Therapeutic effects of Angelica gigas Nakai in experimental rat model of polycystic ovary syndrome with network pharmacology.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a prevalent endocrine disorder in reproductive-aged women, characterized by disrupted ovarian function due to multiple factors. Angelica gigas Nakai (AG), known for its multi-compound and multi-target properties, was investigated as a potential therapy using an integrated approach combining network pharmacology and experimental validation. Active compounds of AG were matched with PCOS-related genes, and 45 overlapping targets were identified. Network analysis highlighted INS, LEP, and IGF1 as key nodes. KEGG enrichment indicated involvement of the AMPK signaling pathway. In vivo, estradiol valerate-induced PCOS rats treated with AG (1 mg/kg) displayed restored estrous cycles, normalized ovarian weight, reduced serum testosterone, and improved follicular maturation. Consistently, AG upregulated AMPK expression while downregulating INS, IGF1, Leptin, and PPAR-γ. These findings suggest that AG may serve as a promising therapeutic candidate for PCOS. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10068-025-02019-2.