Yishen Huatan Huoxue decoction and quercetin ameliorate decidualization dysfunction in polycystic ovary syndrome: A comprehensive investigation combining clinical trial and experimental studies

Drug Discov Ther. 2024 Jun 6;18(2):117-129. doi: 10.5582/ddt.2024.01003. Epub 2024 Apr 19.

Abstract

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common gynecological endocrine disorder characterized by a complex pathogenesis and limited treatment options. Yishen Huatan and Huoxue decoction (YHHD), as a traditional Chinese Medicine formula, has shown effectiveness in treating PCOS. However, the specific mechanisms by which YHHD exerts its therapeutic effects remain unclear. In this study, we performed to investigate the therapeutic effects of YHHD and quercetin on dehydroepiandrosterone-induced PCOS mice, and examine the effect of quercetin on the decidualization of T-HESCs under hyperinsulinemic conditions. The results showed that YHHD could reduce early miscarriage rates in PCOS patients and significantly improved glucose metabolism disorders, sex hormone levels, and the estrous cycles in PCOS mice. Quercetin could alleviate effect of high insulin levels and restore the low expression of insulin receptor substrate1/2 (IRS1/2) and glucose transporte 4 (GLUT4) in T-HESCs, demonstrating its potential to mitigate hyperinsulin-induced decidualization dysfunction via the GLUT4 signaling pathway mediated by IRS1/2. This study provides valuable molecular insights of YHHD and highlight the therapeutic potential of quercetin in treating decidualization dysfunction in PCOS.

Keywords: Quercetin; decidualization; polycystic ovary syndrome; traditional Chinese medicine.

MeSH terms

  • Abortion, Spontaneous / drug therapy
  • Adult
  • Animals
  • Decidua / drug effects
  • Decidua / metabolism
  • Dehydroepiandrosterone / pharmacology
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Drugs, Chinese Herbal* / pharmacology
  • Drugs, Chinese Herbal* / therapeutic use
  • Estrous Cycle / drug effects
  • Female
  • Glucose Transporter Type 4 / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Insulin / blood
  • Insulin / metabolism
  • Insulin Receptor Substrate Proteins / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Polycystic Ovary Syndrome* / drug therapy
  • Polycystic Ovary Syndrome* / metabolism
  • Pregnancy
  • Quercetin* / pharmacology
  • Quercetin* / therapeutic use
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects

Substances

  • Quercetin
  • Drugs, Chinese Herbal
  • Glucose Transporter Type 4
  • Insulin Receptor Substrate Proteins
  • Insulin
  • Dehydroepiandrosterone
  • Slc2a4 protein, mouse