From Hippocrates to Italian traditional medicine: Ethnopharmacological evidence for a potential pharmacological perspective in the management of polycystic ovary syndrome.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Since antiquity, plant-based remedies have played a significant role in treating gynecological disorders. In Italy, from the late 19th to mid-20th century, traditional medicine documented numerous botanical treatments for conditions such as menstrual irregularities, infertility, and hirsutism-now recognized as clinical features of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS).

AIM OF THE STUDY: This study investigates the historical use of plant-based therapies in Italian traditional medicine for managing PCOS-related symptoms. It also evaluates these remedies through contemporary pharmacological research and explores their continuity by comparing them with treatments described in the Corpus Hippocraticum, aiming to trace a lineage of therapeutic knowledge spanning over two millennia.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

Forty-nine plant species traditionally used in Italy for symptoms now associated with PCOS were identified through historical sources. Of these, 22 species (44.9 %) were also cited in Hippocratic texts for similar indications. A comprehensive literature review using Medline and Scopus was conducted to assess current pharmacological evidence supporting their efficacy.

RESULTS

Approximately 16 % of the identified plants have been tested in human clinical trials for PCOS treatment, while 22.5 % have shown relevant biological activity in in vivo studies. These findings support their potential therapeutic role in managing PCOS symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

The study highlights the enduring value of ethnopharmacological knowledge. Active compounds from Italian traditional medicinal plants may offer promising leads for developing new therapeutic agents for PCOS, supporting integrative approaches to women's health and future drug discovery.