An antimalarial drug used in ancient Chinese medicine could be an effective treatment for polycystic ovary syndrome , a groundbreaking study suggests.
PCOS occurs when the ovaries produce too much testosterone. The hormonal imbalance interferes with ovulation, which can lead to irregular periods and affect fertility. There are other wide-ranging health impacts, with many patients developing insulin resistance, which raises the risk of obesity, heart disease and diabetes. Higher testosterone levels can also cause excess facial hair and acne.
In patients, PCOS disrupts the ovulation cycle, which normally involves follicles in the ovary maturing in a conveyor belt fashion, with one follicle selected each month to fully mature and release an egg. In PCOS, follicles are overactive, meaning lots of small follicles are maturing at once. Prof Qi-qun Tang, who led the research at Fudan University in Shanghai, said: “Based on our findings, artemisinins are promising candidates for treating PCOS because they strongly inhibit ovarian androgen synthesis, reduce immature follicles, and improve the cycle.”