Main Article Content
Abstract
Polycystic ovarian disease (PCOD), the primary cause of anovulation-induced infertility, is the endocrine condition that affects women of reproductive age the most frequently. PCOD affects five to ten percent of women who are of reproductive age, and among infertile women, the number increases to fifteen percent. In classical literary works, prominent physicians from the Unani system have discussed this illness under the titles of amenorrhoea, liver difficulties, coughing disease, and obesity. This study describes the clinical features, presentation, pathogenesis, treatment objectives, and therapeutic options of polycystic ovarian disease (PCOD) from a Unani perspective. We emphasise and explain how this ailment was diagnosed and treated in the Unani medical system. We also discuss recent findings about the effect of herbal medicines on insulin resistance in PCOD.
Background: Various pharmaceutical treatments have been proposed for PCOS, a common medical condition that is characterised by both metabolic and reproductive disorders. However, the side effects of long-term treatments and their likely low efficacy have made complementary and alternative treatments a valuable option. Recent reports have indicated an increase in the use of complementary medicine. Herbal medicine, which is a component of complementary medicine, was first introduced in traditional Persian and Chinese medicine. Medicinal herbs have long been used to treat PCOS patients' gynaecological and infertility issues.
Methods: Two investigations of the scientific literature were conducted. The initial lookup looked for preclinical research that clarified the reproductive endocrine effects of entire herbal extracts in PCOS, elevated testosterone, and oligo/amenorrhea. Key terms for the second search were derived from herbal remedies found in the first search. The second search looked for clinical research that supported the results of the lab tests. Women with PCOS, irregular menstruation, and hyperandrogenism were among the subjects.
Keywords
Polycysticovary syndrome
PCOS
Herbal medicine
Complementary medicine
Article Details
How to Cite
Phytotherapy in the Management of Polycystic Ovarian Disease (PCOD): A Review of Evidence-Based Herbal Interventions and Mechanisms of Action. (2025). International Journal of Research in Pharmacology & Pharmacotherapeutics, 14(3), 461-470. https://ijrpp.com/ijrpp/article/view/721
How to Cite
Phytotherapy in the Management of Polycystic Ovarian Disease (PCOD): A Review of Evidence-Based Herbal Interventions and Mechanisms of Action. (2025). International Journal of Research in Pharmacology & Pharmacotherapeutics, 14(3), 461-470. https://ijrpp.com/ijrpp/article/view/721
References
-
1. Arentz, Susan, et al. “Herbal Medicine for the Management of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and Associated Oligo/Amenorrhoea and Hyperandrogenism; a Review of the Laboratory Evidence for Effects with Corroborative Clinical Findings.” BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, vol. 14, no. 1, Dec. 2014, https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6882-14-511. Accessed 12 July 2019.
2. Azin, Farahnaz, and Homayoun Khazali. “Phytotherapy of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Review.” International Journal of Reproductive BioMedicine (IJRM), 18 Feb. 2022, pp. 13–20, https://doi.org/10.18502/ijrm.v20i1.10404.
3. Bozdag, Gurkan, et al. “The Prevalence and Phenotypic Features of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.” Human Reproduction, vol. 31, no. 12, 22 Sept. 2016, pp. 2841–2855, academic.oup.com/humrep/article/31/12/2841/2730240, https://doi.org/10.1093/humrep/dew218. Accessed 5 July 2019.
4. Kouser Fathima Firdose, and Ismath Shameem. “An Approach to the Management of Poly Cystic Ovarian Disease in Unani System of Medicine: A Review.” International Journal of Applied Research, vol. 2, no. 6, 1 June 2016, pp. 585–590. Accessed 18 July 2025.
5. Kwon, Chan-Young, et al. “Therapeutic Effects and Mechanisms of Herbal Medicines for Treating Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Review.” Frontiers in Pharmacology, vol. 11, 12 Aug. 2020, https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2020.01192.
6. Manouchehri, Aliasghar, et al. “Polycystic Ovaries and Herbal Remedies: A Systematic Review.” JBRA Assisted Reproduction, vol. 27, no. 1, 2022, https://doi.org/10.5935/1518-0557.20220024.
7. Moini Jazani, Arezoo, et al. “A Comprehensive Review of Clinical Studies with Herbal Medicine on Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS).” DARU Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, vol. 27, no. 2, 18 Nov. 2019, pp. 863–877, link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs40199-019-00312-0, https://doi.org/10.1007/s40199-019-00312-0.
8. Pachiappan, Sudhakar, et al. “A Review on Phytomedicine and Their Mechanism of Action on PCOS.” International Journal of Current Research and Review, vol. 12, no. 23, 2020, pp. 81–90, ijcrr.com/uploads/3170_pdf.pdf, https://doi.org/10.31782/ijcrr.2020.122322.
