---
title: How does Vitex agnus-castus work in the body to help with PMS?
description: Vitex agnus-castus extracts can activate opioid receptors in cells. This may explain how the herb helps with PMS symptoms. The extract without fat was more ac
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/activation-of-the-mu-opiate-receptor-by-vitex-agnus-castus-methanol-extracts-2006/
---

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- How does Vitex agnus-castus work in the body to help with PMS?

Lab study, 2006

# How does Vitex agnus-castus work in the body to help with PMS?

Vitex agnus-castus extracts can activate opioid receptors in cells. This may explain how the herb helps with PMS symptoms. The extract without fat was more active than the extract with fat.

 Early or limited evidence

Laboratory cell study (Chinese hamster cells with human opioid receptors)

## What they did

Tested two different extracts of Vitex agnus-castus fruit (one with fat included, one with fat removed) in laboratory cells containing human opioid receptors. Researchers measured how well the extracts bound to the receptors and how much they activated them.

## What they found

Both extracts bound to the opioid receptors. The extract with fat removed had stronger binding (69.5 microg/ml) compared to the extract with fat (159.8 microg/ml). When tested for activation, the extract with fat stimulated receptor activity by 41% and the extract without fat by 61%.

## What it means for you

This suggests one way Vitex might help with PMS is by activating opioid receptors that can reduce pain and stress. However, this is laboratory research with isolated cells, not studies in human tissue or people. Whether this receptor activation actually translates to symptom relief in women with PMS remains unknown and needs testing.

69.5 microg/ml

binding of extract without fat

41%

activation by extract with fat

61%

activation by extract without fat

## About the study

Original title Activation of the mu-opiate receptor by Vitex agnus-castus methanol extracts: implication for its use in PMS Authors Webster DE, Lu J, Chen SN et al. Journal Journal of ethnopharmacology Year 2006 Study design Lab study What was tested Vitex agnus-castus extracts (with and without fat removed) Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2005.12.025](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2005.12.025)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Vitex agnus-castus (chasteberry)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-vitex/)

Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits.

Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor.

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