PDR for Herbal Medicines

176/CHAMAEMELUM NOBILE PDR FOR HERBAL MEDICINES

Chamaemelum nobile

See English Chamomile

Vitex agnus-castus

TRADE NAMES

Chasteberry Power, Vitex, Alcohol-Free Chaste Tree Bern'

DESCRIPTION

Medicinal Parts: The medicinal parts are the ripe dried fruit

and the dried leaves.

Flower and Fruit: The 8 to 10 cm, blue, occasionally pink

flowers form terminal, branched, spike-like inflorescences.

The calyx and epicalyx of the bilabiate corolla are pubescent.

The fruit is a globular to oblong, 3 to 4 mm, reddish black, 4-

seeded drupe. It is surrounded up to two-thirds in cup-like

fashion by the calyx. The exocarp has short-stemmed.

glandular hairs.

Leaves, Stem and Root: The plant is a l to 6 m high bush or

tree with quadrangular, gray, tomentose, young branches.

The leaves are deciduous, crossed-opposite, long-petioled

and palmate. They have 5 to 7 entire-margined, up to 10 cm

long, lanceolate leaflets. The under surface of the leaf is

white and tomentose.

Habitat: The plant is indigenous to the Mediterranean region

as far as western Asia.

Production: Chaste Tree fruits consist of the ripe, dried fruits

of Vitex agnus-castus.

ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY

COMPOUNDS

Iridoid glycosides: agnoside, aucubin

Flavonoids: including casticin, 3,6,7,4'-tetramethylether, 6-

hydroxy-kempferol -3,6,7,4'-tetramethylether, 6-hydroxy-

kempferol-3,6,7-trimethylether (penduletin), quercetagenin-

3,6,7-trimethylether (chrysosplenol D)

Volatile oil (0.8-1.6%): including among others, 1,8-cineole,

lime, alpha-pinene, beta-pinene, as well as bornyl acetate,

camphor, p-cymol, sabinene

Fatty oils

EFFECTS
The drug is dopaminergic and FSH-suppressive; it also
inhibits lactation (main active principles aucubin and agno-
side). In addition, the drug represses the release of prolactin
and improves the symptoms of PMS.

In older animal experiments, the drug was tested on the

ovaries and resulted in a reduction of cystic and bleeding

follicles. In other animal experiments, an inhibition of

lactation and a normalization of stress-induced hyperprolac-

tin anemia was observed. In clinical studies, the positive

effect on symptoms resulting from hyperprolactin anemia

was proven.

A dopaminergic effect via bonding on D2-receptors was also

shown.

INDICATIONS AND USAGE

Approved by Commission E:

• Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)


• Menopausal complaints
  Unproven Uses: Chaste Tree preparations are used to treat
  irregularities of the menstrual cycle, premenstrual com-
  plaints, menstrual disturbances caused by corpus luteum
  insufficiency, insufficient milk production and mastodynia.
  It is also used to control libido, increase milk flow, reduce
  flatulence, suppress appetite, and induce sleep. Additional
  uses include the treatment of impotency, spermatorrhea,
  prostatitis, swelling of the testes, sexual neurasthenia,
  sterility, amenorrhea, uterine pain, and swelling of the
  ovaries. Chaste Tree is also used to induce menstruation.

Homeopathic Uses: Chaste Tree is used for male sexual

disturbances, disturbances of milk flow, and nervous

depression.

CONTRAINDICATIONS

The drug is contraindicated in pregnancy and in nursing

mothers.

PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS

General: Occasionally, the administration of the drug leads

to the formation of rashes.

Drug Interactions: Because of the dopaminergic effect of the

drug, a reciprocal weakening of die effect can occur in case

of ingestion of dopamine-receptor antagonists.

Pregnancy: The drug should not be administered during

pregnancy

Nursing Mothers: The drug should not be used by breast-

feeding mothers.

DOSAGE

Mode of Administration: Whole and powdered drug avail-

able as capsules, drops, film tablets, and compound

preparations.

How Supplied:

Capsules — 40 mg, 100 mg

Liquid Extract — 1:1

Chaste Tree