Efficacy of Herbal Medicines in Management of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome: A Scoping Review

Abstract

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is most frequently stated gynaecological and metabolic disorder. Many pharmacological drugs have been used to treat PCOS with numerous side effects, which have resulted in the selection of alternative treatments from natural sources. Hence, this review aims to investigate the efficacy of medicinal herbs in regularising ovulation, hyperandrogenism, and other metabolic condition in PCOS. To conduct this review, extensive literature was searched between 2010 to 2021, from PubMed, Scopus, Google scholar, and ProQuest. Based on the keywords “polycystic ovarian syndrome” or “medicinal herbs” or “ovarian cysts” or “hyperandrogenism” or “insulin resistance”. Irrelevant studies were excluded from the database. Twelve clinical studies and nine animal studies were included in the review paper. Treatment included herbs such as “Cinnamomum zeylanicum Meism, 1864”,“Curcuma longa L. 1753”, “Tribulus terrestris L. (1753)”,“Cimicifuga racemosa (L.) Nutt., 1818” and “Vitex agnus-castus (1753)”. These bioactive compounds have shown to reduce luteinising hormone, progesterone, oestradiol and fasting insulin levels. The evidence supports Vitex agnus-castus and Cimicifuga racemosa have a synergistic impact in management of amenorrhea or oligomenorrhea, infertility, and ovulation. cinnamon spp. and Curcuma longa improve insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Tribulus terresitris alone and in combination with “Withania somnifera Dunal, 1852” & “Nardostachys jatamansi (D.Don) DC, 1830” has shown promising effects but in the latent stage. Based on the evidence, it may be suggested herbal medicines are effective, alone or in alternative form, in amelioration of the symptoms of PCOS.