The efficacy and mechanism of Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels root aqueous extract based on RNA sequencing and 16S rDNA sequencing in alleviating polycystic ovary syndrome Original paper

What was studied?

This original research article examined how a water extract of Angelica sinensis root—referred to as WEA—affects polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in rats, focusing on ovarian gene expression and gut microbiome alterations. The study evaluated whether the botanical intervention could modulate metabolic and hormonal dysfunction characteristic of PCOS. Because this review centers on the microbiome signatures of PCOS, the focus keyphrase “Angelica sinensis PCOS microbiome” is included here and throughout. The investigators used RNA sequencing to characterize transcriptional changes in ovarian tissue and 16S rDNA sequencing to profile microbial community composition. This dual-omics approach created a mechanistic map linking WEA’s endocrine, metabolic, and microbiome-modulating actions. The work provides a detailed picture of how botanical therapy might influence specific gut genera and species—such as Bifidobacterium animalis, Lactobacillus murinus, Dubosiella, and Coriobacteriaceae (UCG-002)—that are increasingly recognized as part of a microbiome signature associated with PCOS metabolic severity.

Who was studied?

Female Sprague–Dawley rats were used, with PCOS induced by long-term letrozole exposure combined with a high-fat diet—an established model of hyperandrogenism, anovulation, dyslipidemia, and insulin resistance. The study included control rats, untreated PCOS rats, metformin-treated animals, and WEA-treated groups receiving three dose levels. Ovarian tissues and fecal samples were collected at study end to evaluate hormonal, metabolic, histological, transcriptomic, and microbial outcomes. The design allowed comparison of WEA’s effects against both disease baseline and a standard pharmaceutical therapy.

Most important findings

WEA restored estrous cycling and markedly improved ovarian histopathology, including increased granulosa cell layers and reduced cystic dilation. Hormonal imbalances normalized, with reductions in luteinizing hormone, testosterone, insulin, HOMA-IR, triglycerides, and LDL-C, and increases in estradiol and HDL-C. RNA sequencing revealed that WEA modulated multiple metabolic and inflammatory signaling pathways relevant to PCOS pathology, including PI3K/AKT, PPAR, MAPK, AMPK, and insulin signaling. Notably, WEA reversed aberrant gene expression patterns in ovarian tissue, restoring expression of Irs2, Slc2a4 (GLUT4), Vegfd, and Ppp2r2c, which are centrally involved in glucose uptake, lipid handling, cell survival, and follicular development. The 16S rDNA analysis demonstrated significant microbiome restructuring. PCOS decreased microbial diversity, while WEA increased it, as shown by improved Shannon and Simpson indices. Several microbial shifts are relevant for microbiome signature databases:

Key implications

The study shows that Angelica sinensis root extract exerts multi-system benefits in PCOS, simultaneously modulating ovarian gene expression, insulin signaling, lipid metabolism, and the gut microbiome. The restoration of beneficial microbial taxa and increased diversity point toward gut-mediated mechanisms underlying endocrine improvement. These findings support integrating microbiome-informed perspectives into botanical interventions for PCOS and contribute microbiome signature candidates—especially B. animalis, L. murinus, and Dubosiella—that clinicians and databases may track in relation to metabolic and reproductive outcomes.

Citation

Gao Y, Mo S, Cao H, et al. The efficacy and mechanism of Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels root aqueous extract based on RNA sequencing and 16S rDNA sequencing in alleviating polycystic ovary syndrome.Phytomedicine. 2023;120:155013. doi:10.1016/j.phymed.2023.155013