EVALUATION OF HERBAL DRUGS FOR ANTI-PCOS ACTIVITY USING A LETROZOLE-INDUCED RAT MODEL

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine and metabolic disorder affecting women of reproductive age and is characterized by hyperandrogenism, irregular ovulation, infertility, obesity, insulin resistance, and ovarian cyst formation. The present study was designed to evaluate the anti-PCOS activity of selected herbal drugs using a letrozole-induced PCOS rat model. Hydroethanolic extracts of Gymnema sylvestre, Ocimum tenuiflorum, and Withania somnifera were prepared and administered either individually or as a polyherbal formulation to female Wistar rats. PCOS was induced by oral administration of letrozole (1 mg/kg) for 21 consecutive days. The induced rats exhibited significant alterations in body weight, estrous cycle regularity, hormonal imbalance, biochemical parameters, oxidative stress markers, and ovarian morphology. Treatment with herbal extracts, particularly the polyherbal formulation, showed marked improvement in estrous cyclicity, reduction in body weight gain, normalization of ovarian morphology, restoration of follicular development, and reduction in cystic follicles. The herbal treatments significantly decreased serum testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH), glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL, and VLDL levels while increasing follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), estrogen, progesterone, and HDL levels. Antioxidant studies demonstrated increased Superoxide Dismutase (SOD), Catalase (CAT), and Reduced Glutathione (GSH) levels along with decreased Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, indicating reduction of oxidative stress. Histopathological examination further confirmed restoration of near-normal ovarian architecture in treated groups. Among all treatments, the polyherbal formulation demonstrated the most significant therapeutic effect comparable to standard metformin treatment. The findings suggest that the selected herbal drugs possess potent anti-PCOS, antioxidant, and metabolic regulatory activities and may serve as promising natural therapeutic agents for the management of PCOS.