Natural Bioactive Compounds in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: Properties, Molecular Mechanisms, and Therapeutic Potential

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common metabolic-endocrine disorders affecting women of reproductive age and represents a significant public health concern due to its clinical heterogeneity. It is characterized by hyperandrogenism, ovulatory dysfunction, and polycystic ovarian morphology, and is frequently associated with hyperinsulinemia, obesity, dyslipidemia, chronic low-grade inflammation, and an increased risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Conventional treatments, including combined oral contraceptives, metformin, and ovulation-inducing agents, primarily target symptoms and present limitations in efficacy, tolerability, and their ability to address underlying metabolic dysfunction. In this context, naturally derived bioactive compounds have emerged as promising complementary therapeutic strategies. Various phytochemicals exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, hypoglycemic, and reproductive axis-modulating effects by targeting key molecular pathways involved in insulin resistance, hyperandrogenism, and follicular dysfunction. Emerging preclinical and clinical evidence suggests that these compounds may improve metabolic, hormonal, and reproductive outcomes in women with PCOS.