Integrated Network Pharmacology and Clinical Study to Reveal the Effects and Mechanisms of Bushen Huoxue Huatan Decoction on Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Abstract

Objective. Bushen Huoxue Huatan Decoction (BHHD) is a classic prescription for treating polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). This study aims to explore the effects and possible mechanisms of BHHD on PCOS by integrating network pharmacology and clinical study. Methods. The components and potential drug targets of BHHD were analysed using the TCMSP platform, and the potential pathogenesis targets for PCOS were analysed using the GeneCards and OMIM databases. Subsequently, a disease-compound-target network diagram was established to identify the targets of BHHD treatment on PCOS. In addition, protein-protein interaction analysis, KEGG pathway analysis, and Gene Ontology biological analysis were carried out to reveal the mechanisms of BHHD. To further validate the analysis, a clinical trial involving 62 PCOS patients was conducted. All patients were treated with BHHD for 3 months and the ovulation rate, anthropometric indicators, clinical symptoms, and serological indicators were measured and compared before and after treatment. Results. The network pharmacology analysis showed that quercetin, luteolin, and kaempferol are the most significant active components in BHHD; STAT3, Jun, AKT1, MAPK3, MAPK1, and TP53 are the most critical drug targets; regulating hormones, reversing insulin (INS) resistance, exerting anti-inflammatory effects, and improving fertility might be the most important mechanisms of BHHD in the treatment of PCOS. After BHHD administration, the cyclic ovulation rate and the clinical symptoms including acanthosis nigricans and acne of patients were obviously improved. The serum endocrine levels of luteinising hormone (LH), LH/follicle-stimulating hormone, testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate, insulin (INS), and area under the INS curve were evidently reversed, and the serum inflammatory factors levels including human interleukin (IL)-18, IL-16, IL-1β, IL-8, macrophage migration inhibitory factor, and human leukocyte differentiation antigen CD40 ligand were greatly reduced. Conclusion. BHHD has a good therapeutic effect on PCOS, and its mechanisms may be related to regulating hormone levels, improving insulin resistance, alleviating inflammation, and promoting pregnancy.

Potential Molecular Mechanism of Guishen Huoxue Decoction against Intrauterine Adhesion Based on Network Pharmacology

“…In recent years, traditional Chinese drugs have enriched the development of therapy for uterus-related diseases. Ding et al revealed that as a classic traditional prescription, Bushen Huoxue Huatan decoction improved polycystic ovary syndrome through regulating hormones, reversing insulin resistance, and alleviating inflammation reactions, resulting in fertility improvement [ 21 ]. Feng et al also proved that Bushen Huoxue decoction was effective in the treatment of unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion via activation of the PI3K/AKT pathway [ 16 ].…”

Quercetin and polycystic ovary syndrome

“…And this study inferred that BUSHEN HUOXUE HUATAN decoction has potential therapeutic effects on PCOS, and the mechanism could be related to regulating hormone levels, improving IR, reducing inflammation, and promoting pregnancy. QUR may be an important active ingredient (Ding et al, 2022). There are similar studies, for example, YIJING decoction treatment for PCOS patients, which also considered QUR as one of the potentially effective components (Lin et al, 2022).…”

“…BUSHEN HUOXUE HUATAN decoction is also a classic prescription for treating PCOS (Ding et al, 2022). There was a non-randomized controlled study that enrolled 62 patients with PCOS and IR, and all patients received BUSHEN HUOXUE HUATAN decoction for 3 months.…”

An Analysis of the Clinical Medication Rules of Traditional Chinese Medicine for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Based on Data Mining

“…Current treatment strategies for PCOS mainly include oral medications (short-acting combination oral contraceptives, progestins, insulin sensitizers, and ovulation induction), in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer, and surgery. However, long-term clinical practice suggests that the above-mentioned strategies have certain limitations, for example, high recurrence rates and invasiveness, unsatisfactory long-term results, and various side effects [ 3 ]. Recently, alternative therapies have been gradually coming into focus as a more favorable option for PCOS treatment [ 4 , 5 ].…”