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Vitex Agnus-Castus: Chemical Analysis

Vitex Agnus castus

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Snezana Smileva Lazova
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105 views3 pages

Vitex Agnus-Castus: Chemical Analysis

Vitex Agnus castus

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Snezana Smileva Lazova
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Vitex agnus-castus

Chemical analysis

Flavonoids (vitexin, casticin), agnuside, p-hydroxybenzoic acid,[ An analytical high


performance liquid chromatographic method for the determination of agnuside and p-
hydroxybenzoic acid contents in Agni-casti fructus. Eva Hoberg, Beat Meier and Otto Sticher,
Phytochemical Analysis, Volume 11, Issue 5, pages 327–329, September/October 2000,
doi:10.1002/1099-1565(200009/10)11:5<327::AID-PCA523>3.0.CO;2-0] alkaloids,
diterpenoids and steroidal hormone precursors have been identified in the chemical analysis
of Vitex agnus-castus.[ Hajdú, Zsuzsanna; Judit Hohmann, Peter Forgo, Tamás Martinek,
Máté Dervarics, István Zupkó, György Falkay, Daniel Cossuta, Imre Máthé. "Diterpenoids
and flavonoids from the fruits of Vitex agnus-castus and antioxidant activity of the fruit
extracts and their constituents". Wiley InterScience. Retrieved 2007-11-11.]

Medical use

Clinical studies have demonstrated effectivness of standardised and controlled medications


produced from extract of the plant in the management of premenstrual stress syndrome
(PMS),[ Wuttke, W; Jarry H, Christoffel V, Spengler B, Seidlová-Wuttke D. (May 2003).
"Chaste tree (Vitex agnus-castus)--pharmacology and clinical indications". Exp Clin
Endocrinol Diabetes 10 (4): 348–57. doi:10.1078/094471103322004866. PMID 12809367][
Schellenberg, R. (20 January 2001). "Treatment for the premenstrual syndrome with agnus
castus fruit extract: prospective, randomised, placebo controlled study". British Medical
Journal 322 (7279): 134–7. doi:10.1136/bmj.322.7279.134. PMC 26589. PMID 11159568.][
Berger, D; Schaffner W, Schrader E, Meier B, Brattström A (November 2000). "Efficacy of
Vitex agnus castus L. extract Ze 440 in patients with pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS)". Arch
Gynecol Obstet. 264 (3): 150–3. doi:10.1007/s004040000123. PMID 11129515.] and cyclical
breast pain (mastalgia).[ Carmichael, A. R. (2008). "Can Vitex Agnus Castus be Used for the
Treatment of Mastalgia? What is the Current Evidence?". Evidence-based complementary and
alternative medicine : eCAM 5 (3): 247–250. doi:10.1093/ecam/nem074. PMC 2529385.
PMID 18830450.] The medication is recommended in Germany.[ Daniele, C.; Thompson
Coon J, Pittler MH, Ernst E. (2005). "Vitex agnus castus: a systematic review of adverse
events". Drug Safety 28 (4): 319–32. doi:10.2165/00002018-200528040-00004.
PMID 15783241][ Axel Valet; Kay Goerke; Joachim Steller (2003). Klinikleitfaden
Gynäkologie Geburtshilfe. Untersuchung. Diagnostik. Therapie. Notfall. Urban & Fischer.
ISBN 3-437-22211-2]
Mechanism of action

It is believed that some of the compounds found in the plant work on the pituitary gland
which would explain its effects on hormonal levels. A study has shown that extracts of the
fruit of VAC can bind to opiate receptors; this could explain why intake of VAC reduces PMS
discomforts.[ Webster, D.E.; J. Lu, S.-N. Chen, N.R. Farnsworth and Z. Jim Wang (2006).
"Activation of the μ-opiate receptor by Vitex agnus-castus methanol extracts: Implication for
its use in PMS". Journal of Ethnopharmacology 106 (2): 216–221.
doi:10.1016/j.jep.2005.12.025. PMID 16439081]

The mechanism of action is not fully understood[ Opioidergic mechanisms underlying the
actions of Vitex agnus-castus L.", Biochemical Pharmacology. 2011 Jan 1;81(1):170-7
Authors: Webster DE, He Y, Chen SN, Pauli GF, Farnsworth NR, Wang ZJ] but it is assumed
that it has dopaminergic effects resulting in changes of prolactin secretion. At low doses, such
as might have been used in previous centuries for suppression of sexual desire, it inhibits
activation of dopamine 2 receptor by competitive binding, causing a slight increase in release
of prolactin. In higher concentrations, as in modern extracts, the binding activity is sufficient
to reduce the release of prolactin. A study has found that treatment of 20 healthy men with
higher doses of Vitex agnus-castus was associated with a slight reduction of prolactin levels,
whereas lower doses caused a slight increase as compared to doses of placebo. A decrease of
prolactin will influence levels of Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and estrogen in women ;
and testosterone in men Dopaminergic compounds (diterpenes with prolactin-suppressive
effects that were almost identical in their prolactin-suppressive properties than dopamine
itself) present in Vitex agnus castus seem likely to be the clinically important compounds
which improve premenstrual mastodynia and possibly also psycho-somatic symptoms of
PMS.[ Wuttke W et al "Chaste tree (Vitex agnus-castus)--pharmacology and clinical
indications". Phytomedicine. 2003 May;10(4):348-57.]

Current uses

Vitex agnus-castus is used to alleviate symptoms of various gynecological problems. All


evidence is limited to standardised controlled extracts such as used in Germany, different
extracts or herbal mixes may have significantly different properties and safety issues. Some of
the modern uses include premenstrual syndrome, abnormal uterine bleeding disorders and
mastodynia.

Contraindications

It is recommended that Vitex agnus-castus be avoided during pregnancy due to the possibility
of complications.[ Daniele, C.; Thompson Coon J, Pittler MH, Ernst E. (2005). "Vitex agnus
castus: a systematic review of adverse events". Drug Safety 28 (4): 319–32.
doi:10.2165/00002018-200528040-00004. PMID 15783241]

References:

 Galactagogue, historical usage in very low concentrations and not advisable today.[
Roemheld-Hamm, B. (1 September 2005). "Chasteberry". Am Fam Physician 72 (5):
821–4. PMID 16156340] However one recent study did find "Oral administration of
70 mg/kg/day of Vitex agnus-castus extract in lactation stages, significantly increased
serum prolactin, compared with the control group of rats."[ Effect of Vitex agnus -
Castus L. leaf and fruit flavonoidal extracts on serum prolactin concentration
Azadbakht M., Baheddini A., Shorideh S.M., Naserzadeh A. Journal of Medicinal
Plants 2005 4:16 (56-61)]
 Potential use as an insect repellent[Mehlhorn, H.; Schmahl,-G; Schmidt,-J (2005).
"Extract of the seeds of the plant Vitex agnus castus proven to be highly efficacious as
a repellent against ticks, fleas, mosquitoes and biting flies". Parasitol-Res. 95 (5):
363–5. doi:10.1007/s00436-004-1297-z. PMID 15682335]
 Used in supplements for male bodybuilders as a secondary component because of its
effects on testosterone levels.[ Hajdú, Zsuzsanna; Judit Hohmann, Peter Forgo, Tamás
Martinek, Máté Dervarics, István Zupkó, György Falkay, Daniel Cossuta, Imre Máthé.
"Diterpenoids and flavonoids from the fruits of Vitex agnus-castus and antioxidant
activity of the fruit extracts and their constituents". Wiley InterScience. Retrieved
2007-11-11. ]

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