Agni castus fructus

Fruit of the monk's pepper. Agnus castus belongs to the labiate family, the 3-5 m high tree-like shrub grows in the Mediterranean region and southwest Asia.

Agnus-castus literally means agnus = lamb and castus = chaste).

Formerly also used as an anti-aphrodisiac by monks in monasteries to control carnal desire.

Quality is laid down in the European Pharmacopoeia.

Commission E monograph: for menstrual irregularities (irregular menstruation), premenstrual complaints and mastodynia (aching breasts).

HMPC- Monograph: Well-established use as dry extract (DEV 6-12:1, extractant ethanol 60 %): premenstrual syndrome.

Traditional-use as powdered drug, tincture or other dry extracts: mild premenstrual symptoms

ESCOP monograph: premenstrual syndrome, tenderness and pain in the breasts; menstrual disorders, too frequent/too few or no periods.

Commission E-monograph: menstrual disorders, premenstrual complaints and mastodynia

Empirical medicine: menstrual disorders in primary and secondary corpus luteum insufficiency with pathologically increased prolactin levels, menopausal symptoms, weaning. Also used as an aphrodisiac.

Ingredients of Frcutus agni casti: bicyclic diterpenes (e.g. rotundifuran), iridoid glycosides (agnuside, aucubin), lipophilic flavonols, hydrophilic flavones e.g. casticin (see flavonoids below), triglycerides, essential oils (with cineole and pinene), sesquiterpenes.

Effects: Reduction of basal and stimulated prolactin secretion in cell cultures, dose-dependent antagonization of haloperidol, binding to the D2 dopamine receptors of lactotropic cells, inhibition of prolactin secretion.

Hyperprolactinemia (E22.1.), premenstrual syndrome (N94.3), mastodynia (N64.5)

allergic reactions with angioedema and urticarial exanthema, headache, dizziness, psychosomatic agitation (rare), hallucinations (rare), confusion (rare).

Pregnancy, lactation, pituitary tumours, mammary carcinoma, allergy to Agnus castus

Children and adolescents under 18 years

Agnolyt® solution or capsules, Agno-Sabona® capsules, Agnucaston® film tablets or solution, Biofem® film tablets, Castufemin® solution, Cefanorm® capsules or solution, Femicur N® capsules, Feminon A® capsules, Sarai® capsules.

Dosage: 2 to 4 mg dry extract (see leaflet)

Ingredients: bicyclic diterpenes (e.g. rotundifuran), iridoid glycosides, lipophilic flavonols, hydrophilic flavones e.g. casticin (see flavonoids below), triglycerides, essential oils (with cineole and pinene), sesquiterpenes.

1. Carmichael AR (2008) Can Vitex Agnus Castus be Used for the Treatment of Mastalgia? What is the Current Evidence? Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 5:247-250.
2. Halaska M et al.(1998) Treatment of cyclical mastodynia using an extract of Vitex agnus castus: results of a double-blind comparison with a placebo. Ceska Gynekol 63:388-392.
3. Loew D (2012) in Beer A M et al [eds] Leitfaden Naturheilverfahren für die ärztliche Praxis, Urban und Fischer Verlag p 185.
4. Šošić-Jurjević B et al. (2016) Functional morphology of pituitary -thyroid and -adrenocortical axes in middle-aged male rats treated with Vitex agnus castus essential oil. Acta Histochem doi: 10.1016/j.acthis.2016.07.007.
5. Tamagno G (2009) Are changes of prolactin levels the effectors of vitex agnus castus beneficial effects on the pre-menstrual syndrome? Maturitas 63:369.
6. Tamagno G et al. (2007) Vitex agnus castus might enrich the pharmacological armamentarium for medical treatment of prolactinoma. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 135:139-140.
7. YE Q et al. (2010) Casticin, a flavonoid isolated from Vitex rotundifolia, inhibits prolactin release in vivo and in vitro. Acta Pharmacol Sin 31:1564-1568.
8. https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/herbal-monograph/final-european-union-herbal-monograph-vitex-agnus-castus-l-fructus-revision-1_en.pdf
9. https://arzneipflanzenlexikon.info/moenchspfeffer.php
10. Wenigmann M. (2017) Phytotherapy medicinal drugs, phytopharmaceuticals, application. Urban & Fischer, pp. 162-163
11. https://www.awl.ch/heilpflanzen/vitex_agnus_castus/moenchspfeffer.htm

12. Blaschek W (2015) Wichtl tea drugs and phytopharmaceuticals. A handbook for practice. Wissenschaftliche Verlagsgesellschaft Munich. S 48-51