Chaste Tree: Benefits, Dosage, Contraindications
Other name(s)
monk’s pepper
Scientific name(s)
Vitex agnus-castus
Family or group:
Plants
Active ingredients:
Flavonoids
Tannins
Iridoids
Alkaloids
Indications
Rating methodology
EFSA approval.
Premenstrual Syndrome ✪✪✪✪✪
Several other placebo-controlled clinical trials with standardized extracts have confirmed that daily intake of chaste tree for 3 menstrual cycles could reduce premenstrual syndrome symptoms. In 3 double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trials conducted by different laboratories, chaste tree berry extracts helped reduce breast pain associated with premenstrual syndrome or mastalgia. Additionally, Commission E and the World Health Organization (WHO) recognize chaste tree use for treating menstrual cycle irregularities. For treatment, its dried and crushed berries are used to produce standardized extracts either in casticin or agnuside. Furthermore, a meta-analysis of available clinical research, including 17 studies involving 2,401 patients, shows that taking chaste tree is comparable to oral contraceptives and slightly more effective than placebo or other natural supplements for reducing premenstrual symptoms. Subgroup analysis indicates that efficacy is not affected by the dose or form used, although dried chaste tree berry powder seems ineffective. The low quality of evaluated studies and the high level of bias and heterogeneity limit the validity of these results.
Posologie
Oral: berries
20 - 40 mg
3 - months
Women
standardized extract, dry extract
Dose-dependent efficacy of the Vitex agnus castus extract Ze 440 in patients suffering from premenstrual syndrome.
Treatment for premenstrual syndrome with Vitex agnus castus: A prospective, randomized, multi-center placebo-controlled study in China.
The Treatment of Premenstrual Syndrome With Preparations of Vitex Agnus Castus: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Treatment for the premenstrual syndrome with agnus castus fruit extract: prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled study
Community herbal monograph on Vitex agnus-castus L., fructus
Antinociceptive effects, acute toxicity and chemical composition of Vitex agnus-castus essential oil.
Therapeutic effect of Vitex agnus castus in patients with premenstrual syndrome.
Mastalgia ✪✪✪✪✪
Clinical research shows that taking chaste tree extract at 3.2 to 4.8 mg per day for 2 months reduces breast pain intensity by 67.5% and pain duration by 52.9% compared to baseline in healthy women suffering from cyclic mastalgia; these changes are significant compared to placebo. Other preliminary clinical research shows that taking a chaste tree extract at 40 mg per day for 3 months is as effective in reducing mastalgia pain as Flurbiprofen at 100 mg twice a day for 3 months.
Posologie
Oral: berries
3.2 - 40 mg
3 - months
Women
standardized extract, dry extract
The Effectiveness of Herbal Medicines on Cyclic Mastalgia: A Systematic Review on Meta-analysis
Treatment of Cyclical Mastalgia With a Solution Containing a Vitex Agnus Castus Extract: Results of a Placebo-Controlled Double-Blind Study
Effects of Vitex agnus and Flaxseed on cyclic mastalgia: A randomized controlled trial.
Female fertility disorders ✪✪✪✪✪
German researchers have concluded that chaste tree could help women with fertility problems attributable to secondary amenorrhea or luteal insufficiency (progesterone deficiency). They recommended a treatment lasting 3 to 6 months. Thanks to their progesterone-like effect, chaste tree extracts can be used in the case of irregular menstrual cycles at all life periods, including pre-menopause. They are also indicated to restore estrogen-progesterone balance in the body during menopause. This hormonal action is due to its effect on the pituitary gland. At least 2 cycles of treatment are needed to regularize the menstrual cycle and 3 to 7 months to hope for pregnancy in the case of infertility. Chaste tree-based products are often standardized to ensure a certain level of active substances. The daily dosage varies depending on the product but should, according to the European Medicines Agency, correspond to the equivalent of 28 to 52 mg of dried berries. Due to its action on the hormonal system, its use might mask serious health problems such as pituitary cancer, so chaste tree should be used under medical supervision.
Posologie
Oral: berries
28 - 52 mg
7 - months
Women
standardized extract, dry extract
Medicinal Plants as Alternative Treatments for Female Sexual Dysfunction: Utopian Vision or Possible Treatment in Climacteric Women?
The 4-month effect of Vitex agnus-castus plant on sexual function of women of reproductive age: A clinical trial
Menstrual cycle disorders ✪✪✪✪✪
German researchers concluded that chasteberry could help women with fertility issues attributable to secondary amenorrhea or luteal insufficiency (progesterone deficiency). They recommended a treatment duration of 3 to 6 months. Thanks to their progesterone-like effect, chasteberry extracts can be used in cases of irregular menstrual cycles during all life stages, including pre-menopause. This hormonal action is due to its effect on the pituitary gland. A treatment of at least 2 cycles is required to regulate the menstrual cycle, and 3 to 7 months are needed to hope for pregnancy in cases of infertility.
