Exploring the therapeutic potential of Spirulina platensis in polycystic ovarian syndrome: A computational pharmacology approach

ABSTRACT Introduction To explore the mechanism of action of Spirulina platensis for its therapeutic role in polycystic ovarian syndrome. The well-known dietary supplement spirulina (SP) has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and metabolic-regulating qualities. The widespread endocrine condition is termed polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), characterized by metabolic imbalance, inflammation, and oxidative stress. Objective To explore the potential of Spirulina platensis in PCOS using network pharmacology and molecular docking. Method Using bioinformatics to build a compound-gene network, this study found four bioactive substances, ascorbic acid, niacin, riboflavin, and thiamine, connected to SP's ability to treat PCOS. Significant protein-protein interactions with important hub genes (NR3C1, HIF1A, PPARG, MTOR, NOS3, SERPINE1, FLT1, PLAT, MAPK1, and LGALS3) involved in oxidative stress regulation, inflammatory management, and hormone balancing were found by network pharmacology analysis using Cytoscape and STRING. Results Important pathways like Type II diabetes mellitus, HIF-1 signaling, thyroid hormone signaling, and PI3K-Akt signaling were found using the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and Gene Ontology (GO) pathway enrichment analyses. Strong binding affinities were shown by molecular docking, especially for riboflavin with PPARG (-8.2 kcal/mol) and ascorbic acid with HIF1A (-6.6 kcal/mol), indicating possible roles in the treatment of PCOS. Conclusion The data analysis from the study suggests Spirulina Plantesis natural dietary food supplement, for PCOS adjunctive treatment. Although phytochemicals produced from SP present a prospective substitute for traditional PCOS treatments, additional in vitro, in vivo, and clinical research is necessary to confirm their effectiveness.