Effects of Guizhi Fuling Pill combined with metformin on insulin resistance-related inflammatory response and oxidative stress response in patients with PCOS

Objective: To study the effects of Guizhi Fuling Pill combined with metformin on insulin resistance-related inflammatory response and oxidative stress response in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Methods: PCOS patients who received therapy in Panzhihua Maternal and Child Care Service Centre between June 2013 and February 2013 were selected and randomly divided into two groups, combined therapy group received Guizhi Fuling Pill combined with metformin therapy for two months, and metformin group received metformin therapy for continuous two months. After serum pickup, the follicular fluid was collected to determine the expression of insulin signaling pathway molecules as well as the protein levels of inflammatory response indexes and oxidative stress response indexes. Results:Serum IRS-1, IRS-2, PI3K, AKT and GLUT4 mRNA expression of combined therapy group were greatly higher than those of metformin group whereas GSK-3β mRNA expression was significantly lower than that of metformin group;serum NF-kB, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-18, MCP-1, ROS, MDA and 8-OHdG protein levels of combined therapy group were greatly below those of metformin group and negatively correlated with IRS-1 and IRS-2 mRNA expression whereas TAC and SOD levels were higher than those of metformin group and positively correlated with IRS-1 and IRS-2 mRNA expression. Conclusion: Guizhi Fuling Pill combined with metformin can reduce the inflammatory response and oxidative stress response to improve the insulin resistance and increase the insulin sensitivity in patients with PCOS.