Placenta Hominis mitigates Polycystic Ovary Syndrome progression by modulating sex hormone and apoptosis pathways

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a complex endocrine disorder affecting women of reproductive age, characterized by hormonal imbalances, ovulatory dysfunction, and metabolic disturbances. Current treatments often target individual symptoms, but a multi-target approach is needed to address its multifaceted pathology, including endocrine resistance, hyperandrogenism, and increased cellular apoptosis. Placenta Hominis (PH), a traditional medicine containing bioactive compounds like steroid hormones and peptides, is hypothesized to offer a comprehensive therapeutic strategy for PCOS by acting on multiple pathways.

This study employed an integrated approach combining network pharmacology, molecular docking, and in vitro cellular experiments to elucidate the therapeutic mechanisms of Placenta Hominis (PH) in PCOS. Researchers identified potential PH- and PCOS-related gene targets from public databases, followed by network analysis to filter for common and core targets. Molecular docking and dynamics simulations assessed binding stability between key PH compounds and core targets. For in vitro validation, DHT-induced KGN cells were treated with PH, and primary endpoints included cell proliferation, oxidative stress levels, and apoptosis markers, compared to DHT-only controls.