SAFETY AND EFFICACY OF CHASTETREE (Vitex Agnus-Castus) DURING PREGNANCY AND LACTATION
Main Article Content
Keywords
Chastetree, vitex agnus-castus, pregnancy, lactation, breastfeeding, systematic review
Abstract
Background
There is a lack of basic knowledge on the part of both clinicians and patients as to the indications for use and safety of herbs used during pregnancy and lactation. This is one article in a series that systematically reviews the evidence for herbs commonly used during pregnancy and lactation.
Objectives
To systematically review the literature for evidence on the use, safety and pharmacology of chastetree, focusing on issues pertaining to pregnancy and lactation.
Methods
We searched 7 electronic databases and compiled data according to the grade of evidence found.
Results
In pregnancy, there is poor evidence based on theoretical and expert opinion and in vitro studies that chastetree may have estrogenic and progesteronic activity, uterine stimulant activity, emmenagogue activity and prevent miscarriages. In lactation, theoretical and expert opinion conflict as to whether chastetree increases or decreases lactation.
Conclusions
Given its relatively common use amongst women of childbearing age, it is likely that some women may consume chastetree while unknowingly pregnant. Complementary and alternative medicine, midwifery and medical practitioners should be aware of this fact when prescribing chastetree to women of childbearing age, particularly when the patient is planning a family
References
2. Wuttke W, et al. Chaste tree (Vitex agnus-castus)--pharmacology and clinical indications. Phytomedicine 2003;10(4):348- 57.
3. Brickell C, ed. Royal Horticultural Society encyclopedia of plants and flowers. 1989, Dorling Kindersley: London.
4. Blumenthal M. German Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices. Commission E. Herbal Medicine: expanded Commission E monographs. 1st ed. 2000, Newton, Mass.: Integrative Medicine Communications.
5. Roemheld-Hamm B. Chasteberry. Am Fam Physician 2005;72(5):821-4.
6. Du Mee C. Vitex agnus castus. Aust J Med Herbalism 1993;5:63- 65.
7. Hardy ML. Herbs of special interest to women. J Am Pharm Assoc (Wash) 2000;40(2):234 -42; quiz 327-9
8. Jellin JM, Batz F, Hitchens K. Natural medicines comprehensive database 3rd Edition. 2002, Stockton, CA: Therapeutic Research Faculty.1530.
9. Brown D. Vitex agnus castus clinical monograph. Qtrly Rev Natural Med 1994;2:111-21.
10. Upton R. ed. Chaste Tree Fruit. American Herbal Pharmacopoeia and Therapeutic Compendium. 2001, American Herbal Pharmacopoeia: Santa Cruz, CA. 1 -37.
11. Mills S, Bone K. Principles and Practice of Phytotherapy: Modern Herbal Medicine. 2000, London: Churchill Livingstone.
12. Meier B, et al. Pharmacological activities of Vitex agnuscastus extracts in vitro. Phytomedicine 2000;7:373-81.
13. Du Mee C. Vitex agnus castus. Aust J Med Herb 1993;5:63-5.
14. Brinker F. Herb Contraindications and Drug Interactions. 3rd ed. 2001, Sandy, OR: Eclectic Medical Publications. 432.
15. Atmaca M, Kumru S, Tezcan E. Fluoxetine versus Vitex agnus castus extract in the treatment ofpremenstrual dysphoric disorder. Human
Psychopharmacology 2003;18(3):191- 5.
16. Schellenberg R. Treatment for the premenstrual syndrome with agnus castus fruit extract: prospective, randomised, placebo controlled study. BMJ 2001;322(7279):134-7.
17. McCaleb RS, Leigh E, Morien K. The Encyclopedia of Popular Herbs. 2000, Roseville, CA: Prima Health.
18. Lauritzen CH, et al. Treatment of premenstrual tension syndrome with Vitex agnus castus: Controlled-double blind versus pyridoxine. Phytomedicine 1997;4:183-9.
19. Berger D, et al. Efficacy of Vitex agnus castus L. extract Ze 440 in patients with pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS). Arch Gynecol Obstet 2000;264(3):150-3.
20. Loch EG, Selle H, Boblitz N. Treatment of premenstrual syndrome with a phytopharmaceutical formulation containing Vitex agnus castus. J Womens Health Gend Based Med 2000;9(3):315-20.
21. Halaska M, et al. Treatment of cyclical mastalgia with a solution containing a Vitex agnus castus extract: Results of a placebo-controlled double- blind study. Breast 1999;8(4):175-81.
22. Halaska M, et al. [Treatment of cyclical mastodynia using an extract of Vitex agnus castus: results of a double -blind comparison with a placebo]. Ceska Gynekologie 1998;63(5):388- 92.
23. Milewicz A, et al. Vitex agnus castus extract in the treatment of luteal phase defects due to latent hyperprolactinemia. Results of a randomized placebo-controlled double-blind study. Arzneimittelforschung 1993;43:752- 6.
24. Bergmann, J, et al. [The efficacy of the complex medication Phyto-Hypophyson L in female, hormone-related sterility. A randomized, placebo- controlled clinical double- blind study]. Forsch Komplementarmed Klass Naturheilkd 2000;7(4):190 -9.
25. Gerhard II, et al. Mastodynon(R) bei weiblicher Sterilitat. Forsch Komplementarmed 1998;5(6):272 -78.
26. Liu J, et al. Evaluation of estrogenic activity of plant extracts for the potential treatment of menopausal symptoms. J Agric Food Farm 2001;49(5):2472 -9.
27. Brinker F. The toxicology of botanical medicines. 3rd ed. 2000, Sandy, Oregon: Eclectic Medical Publications. 296.
28. Daniele C, et al. Vitex agnus castus: a systematic review of adverse events. Drug Saf 2005;28(4):319 -32.
29. McGuffin M. American Herbal Products Association's botanical safety handbook. 1997, Boca Raton: CRC Press.
30. Jarry H, et al. In vitro prolactin but not LH and FSH release is inhibited by compounds in extracts of Agnus castus: direct evidence for a dopaminergic princip le by the dopamine receptor assay. Exp Clin Endocrinol 1994;102(6):448 -54.
31. Merz P, et al. The effects of a special Agnus castus extract (BP1095el) on prolactin secretion in healthy male subjects. Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes 1996;104:447- 53.
32. Dixon- Shanies D, Shaikh N. Growth inhibition of human breast cancer cells by herbs and phytoestrogens. Oncol Rep 1999;6:1383-7.
33. Ohyama K, et al. Cytotoxicity and apoptotic inducibility of Vitex agnus-castus fruit extract in cultured human normal and cancer cells and effect on growth. Biol Pharm Bull 2003;26:10-8.
34. Brinker F. Herb Contraindications and Drug Interactions. 2nd ed. 1998, Sandy, OR: Eclectic Medical Publications
Article Sidebar
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
All articles published in JPTCP are licensed under Copyright Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.