Farmacja Polska (Sep 2021)
Therapeutic potential of chastetree (Vitex agnus-castus) in gynecological diseases – a review of the current state of knowledge
Abstract
Gynecological diseases are a wide group of ailments that are often diagnosed in women, but difficult to satisfactory treat. Currently used methods of pharmacological treatment for these disorders are effective, but they have a significant number of side effects. Nowadays, many women are increasingly taking for various medicinal products containing natural substances obtained from plants for which the therapeutic properties in gynecological ailments are confirmed by a long tradition of use. An important example of a medicinal plant with recognized beneficial effects in gynecological problems is Vitex agnus-castus L. (chastetree, chasteberry), belonging to the family Lamiaceae. It is a large shrub or small deciduous tree that distributes widely in the Mediterranean region, Central Asia and the Crimea, whose fruits (and alcoholic extracts prepared from them) are a herbal medicinal substance. Since ancient times, the fruit of chastetree has been used in the therapy of disorders such as mastalgia and menstrual pain. In the recent years, its favorable therapeutic profile in adjuvant treatment of gynecological diseases has been confirmed in numerous in vitro and in vivo tests on animal models and, above all, in clinical trials. As a consequence, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the German Commission E approved this herbal substance for use in the following complaints: disorders of the menstrual cycle, premenstrual syndrome and mastalgia. Phytochemical analyses have demonstrated the presence of several groups of bioactive compounds in this plant material, of which labdane diterpenes, flavonoids and iridoid glycosides are indicated as the main biomolecules that determine its biological properties. The aim of this review is to summarize the current state of knowledge about the fruit of V. agnus-castus, its chemical constituents, therapeutic potential in the treatment of gynecological disorders (with special emphasis on clinical investigations), toxicity and safety profile.
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