9. Rooney, Sara, and Barbara Pendry. “Phytotherapy for Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome: A Review of the Literature and Evaluation of Practitioners’ Experiences.” Journal of Herbal Medicine, vol. 4, no. 3, Sept. 2014, pp. 159–171, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hermed.2014.05.001. Accessed 16 Oct. 2019.
10. Zeng, Ling-Hui, et al. “Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Disorder of Reproductive Age, Its Pathogenesis, and a Discussion on the Emerging Role of Herbal Remedies.” Frontiers in Pharmacology, vol. 13, 18 July 2022, p. 874914, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9340349/ https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2022.874914
11. Qadrie, Zulfkar, et al. International Journal of Alternative and Contemporary Therapy from Pathophysiology to Treatment: Navigating the Challenges of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.
12. Varsha, S, and Dr Vaishnavi. PCOD and Periodontal Disease: A Narrative Review.
13. Begum, Sufia, and Samira Areen. Optimizing Polycystic Ovarian Disorder (PCOD) Treatment with Personalized Lifestyle and Nutrition Strategies. https://doi.org/10.46889/JCMR. Accessed 30 July 2025.
14. Kamola G'anijon, Shafkatilloyeva. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (Pcos): Hormonal Imbalance And Reproductive Health.
15. Akhter, Fouzia, et al. “Management of Adolescent PCOD: A Real Challenge.” Scholars International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, vol. 7, no. 02, 21 Feb. 2024, pp. 64–69, https://doi.org/10.36348/sijog.2024.v07i02.006. Accessed 30 July 2025.
16. Meher, Krishna. “An Ayurvedic Approach of Pcod: A Review Article.” Meher. World Journal of Pharmaceutical Research, vol. 12, 2023, https://doi.org/10.20959/wjpr202312-28524. Accessed 30 July 2025.
17. Thomas, Neetha, and A Kavitha. “Article ID: IJARET_11_11_174 Cite This Article: Neetha Thomas and A. Kavitha, Prediction of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome with Clinical Dataset Using a Novel Hybrid Data Mining Classification Technique.” International Journal of Advanced Research in Engineering and Technology (IJARET), vol. 11, no. 11, 2020, pp. 1872–1881, https://doi.org/10.34218/IJARET.11.11.2020.174. Accessed 30 July 2025.
18. Chandak, Monali, et al. “A Brief Review On PCOD According To Ayurveda And Modern.” Certified Journal │ Chandak. World Journal of Pharmaceutical Research, vol. 11, 2022, p. 2476, https://doi.org/10.20959/wjpr20223-25257. Accessed 30 July 2025.
19. Thomas, Jeeva, et al. “Investigating The Impact Of Lifestyle Factors On Pcod: A Comprehensive Analysis Of Bmi, Diet, Physical Activity, Stress, And Family History. World Journal of Pharmaceutical Research SJIF Impact Factor 8, vol. 13, no. 11, 2024, pp. 1415–1425, https://doi.org/10.20959/wjpr202411-32587. Accessed 30 July 2025.
20. Rushinaidu, T, et al. “Open Access a Review Article on Pcos and Its Impact on Quality of Life in Women Correlation with Age, Basal Metabolic Index and Various Factors Article History Abstract.” International Journal of Health Care and Biological Sciences, vol. 13, https://doi.org/10.46795/ijhcbs.v4i1.404. Accessed 30 July 2025.
References
1. Arentz, Susan, et al. “Herbal Medicine for the Management of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and Associated Oligo/Amenorrhoea and Hyperandrogenism; a Review of the Laboratory Evidence for Effects with Corroborative Clinical Findings.” BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, vol. 14, no. 1, Dec. 2014, https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6882-14-511. Accessed 12 July 2019.
2. Azin, Farahnaz, and Homayoun Khazali. “Phytotherapy of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Review.” International Journal of Reproductive BioMedicine (IJRM), 18 Feb. 2022, pp. 13–20, https://doi.org/10.18502/ijrm.v20i1.10404.
3. Bozdag, Gurkan, et al. “The Prevalence and Phenotypic Features of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.” Human Reproduction, vol. 31, no. 12, 22 Sept. 2016, pp. 2841–2855, academic.oup.com/humrep/article/31/12/2841/2730240, https://doi.org/10.1093/humrep/dew218. Accessed 5 July 2019.
4. Kouser Fathima Firdose, and Ismath Shameem. “An Approach to the Management of Poly Cystic Ovarian Disease in Unani System of Medicine: A Review.” International Journal of Applied Research, vol. 2, no. 6, 1 June 2016, pp. 585–590. Accessed 18 July 2025.
5. Kwon, Chan-Young, et al. “Therapeutic Effects and Mechanisms of Herbal Medicines for Treating Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Review.” Frontiers in Pharmacology, vol. 11, 12 Aug. 2020, https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2020.01192.
