Anti-Malaria Drug Could Offer Remedy Against Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, Study Suggests

A common antimalarial drug used in ancient Chinese medicine can be used to treat polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), a hormonal disorder that affects hundreds of millions of women all over the world.

What Is Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome?

Polycystic ovarian syndrome refers to a medical condition in which a woman of reproductive age experiences hormonal imbalance. This condition causes infertility, irregular menstrual periods, acne, and excess hair growth.

The term 'polycystic' refers to the numerous small fluid-filled sacs (cysts) that form in the ovaries. However, there are some women with PCOS who do not have cysts, while others may develop cysts even if they do not have this disorder.

PCOS affects 1 in 10 women around the world and has shot to prominence in recent years. Famous celebrities like fashion mogul Victoria Beckham and Star Wars actress Daisy Ridley revealed how this condition has affected their self-confidence.

The exact cause of PCOS remains a mystery, although this condition is observed to run in families. Experts found that women who produce higher amounts of testosterone and androgen than average are at higher risk of developing this hormonal disorder.

Herbal Cure Against PCOS

In traditional Chinese medicine, a kind of herbal therapy called artemisinin has long been proven to safely reduce parasites in the blood of patients with malaria. Derived from extracts for sweet wormwood (Artemisia annua), artemisinins are also well established in their efficacy in other parasitic infections like schistosomiasis.

In a previous study, it was demonstrated that this herbal extract and its derivatives possess the ability to enhance insulin sensitivity by activating thermogenic adipocytes. As a result, it helps protect a person against diet-induced obesity and metabolic disorders.

At Fudan University in China, a new study was conducted on animals to investigate the ability of artemisinin to prevent the ovaries from excess androgen production. The details of the study were described in the paper "Artemisinins ameliorate polycystic ovarian syndrome by mediating LONP1-CYP11A1 interaction."

Led by Yang Liu, the research team from China tested artemisinin on mice and rats, and the results were divided into two groups. One group was injected with dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) to trigger PCOS over the course of two weeks. Then, both groups were treated with a type of artemisinin called artemether (ATM).

It was found that artemether targeted a enzyme called CYP11A1 which plays an important role in the production of androgen. The compound also enhanced LONP1, an enzyme which is known for breaking down protein and suppressing the production of androgen.

The research findings highlight the previously unknown interaction between LONP1 and CYP11A1 enhanced by artemisinins. Liu and colleagues also noted that metabolic tests on the animals showed that artemether had no effect on fat mass, body weight, lean mass, or glucose tolerance.

According to the study authors, artemisinins show potential as promising candidates for treating PCOS not only because they inhibit ovarian androgen synthesis but also because they reduce immature follicles and improve the menstrual cycle.

The scientific community agrees that a larger trial is still needed to explore the potential risks of taking artemisinins for a prolonged period. Experts also aim to address the question of whether the herbal drug has the ability to restore fertility.