Font size:
Print
Artemisinin: A Malaria Drug to Treat PCOS
Context:
Research from Shanghai-based Fudan University suggests that artemisinin anti-malarial drugs have the potential to treat symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome.
More on News
- Recent research suggests that a common antimalarial medication may be able to reduce symptoms associated with PCOS, although effective treatments are still not available.
- Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is an endocrine disorder that affects millions of people worldwide.
Study Findings:
- These findings suggest that artemisinin compounds, already known for their effectiveness against malaria, lupus, and cancer, could be repurposed to treat PCOS.
- Researchers conducted a small trial involving 19 women with PCOS. After receiving repeated doses of artemisinin, these women experienced several positive effects:
- Improved Menstrual Cycle Regularity: Artemisinin helped regulate their menstrual cycles.
- Lowered Testosterone Levels: Elevated testosterone is a common hormonal imbalance in PCOS, and artemisinin helps reduce it.
- PCOS is characterised by elevated androgen levels (including testosterone) and the presence of small cysts on the ovaries.
- Symptoms such as acne, excess hair growth, irregular menstruation, and infertility.
- People with PCOS are also at higher risk of metabolic conditions like type 2 diabetes.
- Promising Approach: Artemisinin was initially identified as a candidate for treating obesity by converting white adipose tissue into brown or beige adipose tissue.
-
- Coincidentally, another group had found that brown adipose tissue could treat PCOS in rats.
- Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a problem with hormones that happens during the reproductive years.
- With PCOS, many small sacs of fluid develop along the outer edge of the ovary. These are called cysts.
- The small cysts filled with fluid contain immature eggs.These are known as follicles.
- The follicles do not release eggs regularly.