6. Manouchehri, Aliasghar, et al. “Polycystic Ovaries and Herbal Remedies: A Systematic Review.” JBRA Assisted Reproduction, vol. 27, no. 1, 2022, https://doi.org/10.5935/1518-0557.20220024.
7. Moini Jazani, Arezoo, et al. “A Comprehensive Review of Clinical Studies with Herbal Medicine on Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS).” DARU Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, vol. 27, no. 2, 18 Nov. 2019, pp. 863–877, link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs40199-019-00312-0, https://doi.org/10.1007/s40199-019-00312-0.
8. Pachiappan, Sudhakar, et al. “A Review on Phytomedicine and Their Mechanism of Action on PCOS.” International Journal of Current Research and Review, vol. 12, no. 23, 2020, pp. 81–90, ijcrr.com/uploads/3170_pdf.pdf, https://doi.org/10.31782/ijcrr.2020.122322.
9. Rooney, Sara, and Barbara Pendry. “Phytotherapy for Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome: A Review of the Literature and Evaluation of Practitioners’ Experiences.” Journal of Herbal Medicine, vol. 4, no. 3, Sept. 2014, pp. 159–171, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hermed.2014.05.001. Accessed 16 Oct. 2019.
10. Zeng, Ling-Hui, et al. “Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Disorder of Reproductive Age, Its Pathogenesis, and a Discussion on the Emerging Role of Herbal Remedies.” Frontiers in Pharmacology, vol. 13, 18 July 2022, p. 874914, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9340349/ https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2022.874914
11. Qadrie, Zulfkar, et al. International Journal of Alternative and Contemporary Therapy from Pathophysiology to Treatment: Navigating the Challenges of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.
12. Varsha, S, and Dr Vaishnavi. PCOD and Periodontal Disease: A Narrative Review.
13. Begum, Sufia, and Samira Areen. Optimizing Polycystic Ovarian Disorder (PCOD) Treatment with Personalized Lifestyle and Nutrition Strategies. https://doi.org/10.46889/JCMR. Accessed 30 July 2025.
14. Kamola G'anijon, Shafkatilloyeva. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (Pcos): Hormonal Imbalance And Reproductive Health.
15. Akhter, Fouzia, et al. “Management of Adolescent PCOD: A Real Challenge.” Scholars International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, vol. 7, no. 02, 21 Feb. 2024, pp. 64–69, https://doi.org/10.36348/sijog.2024.v07i02.006. Accessed 30 July 2025.
16. Meher, Krishna. “An Ayurvedic Approach of Pcod: A Review Article.” Meher. World Journal of Pharmaceutical Research, vol. 12, 2023, https://doi.org/10.20959/wjpr202312-28524. Accessed 30 July 2025.
17. Thomas, Neetha, and A Kavitha. “Article ID: IJARET_11_11_174 Cite This Article: Neetha Thomas and A. Kavitha, Prediction of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome with Clinical Dataset Using a Novel Hybrid Data Mining Classification Technique.” International Journal of Advanced Research in Engineering and Technology (IJARET), vol. 11, no. 11, 2020, pp. 1872–1881, https://doi.org/10.34218/IJARET.11.11.2020.174. Accessed 30 July 2025.
18. Chandak, Monali, et al. “A Brief Review On PCOD According To Ayurveda And Modern.” Certified Journal │ Chandak. World Journal of Pharmaceutical Research, vol. 11, 2022, p. 2476, https://doi.org/10.20959/wjpr20223-25257. Accessed 30 July 2025.
19. Thomas, Jeeva, et al. “Investigating The Impact Of Lifestyle Factors On Pcod: A Comprehensive Analysis Of Bmi, Diet, Physical Activity, Stress, And Family History. World Journal of Pharmaceutical Research SJIF Impact Factor 8, vol. 13, no. 11, 2024, pp. 1415–1425, https://doi.org/10.20959/wjpr202411-32587. Accessed 30 July 2025.
20. Rushinaidu, T, et al. “Open Access a Review Article on Pcos and Its Impact on Quality of Life in Women Correlation with Age, Basal Metabolic Index and Various Factors Article History Abstract.” International Journal of Health Care and Biological Sciences, vol. 13, https://doi.org/10.46795/ijhcbs.v4i1.404. Accessed 30 July 2025.
2. Azin, Farahnaz, and Homayoun Khazali. “Phytotherapy of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Review.” International Journal of Reproductive BioMedicine (IJRM), 18 Feb. 2022, pp. 13–20, https://doi.org/10.18502/ijrm.v20i1.10404.
3. Bozdag, Gurkan, et al. “The Prevalence and Phenotypic Features of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.” Human Reproduction, vol. 31, no. 12, 22 Sept. 2016, pp. 2841–2855, academic.oup.com/humrep/article/31/12/2841/2730240, https://doi.org/10.1093/humrep/dew218. Accessed 5 July 2019.
