The medicinal
use of extracts from Vitex agnus-castus has a
long tradition. The use in disturbances of the
female genital system was first reported more
than two thousand years ago. Nowadays ethanolic
extracts from the fruit are used for the treatment
of mastopathy, premenstrual syndrome and luteal
insufficiency-complaints caused by a mild or latent
hyperprolactinemia. The mode of action of Vitex
agnus-castus extracts was studied in vitro using
primary cultures from rat pituitaries as a test
system. A dose dependent reduction of prolactin
secretion was observed. The effect could be blocked
by the dopamine-receptor antagonist, haloperidol,
confirming a dopamine agonistic activity of the
drug. The prolactin lowering effect of Vitex agnus-castus
was also found in in vivo experiments in rats.
Clinical studies in patients with premenstrual
syndrome, luteal insufficiency, and mastopathy
show a simultaneous decrease in the clinical syndrome
score and prolactin levels.
In the monograph
of the Commission E, a daily dosage of 30-40mg
of an ethanolic extract of the fruit of Vitex
agnus-castus is recommended for the treatment
of the premenstrual syndrome, luteal phase defects
and other disturbances of the menstrual cycle,
as well for the treatment of mastodynia.