Posologie
Oral: berries
28 - 52 mg
2 - months
Women
standardized extract, dry extract
Menopause ✪✪✪✪✪
Chasteberry appears promising for reducing menopause-related discomforts, including skin laxity when combined with other plants. Chasteberry berry extracts may be indicated to restore estrogen-progesterone balance in the body during menopause. It has been studied in combination with Nigella or St. John's Wort. Another clinical trial conducted on menopausal women shows that daily oral intake of a capsule containing a combination of 400 mg chasteberry, 500 mg evening primrose oil, 100 mg soy isoflavones, and 520 mg black cohosh for 12 weeks improves skin elasticity, skin smoothness, and wrinkle density compared to a placebo.
Posologie
Oral: berries
400 - 500 mg
3 - months
Women
standardized extract, dry extract
Comparison of Vitex agnus-castus Extracts with Placebo in Reducing Menopausal Symptoms: A Randomized Double-Blind Study
Effects of a Combination of Nigella Sativa and Vitex Agnus-Castus With Citalopram on Healthy Menopausal Women With Hot Flashes: Results From a Subpopulation Analysis
A Review of Effective Herbal Medicines in Controlling Menopausal Symptoms
Effects of a combination of botanical actives on skin health and antioxidant status in post-menopausal women: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial
Properties
Progesteronic Action
Chaste tree berries contain diterpenic substances, iridoids (agnuside), flavonoids (casticin), alkaloids, and steroids, as well as essential oils. Diterpenic substances act on the pituitary gland by stimulating dopamine-sensitive receptors (a chemical messenger in the brain). This stimulation would reduce prolactin secretion by the pituitary and increase progesterone secretion by the ovaries (corpus luteum), thus regulating menstruation. Progesterone secretion insufficiency ('corpus luteum insufficiency') can be a cause of female infertility, and chaste tree has been studied in this indication. Low doses of chaste tree extract around 120 mg per day seem to increase prolactin release. Higher doses seem to suppress prolactin release. Chaste tree does not seem to affect testosterone. Preliminary research suggests that chaste tree may have estrogenic and progestative activity. Linoleic acid, a constituent of chaste tree, appears to have estrogenic effects. It seems to be selective for beta-estrogen receptors. The estrogen beta receptor predominates in the heart, vascular system, bones, and bladder but not in the uterus. This suggests that chaste tree does not exert estrogenic effects in the uterus.
Usages associés
Neurological
Chaste tree seems to affect dopamine, likely acetylcholine and opioid receptors (chaste tree would act as an agonist of opioid μ-receptors). Chaste tree extracts contain multiple active principles that seem to have agonist effects on pituitary dopamine (D2) receptors when used in higher doses. This dopaminergic activity inhibits prolactin release. Dopamine is the key inhibitor of prolactin secretion and represents the main prolactin inhibitory factor (PIF) from the hypothalamus. It circulates in the pituitary stalk, binding to D2 dopaminergic receptors located on lactotrope cells in the anterior pituitary, enabling inhibition of prolactin secretion in vitro and in vivo. Although many results indicate that dopamine physiologically plays the role of PIF, it is not the only hypothalamic factor that inhibits prolactin secretion.
Usages associés
Safety dosage
Adult from 18 years: 20 mg - 52 mg
The EMA recommends taking 20 mg of dry extract (equivalent to 180 mg of berries) per day for at least 3 months.
Interactions
Médicaments
Antipsychotic: moderate interaction
Theoretically, chasteberry could interfere with the actions of dopamine antagonists such as antipsychotics due to its dopaminergic effects. These antipsychotic medications include chlorpromazine (Thorazine), clozapine (Clozaril), fluphenazine (Prolixin), haloperidol (Haldol), olanzapine (Zyprexa), perphenazine (Trilafon), prochlorperazine (Compazine), quetiapine (Seroquel), risperidone (Risperdal), thioridazine (Mellaril), and thiothixene.
Oral contraceptives: moderate interaction
Theoretically, chasteberry may interfere with the effectiveness of oral contraceptives because it appears to have hormonal modulation activity.
Dopamine agonist: moderate interaction
Theoretically, chasteberry could potentiate the actions of dopaminergic agonists due to its dopaminergic effects. These medications include bromocriptine (Parlodel), levodopa, pramipexole (Mirapex), ropinirole (Requip), and others.
Metoclopramide: moderate interaction
Metoclopramide is a dopamine antagonist. Since chasteberry exerts dopaminergic activity, it is thought to interact with dopamine receptor antagonists.
Estrogens: moderate interaction
Theoretically, chasteberry may interfere with the effectiveness of hormone treatments because it appears to have hormonal modulation activity.
Precautions
Child up to 18 years: avoid
Use in children and adolescents under 18 years has not been established due to the lack of adequate data.
Hormone-sensitive disease: avoid
Since chasteberry is believed to exert a regulatory effect on the hormonal level, it should be avoided in cases of hormone-sensitive disease.
Schizophrenia: avoid
Since chasteberry exerts dopaminergic activity, it should be avoided in individuals with schizophrenia.
Contraindications
Pregnant woman: prohibited
The hormonal effects of chasteberry could be harmful to pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Breastfeeding woman: prohibited
The hormonal effects of chasteberry could be harmful to pregnancy or breastfeeding.
