Serum metabolomics study of Traditional Chinese medicine formula intervention to polycystic ovary syndrome

• The curative effect of TCM formula on PCOS patients was investigated by a LC–MS metabolomics approach.
• The study revealed the metabolic changes in both normoinsulinemic and hyperinsulinemic PCOS patients.
• The metabolic changes indicated the reduced inflammatory reaction and oxidative stress.
• The study is helpful to evaluate curative effect and to understand the mechanism of TCM.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a most common, heterogeneous, complex endocrinopathy disease. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been used in the treatment of PCOS for many years. However, the mechanism underlying TCM remains obscure and challenging. In this study, 30 PCOS subjects were separated into normoinsulinemic group (NI = 13) and hyperinsulinemic group (HI = 17), and treated for three menstrual cycles with TCM Formula, Bushen Huatan Formula (BHF). A metabolomics approach based on ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) coupled with linear ion trap Orbi-trap mass spectrometer (LTQ Orbi-trap MS) is used to investigate serum metabolic changes of TCM intervention to PCOS. After BHF intervention for three menstrual cycles, the serum levels of glycerophosphorylethanolamine (GPEA), creatine, creatinine decreased in both NI and HI groups. Furthermore, in NI group, the main manifestation was the changes of phospholipid metabolism. While in HI group, lysine, phenol sulfate, phe–phe etc. decreased, and ornithine, proline, betaine, acetylcholine etc. increased. Combined with clinical biochemical data, BHF was proved effective to PCOS by reducing the inflammatory reaction and oxidative stress. This study also illustrates that the LC–MS based metabolomic approach is a helpful tool to evaluate curative effect and to understand the mechanisms of TCM.

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