# Evaluating Potential Effects of Chamomile ( Matricaria chamomilla L.) in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis

## TL;DR

This study reviews the effects of chamomile on polycystic ovary syndrome, finding potential benefits in animal studies but mixed results in humans.

## Contribution

The paper provides a systematic review and meta-analysis of chamomile's effects on PCOS, combining findings from limited human and animal studies.

## Key findings

- Animal studies suggest chamomile improves hormonal and oxidative stress parameters in PCOS.
- Human studies show clinical improvements but no significant changes in testosterone or lipid profiles.
- Results highlight the need for more well-designed clinical trials to confirm chamomile's efficacy in PCOS treatment.

## Abstract

The present study aimed to systematically assess the effects of Chamomile consumption on some biochemical parameters and clinical symptoms in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The search was performed across the databases PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar using relevant keywords, with no language or date restrictions, up to the 4th of December 2024. Given the limited number of studies, results from both human and animal research were considered. The risk of bias for included studies was evaluated. For clinical studies, meta‐analyses were conducted using Stata, and a random‐effects model was used to estimate effect sizes. Four animal and four human studies were qualified for this review. Almost all animal studies indicated that Chamomile improved clinical, hormonal, and oxidative stress parameters in PCOS. Furthermore, almost all human studies have shown that Chamomile supplementation improves the clinical features of PCOS. However, the pooled analysis of two eligible human studies showed that there was no statistically significant effect of Chamomile supplementation on serum lipid profile including LDL‐C (ES = 1.73, 95% CI (−6.49, 9.94), p = 0.680), TG (ES = −7.23, 95% CI (−29.34, 14.89), p = 0.522), and HDL‐C (ES = −0.07, 95% CI (−5.85, 5.70), p = 0.980). Moreover, the pooled analysis of three eligible human studies demonstrated no statistically significant effect of Chamomile on serum testosterone levels (ES = 5.05, 95% CI = (−1.38, 11.49), p = 0.124). Overall, animal studies have demonstrated the potential benefits of Chamomile consumption in the treatment of PCOS, possibly through anti‐androgenic, anti‐inflammatory, analgesic, and antioxidant effects. In contrast, human studies yielded heterogeneous findings, with improvements in clinical features but no significant impact on serum testosterone or lipid profile parameters. Therefore, further well‐designed clinical trials are needed to make more definitive decisions.

Chamomile contains different bioactive agents such as flavonoids and phytosterols with potential anti‐inflammatory, antioxidant, analgesic, antispasmodic, and antitumor characteristics. According to our findings, animal studies have demonstrated the potential benefits of Chamomile consumption in the treatment of PCOS. In contrast, human studies yielded heterogeneous findings, with improvements in clinical features but no significant impact on serum testosterone or lipid profile parameters.