NATURAL WAYS TO MANAGE PCOS USING HERBS : A REVIEW

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is highly prevalent endocrine-metabolic disorder characterised by polycystic ovaries, chronic an ovulation and hyperandrogenism leading to syndromes of menstrual irregularity, infertility and hirsutism. Many plants are the highly esteemed sources which have the advantages to reduce PCOS and also having hypoglycemic and anti-obesity effect. Treatment of PCOS using synthetic drugs is effective, but in cases of PCOS patients attracted towards natural remedies due to effective therapeutic effects with natural drugs. Therefore, this review prevails the role of different herbs like Chaste tree berry, Fennel, Liquorice, Spearmint, Coconut oil, Pomegranate, Cinnamon, Aloe vera, Asian ginseng, Black cohosh, Anise, Fenugreek, Ginger, Maitake Mushroom, Date palm, Hazelnut, Bamboo, Green Tea, Raspberry, White horehound and Soyabean. A review of literature showed that plants such as aloevera and chamomile improve fertility by increasing the number of ovarian follicles. Besides, vitex agnus-castus and octane reduce hirsutism by reducing testosterone and androgen levels. It has also shown that liquorice, ginseng, cinnamon and D-Chiro inositol improve the adverse effects on diabetes caused by PCOS lowering lipid and blood glucose levels. Moreover, stachys changing endometrial tissue parameters in PCOS by reducing oestrogen and hyperplasia. In this review, some of the familiar medicinal plants and their bioactive extract which plays a crucial role in treatment or prophylaxis of PCOS are summarized. It is concluded that the easily available beneficial herbs along with the lifestyle management is much effective of PCOS than allopathic treatment.多囊卵巢综合征（Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, PCOS）是一种患病率颇高的内分泌代谢紊乱疾病，以多囊卵巢、慢性无排卵及高雄激素血症为特征，可引发月经不调、不孕与多毛症等综合征表现。诸多植物被视为极具价值的天然资源，其不仅可用于改善PCOS相关症状，还兼具降血糖与抗肥胖的功效。当前合成药物治疗PCOS虽疗效确切，但部分PCOS患者因天然药物具备良好的治疗获益，更倾向于选择天然疗法。因此本综述阐述了多种草药在PCOS治疗中的作用，包括牡荆果、茴香、甘草、留兰香、椰子油、石榴、肉桂、芦荟（Aloe vera）、亚洲人参、黑升麻、茴芹、葫芦巴、生姜、舞茸（灰树花）、海枣、榛子、竹子、绿茶、树莓、夏至草及大豆。文献综述表明，芦荟与洋甘菊等植物可通过增加卵巢卵泡数量改善生育能力；此外，牡荆（Vitex agnus-castus）与辛烷（octane）可通过降低睾酮与雄激素水平改善多毛症症状。另有研究显示，甘草、人参、肉桂及D-手性肌醇（D-Chiro inositol）可通过降低血脂与血糖水平，改善PCOS引发的糖尿病相关不良反应。此外，水苏属植物（Stachys）可通过降低雌激素水平并抑制子宫内膜增生，改善PCOS患者的子宫内膜组织参数。本综述总结了数种常见药用植物及其生物活性提取物在PCOS治疗或预防中发挥的关键作用。研究结论指出，联合使用易得的有益草药与生活方式干预，其对PCOS的治疗效果优于西医常规对抗疗法（allopathic treatment）。