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.
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
Topics
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