Mechanism Analysis of Chronic Inflammation in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and Targeted Therapeutic Strategies Based on Bioactive Constituents of Traditional Chinese Medicine
Year: 2026
Type: review
Abstract: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a prevalent endocrine and reproductive disorder in women of childbearing age. Chronic inflammatory status is common among PCOS patients, and numerous studies have verified that this population exhibits dysregulated inflammatory cytokines and immune cell imbalance. Such inflammatory disorders are characterized by aberrant expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, inflammasomes and inflammatory markers. These abnormalities not only impair the female reproductive system and trigger pathological conditions including irregular menstruation and infertility, but also exert long-term adverse impacts on multiple systemic organs such as the liver and cardiovascular system. Hyperandrogenism, insulin resistance, hyperinsulinemia, obesity, gut microbiota dysbiosis and hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis dysfunction observed in PCOS patients can all induce inflammatory dysregulation. In recent years, bioactive constituents of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) have been widely adopted in the clinical management of PCOS with remarkable therapeutic efficacy. Starting from the prevalent inflammatory phenotype in women with PCOS, this review elaborates on the pathological correlation and underlying mechanisms between PCOS and inflammation. It summarizes the roles of five inflammation-related signaling pathways (NF-κB, PI3K/Akt, NLRP3, JAK/STAT, and AMPK) and the mechanisms of action of 18 TCM bioactive constituents that target these pathways in PCOS-related inflammation, providing a reference for future PCOS research directions and therapies.
DOI: 10.2147/ijwh.s643980
Institution: Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine
Language: English
Subfield: Reproductive Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,836
OpenAlex ID: W7224115025