Efficacy of icariin in polycystic ovary syndrome: Cathepsin S as a key target revealed by computational and experimental evidence.

Studied

Combined computer analyses and an animal experiment investigating icariin in polycystic ovary syndrome.

Who / model

Mice with DHEA-induced polycystic ovary syndrome, with measurements in ovarian granulosa cells. Mouse numbers, comparator details and treatment duration are not stated.

Studied dose & schedule

Dose and schedule have not yet been extracted for this summary.

Found

Icariin-treated mice had lower testosterone, more regular reproductive cycles, fewer cystic follicles and more corpora lutea. Cathepsin S expression decreased in ovarian cells. Computer simulations identified this protein as a possible target; additional pathway changes came from virtual predictions.

Limits

Study limitations were not stated in the abstract. Methodological quality has not been appraised.

Read summary source ↗ · Prepared 9/16/2026 · AI-assisted, source-based summary