinese medicine formulae: A complementary method for the treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome

Li-Wen Fu; Zu Gao; Ning Zhang; Nan Yang; Hui-Yan Long; Ling-Yuan Kong; Xiu-Yang Li

doi:10.1016/j.jep.2023.117698

Traditional Chinese medicine formulae: A complementary method for the treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome

J Ethnopharmacol. 2024 Apr 6:323:117698. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2023.117698. Epub 2024 Jan 1.

Authors

Li-Wen Fu¹, Zu Gao¹, Ning Zhang², Nan Yang¹, Hui-Yan Long¹, Ling-Yuan Kong¹, Xiu-Yang Li³

Affiliations

¹ College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, 250355, China.
² Department of Reproduction and Genetics, Shandong Province Hospital of Traditional Chinese, Affiliated Hospital, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, 250000, China.
³ College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, 250355, China. Electronic address: lixiuyang@sdutcm.edu.cn.

PMID: 38171464
DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2023.117698

Abstract

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a prevalent female endocrine condition that significantly affects women of all age groups and is characterized by metabolic dysfunction. The efficacy of existing pharmaceutical interventions for the treatment of PCOS remains inadequate. With a rich history and cultural significance spanning thousands of years, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is extensively employed for treating a variety of ailments and can serve as a supplementary therapy for managing PCOS. Multiple clinical observations and laboratory tests have unequivocally demonstrated the substantial effectiveness and safety of TCM formulae in treating PCOS, and further investigations are currently in progress.

Aim of the study: To summarize the TCM formulae commonly employed in the clinical management of PCOS, examine their therapeutic benefits, investigate their mechanism of action, active constituents, and establish the correlation between efficacy, mechanism of action, and active constituents.

Materials and methods: We conducted a comprehensive search on PubMed, Web of Science, and China national knowledge infrastructure (CNKI) using the following keywords: "Polycystic Ovary Syndrome", "Traditional Chinese Medicine Decoctions", "Traditional Chinese Medicine formulae", "Traditional Chinese Medicine", "Clinical Observation", "Mechanism", "Treatment", "Pharmacology", and various combinations of these terms. From January 1, 2006 until October 7, 2023, (inclusive).

Results: This paper summarized the clinical effectiveness, mechanism of action, and active components of 8 TCM formulae for the treatment of PCOS. Our research indicates that TCM formulae can potentially treat PCOS by enhancing the levels of hyperandrogenism and other endocrine hormones, decreasing insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia, and controlling chronic low-grade inflammation, among other modes of action. In addition, we found an association between epigenetics and TCM formulae for the treatment of PCOS.

Conclusion: TCM formulae have specific advantages in the treatment of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). They achieve therapeutic benefits by targeting several pathways and connections, attracting considerable interest and playing a vital role in the treatment of PCOS. TCM formulae can be used as an adjunctive therapy for the treatment of PCOS.

Keywords: Active ingredients; Clinical application; Mechanism of action; Polycystic ovary syndrome; Traditional Chinese medicine formula.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

China
Female
Humans
Inflammation
Insulin Resistance*
Medicine, Chinese Traditional
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome* / drug therapy
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome* / metabolism