Immunomodulatory role of royal jelly in managing PCOS and associated comorbidities: A critical review

Abstract

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), a complex, multifactorial & widespread endocrine-metabolic disorder, has become major cause of female sterility with characteristic symptoms of hormonal imbalance, menstrual abnormalities, and chronic anovulation. This condition is not only associated with significant reproductive challenges, but it has also developed a threat to long-term chronic health conditions like cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, and other metabolic dysfunctions. The conventional treatments for polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) like hormonal therapy, aromatic agonists and insulin-sensitizing agents are typically associated with significant repercussions, including mood swings, weight gain, and long-term metabolic concerns. Instead of treating the pathophysiology of the problem, these pharmacological therapies mainly focus on symptom management, which may result in a cycle of reliance without enhancing the overall health. This emphasizes the shift towards the use of alternative and complementary medicine, which has drawn attention to the natural products which can be used in the mitigation of PCOS and associated metabolic dysfunctions. Royal jelly, bee products has drawn scientific attention due to its efficacy and potential health benefits in reproductive physiology. The diverse chemical make-up of royal jelly (lipids, proteins, and bioactive compounds like 10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid), has been found to have various immunomodulatory effects which may contribute to its potential benefits in PCOS management. This systematic literature survey was conducted on scientific and digital databases, such as Science Direct, Elsevier, Wiley online library, Google Scholar, and PubMed published from 2005 to 2024. Therefore, present review aims to construct a systematic study on PCOS and its various aspects, such as pathogenicity, and immunogenicity with emphasis on the therapeutic efficacy of royal jelly.