4. Kouser Fathima Firdose, and Ismath Shameem. “An Approach to the Management of Poly Cystic Ovarian Disease in Unani System of Medicine: A Review.” International Journal of Applied Research, vol. 2, no. 6, 1 June 2016, pp. 585–590. Accessed 18 July 2025.
5. Kwon, Chan-Young, et al. “Therapeutic Effects and Mechanisms of Herbal Medicines for Treating Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Review.” Frontiers in Pharmacology, vol. 11, 12 Aug. 2020, https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2020.01192.
6. Manouchehri, Aliasghar, et al. “Polycystic Ovaries and Herbal Remedies: A Systematic Review.” JBRA Assisted Reproduction, vol. 27, no. 1, 2022, https://doi.org/10.5935/1518-0557.20220024.
7. Moini Jazani, Arezoo, et al. “A Comprehensive Review of Clinical Studies with Herbal Medicine on Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS).” DARU Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, vol. 27, no. 2, 18 Nov. 2019, pp. 863–877, link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs40199-019-00312-0, https://doi.org/10.1007/s40199-019-00312-0.
8. Pachiappan, Sudhakar, et al. “A Review on Phytomedicine and Their Mechanism of Action on PCOS.” International Journal of Current Research and Review, vol. 12, no. 23, 2020, pp. 81–90, ijcrr.com/uploads/3170_pdf.pdf, https://doi.org/10.31782/ijcrr.2020.122322.
9. Rooney, Sara, and Barbara Pendry. “Phytotherapy for Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome: A Review of the Literature and Evaluation of Practitioners’ Experiences.” Journal of Herbal Medicine, vol. 4, no. 3, Sept. 2014, pp. 159–171, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hermed.2014.05.001. Accessed 16 Oct. 2019.
10. Zeng, Ling-Hui, et al. “Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Disorder of Reproductive Age, Its Pathogenesis, and a Discussion on the Emerging Role of Herbal Remedies.” Frontiers in Pharmacology, vol. 13, 18 July 2022, p. 874914, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9340349/ https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2022.874914
11. Qadrie, Zulfkar, et al. International Journal of Alternative and Contemporary Therapy from Pathophysiology to Treatment: Navigating the Challenges of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.
12. Varsha, S, and Dr Vaishnavi. PCOD and Periodontal Disease: A Narrative Review.
13. Begum, Sufia, and Samira Areen. Optimizing Polycystic Ovarian Disorder (PCOD) Treatment with Personalized Lifestyle and Nutrition Strategies. https://doi.org/10.46889/JCMR. Accessed 30 July 2025.
14. Kamola G'anijon, Shafkatilloyeva. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (Pcos): Hormonal Imbalance And Reproductive Health.
15. Akhter, Fouzia, et al. “Management of Adolescent PCOD: A Real Challenge.” Scholars International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, vol. 7, no. 02, 21 Feb. 2024, pp. 64–69, https://doi.org/10.36348/sijog.2024.v07i02.006. Accessed 30 July 2025.
16. Meher, Krishna. “An Ayurvedic Approach of Pcod: A Review Article.” Meher. World Journal of Pharmaceutical Research, vol. 12, 2023, https://doi.org/10.20959/wjpr202312-28524. Accessed 30 July 2025.
17. Thomas, Neetha, and A Kavitha. “Article ID: IJARET_11_11_174 Cite This Article: Neetha Thomas and A. Kavitha, Prediction of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome with Clinical Dataset Using a Novel Hybrid Data Mining Classification Technique.” International Journal of Advanced Research in Engineering and Technology (IJARET), vol. 11, no. 11, 2020, pp. 1872–1881, https://doi.org/10.34218/IJARET.11.11.2020.174. Accessed 30 July 2025.
18. Chandak, Monali, et al. “A Brief Review On PCOD According To Ayurveda And Modern.” Certified Journal │ Chandak. World Journal of Pharmaceutical Research, vol. 11, 2022, p. 2476, https://doi.org/10.20959/wjpr20223-25257. Accessed 30 July 2025.
19. Thomas, Jeeva, et al. “Investigating The Impact Of Lifestyle Factors On Pcod: A Comprehensive Analysis Of Bmi, Diet, Physical Activity, Stress, And Family History. World Journal of Pharmaceutical Research SJIF Impact Factor 8, vol. 13, no. 11, 2024, pp. 1415–1425, https://doi.org/10.20959/wjpr202411-32587. Accessed 30 July 2025.
20. Rushinaidu, T, et al. “Open Access a Review Article on Pcos and Its Impact on Quality of Life in Women Correlation with Age, Basal Metabolic Index and Various Factors Article History Abstract.” International Journal of Health Care and Biological Sciences, vol. 13, https://doi.org/10.46795/ijhcbs.v4i1.404. Accessed 30 July 2025.