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Artemesia. Credit: Shutterstock

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine condition. One of its principal features is androgen excess, which can result in hirsutism, scalp alopecia and acne. 

Artemisinins are anti-malarial drugs derived from Artemisia plants, which have been demonstrated to activate thermogenic adipocytes and improve metabolic health. 

Liu and colleagues undertook a series of in vivo and in vitro studies to explore the impact of artemisinins on androgen excess in PCOS. In rodent models, the artemisinin analogue artemether improved regularity of oestrous cycles, and improved hyperandrogenaemia. Mechanistic studies revealed that artemisinins directly bind to lon peptidase 1 (LONP1) resulting in interaction between LONP1 and CYP11A1. This results in increased LONP1-mediated CYP11A1 degradation, and thus reduces ovarian testosterone synthesis. 

Building on this, in women with PCOS (n=19), use of an artemisinin was associated with a reduction in hyperandrogenaemia and an improvement in menstrual cycle regularity. 

Taken together, these data suggest that this well-tolerated anti-malarial treatment may offer a novel therapeutic strategy for women with PCOS. 

Read the full article in Science 384 eadk5382 https://doi.org/10.1126/science.adk5382