The anti-androgenic effect of quercetin on hyperandrogenism and ovarian dysfunction induced in a dehydroepiandrosterone rat model of polycystic ovary syndrome

•Hyperandrogenism was assessed in a DHEA-induced rat model of PCOS.•Quercetin inhibits hyperandrogenism and increases E2 level in PCOS rats.•Quercetin improves hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis function in PCOS rats.•Quercetin restores folliculogenesis and inhibits ovarian cysts development in PCOS rats.•Quercetin normalizes ovarian Bax and Bcl-2 protein abundance in PCOS rats.