THERAPEUTIC POTENTIAL OF INDIGENOUS PLANTS IN PCOS MANAGEMENT: ETHNOMEDICINAL INSIGHTS FROM QUETTA, PAKISTAN

Abstract

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a prevalent endocrine illness affecting approximately single in fifteen females universal, commonly manifested through hirsutism, acne, and raised androgen heights. This research marked to explore the ethnomedicinal vegetation traditionally recycled for the management of PCOS in the Quetta region of Baluchistan, Pakistan. Statistical figure was collected from 197 local respondents concluded surveys and structured as well as unstructured interviews. The results were analyzed by using several ethnobotanical indices such as Use Report (UR), Use Value (UV), Frequency of Citation (FC), Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC) and Family Importance Value (FIV). 30 species (from 30 families) were recorded, the most dominant being Lamiaceae. Leaves (26%) and roots were the most commonly used parts of plants (26%), while decoctions represented the primary mode of preparation (33%), followed by infusions, extractions, and powders in smaller proportions. Among the reported species, Azadirachta indica A. Juss (Neem) recorded the highest RFC (0.05) and FC (10), Salvia hispanica L. (Chia/Tukham-e-sharbati) exhibited the highest UV (1.8), and Vitex agnus-castus L. (Chaste tree/Bana) had the highest UR (7). The findings reveal that indigenous communities of Balochistan rely extensively on medicinal plants for managing gynecological conditions, particularly PCOS. This documentation provides the first quantitative ethnobotanical record of therapeutic herbs recycled for females’ reproductive fitness in the region. This research underscores the therapeutic prospective of these plants and highlights the need for further phytochemical and toxicity analyses to validate their usefulness and support the expansion of safe, plant-based remedies for PCOS management.