Evidence supporting the use of: Agnuside
For the health condition: Amenorrhea
Synopsis
Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2
Agnuside is a major iridoid glycoside found in the fruit of Vitex agnus-castus (chaste tree), a plant with a long history of use in traditional herbal medicine, particularly in Europe and the Mediterranean. Historically, Vitex agnus-castus has been used to address various menstrual disorders, including amenorrhea (absence of menstruation). The traditional rationale is based on the plant's reputed ability to balance female hormones and restore normal menstrual cycles. Agnuside is considered one of the key active compounds in chaste tree fruit, and it is often used as a marker for standardization of extracts. However, while there is substantial traditional use of Vitex agnus-castus for amenorrhea, direct scientific evidence specifically focusing on agnuside itself is limited. Most clinical studies and reviews evaluate whole plant extracts rather than isolated agnuside. Some research indicates that chaste tree extracts may influence prolactin secretion via dopaminergic pathways, potentially helping to regulate menstrual cycles, but agnuside’s individual role in these effects is not well delineated. Therefore, the support for agnuside in treating amenorrhea relies primarily on historical use and extrapolation from studies on the whole plant, rather than robust clinical trials on the isolated compound.
Other ingredients used for Amenorrhea
AbutaAchyranthes
Aerva lanata
Agnuside
Alchemilla
Aletris
Anemone
Angelica
anise
Ashoka
ashwagandha
Asteraceae
ba ji tian
bethroot
blessed thistle
blue cohosh
chaste tree
chrysophanics
Clary sage
Cnidium
cohosh
Cyathula
dioscorea
dong quai
dong quai root
estrogen
false unicorn root
fennel
fenugreek
ginger
ginseng
Huang hua
Iris
Labisia pumila
Lady's Mantle
licorice root
maca
macaenes
Montanoa tomentosa
Motherwort
Pennyroyal
Pulsatilla
Rhodiola
rue
shen-chu
shepherd's purse
Stellaria dichotoma
Viburnum
vitamin B6
vitamin D
Vitex Agnus-Castus
Wild yam
