Tanshinone for polycystic ovary syndrome: A protocol of systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUNDS: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) constitutes an endocrine and metabolic disorder characterized by hyperandrogenemia, ovulation disorders, and polycystic ovary. Existing therapy is low efficacy and has significant side effects. In traditional Chinese medicine, tanshinone was used for PCOS women. Here, we will investigate the safety, as well as the efficacy of tanshinone in treating polycystic ovary syndrome. METHODS: Two researchers will independently research eligible randomized controlled trials in 6 repositories: PubMed, CINAHL, Web of Science, EMBASE, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), as well as Cochrane Library, from their onset to present. The languages will constitute either English or Chinese, and we will carry out article selection, data mining, and conduct an evaluation of the risk of bias by the Cochrane tool of risk of bias. All analyses will be conducted by using the Cochrane Review Manager software (RevMan 5.3). RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: This study will provide the latest research evidence on the efficacy, as well as safety of tanshinone for PCOS patients. REGISTRATION NUMBER: INPLASY2020100017.

Cryptotanshinone alleviates polycystic ovary syndrome in rats by regulating the HMGB1/TLR4/NF­κB signaling pathway.

Cryptotanshinone (CRY) has been demonstrated to reverse reproductive disorders. However, whether CRY is effective in the treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) remains unknown. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the therapeutic potential of CRY in PCOS. A rat model of PCOS was established by daily injection of human chorionic gonadotropin and insulin for 22 days. Total body weight and ovarian weight, as well as the levels of luteinizing hormone (LH) and the LH to follicle­stimulating hormone (FSH) ratio (LH/FSH) significantly increased in rats with PCOS, compared with controls. Moreover, the levels of testosterone (T), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)­α and high­mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1) also increased. However, CRY treatment attenuated the increase in body weight, ovarian weight, LH, LH/FSH ratio, T, TNF­α and HMGB1 levels, compared with the PCOS group. Treatment with CRY also reduced NF­κB/p65, HMGB1 and toll­like receptor (TLR)4 mRNA and protein expression levels in the ovarian tissue and granulosa cells, both in vitro and in vivo. Thus, CRY significantly mitigated the changes in body weight, ovary weight, hormone levels and inflammatory factor levels observed in rats with PCOS. Thus, CRY protects against PCOS­induced damage of ovarian tissue, possibly through a regulatory pathway involving HMGB1, TLR4 and NF­κB.