Abstract
Vitex agnus-castus: Botanical features and area, chemical composition of fruit, pharmacological properties, and medicinal uses
Highlights
At the pharmaceutical industry’s present stage of development, plants are one of the most important sources of biologically active substances
This review is based on published data on the fruits of the chaste tree (Vitex agnus-castus L.), a traditional medicinal plant used to treat premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
Nine clinical studies that examined the effect of preparations based on chaste tree fruit extract on the female reproductive system are reviewed
Summary
At the pharmaceutical industry’s present stage of development, plants are one of the most important sources of biologically active substances. Modern taxonomy considers these taxa synonyms of V. agnus-castus L. even though they differ from each other in area and in several morphological and anatomical features as well as levels of bioactive substances, especially essential oil components The fruits of this plant are widely used in traditional systems of medicine in different countries for the mitigation of PMS symptoms, improvement of the psychoemotional state of women, and normalization of the menstrual cycle. A study by Hajdú et al (2007) on the antioxidant effects of bioactive substances in the lipophilic hexane fraction of the aqueous-alcoholic extract of chaste tree found that the flavonoid casticin produced the strongest antioxidant activity, which was several times superior to that of ascorbic acid. A review of clinical trials (van Die et al, 2013) indicated that, out of 641 participants, only 35 cases of side effects were recorded, with nausea and headache being the major complaints
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