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Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine and metabolic disorder characterized by  hyperandrogenism, metabolic disturbances, and ovarian dysfunction. This study investigated the effects of  ethanolic leaf extract of Phyllanthus amarus on ovarian histomorphology and selected metabolic and reproductive  hormonal parameters in female Wistar rats with dihydrotestosterone (DHT)-induced PCOS. Twenty-one female  Wistar rats were randomly assigned to three groups (n = 7/group): control, DHT-induced PCOS, and DHT-induced  PCOS treated with P. amarus. PCOS was induced by daily subcutaneous administration of DHT (0.075 mg/kg  body weight) for 30 days, after which the treatment group received oral P. amarus extract (300 mg/kg body  weight) for 14 days. At the end of the treatment, serum glucose, insulin, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), and testosterone were assayed, and HOMA-IR was calculated. Ovarian tissues were  examined histologically using periodic acid-Schiff and Masson's trichrome staining. DHT administration was  associated with significant increases in fasting serum glucose, fasting serum insulin, HOMA-IR, LH and  testosterone, together with ovarian cystic follicular changes. Treatment with P. amarus significantly reduced  fasting serum glucose, fasting serum insulin, HOMA-IR, LH and testosterone compared with the untreated PCOS  group. Histological examination also showed attenuation of cystic follicular changes and improved ovarian tissue  architecture following P. amarus treatment. These findings indicate that ethanolic P. amarus leaf extract  ameliorates selected metabolic, endocrine and ovarian histomorphological abnormalities associated with DHT induced PCOS in Wistar rats. Further studies are, however, required to establish the molecular mechanisms  underlying these effects and how they translate into reproductive benefits in humans. 

Key Words: Polycystic ovary syndrome; Phyllanthus amarus; dihydrotestosterone; insulin resistance;  reproductive hormones