Bushen Huatan Formula Ameliorates Early Chronic Low-Grade Inflammation in Obese PCOS Via the TLR4/NF-κB Signaling Pathway: An Integrated Network Pharmacology and Experimental Study.

OBJECTIVE

This study used an integrated network pharmacology and experimental strategy to investigate how Bushen Huatan Formula (BHF) mitigates early-stage chronic low-grade inflammation in obese polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

METHODS

Candidate components and targets of BHF were retrieved from the TCMSP database, and protein-protein interaction, GO and KEGG enrichment, and molecular docking analyzes were performed. Predictions were then tested in a letrozole-induced PCOS rat model, in which ovarian and adipose histopathology and TLR4/NF-κB expression were examined at 6 and 12 weeks; isolated granulosa cells (GCs) were further exposed to BHF-containing serum to quantify inflammatory cytokines.

RESULTS

Ten key components and 169 intersecting targets were obtained, with enrichment in the NF-κB, IL-17, and MAPK pathways. Docking indicated favorable binding (< -7.0 kcal/mol) of core components to targets such as AKT1 and TNF. In model rats, inflammation increased in a time-dependent manner, accompanied by elevated TLR4 and NF-κB in both adipose and ovarian tissues, whereas BHF-containing serum suppressed TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-8 in GCs. This effect was more pronounced at the early stage (6 weeks) than at the later stage (12 weeks).

CONCLUSION

BHF may attenuate early chronic low-grade inflammation in PCOS, likely through modulation of the TLR4/NF-κB axis, supporting its potential value for early intervention.