Baicalin Inhibits Recruitment of GATA1 to the HSD3B2 Promoter and Reverses Hyperandrogenism of PCOS

Five years ago, a study investigated the effects of baicalin, a compound from the herb Scutellaria baicalensis, on hyperandrogenism in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The study found that baicalin decreased testosterone concentrations and inhibited the expression of 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type II (HSD3B2), a key enzyme of androgen biosynthesis, by regulating the binding of transcription factor GATA-binding factor 1 (GATA1) to the HSD3B2 promoter. In PCOS model rats, baicalin significantly reversed high androgen levels, restored the estrous cyclicity, and decreased the expression of HSD3B2 in ovarian tissue. The study concluded that baicalin could potentially be an effective therapeutic agent for hyperandrogenism in PCOS. However, the researchers noted that their findings were based on a specific cell line and a rat model, and may not directly apply to humans.