monk's pepper
Vitex agnus-castus · Accepted scientific name
Scientific literature: Very Extensive (687 studies) · ★★★★★
Monk's pepper, scientifically known as Vitex agnus-castus, is a perennial shrub native to the Mediterranean. Renowned in herbal medicine for centuries, it is primarily used to balance hormones. It serves as a powerful natural remedy for managing PMS symptoms, regulating menstrual cycles, and supporting overall reproductive health.
Names
Common Names
- Chaste Tree
- Chasteberry
- Monk's Pepper
- Lilac Chastetree
- Chaste-tree
Regional and Traditional Names
Spanish:
- Sauce gatillo
- Árbol casto
German:
- Mönchspfeffer
- Mönchspfeffer
- Keuschstrauch
French:
- gattilier
- arbre au poivre
- arbre chaste
- gattilier
- Arbre au poivre
Scientific Names
Accepted name
Vitex agnus-castusSynonyms
- Agnus-castus robusta
- Vitex agnus-castus f. laciniosa
- Vitex haussknechtii
- Agnus-castus alba
- Agnus-castus macrostachya
- Vitex agnus-castus f. albiflora
- Vitex agnus-castus var. serrata
- Vitex negundo var. macrophylla
- Vitex integra
- Vitex hybrida
- Vitex lupinifolia
- Vitex agnus-castus var. pseudonegundo
- Agnus-castus vulgaris
- Vitex verticillata
- Vitex agnus-castus var. alba
- Vitex agnus-castus f. alba
- Vitex agnus-castus subsp. haussknechtii
- Agnus-castus vulgaris var. alba
- Vitex pseudonegundo
- Vitex agnus-castus f. rosea
- Vitex robusta
- Vitex agnus-castus f. latifolia
- Vitex agnus
- Vitex agnus-castus var. caerulea
- Vitex agnus-castus f. caerulea
- Vitex agnus-castus var. laciniosa
- Vitex agnus-castus var. latifolia
- Vitex agnus-castus var. angustifolia
Taxonomical Classification
This plant, known scientifically as Vitex agnus-castus, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Lamiales and the family Lamiaceae. Finally, it is categorized under the genus Vitex.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Lamiales | WCVP |
| Family | Lamiaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Vitex | WCVP |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a diverse geographical presence across several distinct regions of the European continent. In Middle Europe, it can be found growing within the borders of Germany. Its distribution extends significantly into Southwestern Europe, where it is established in France. Furthermore, the species is located on several Mediterranean islands, including Corse and Sardegna. Finally, its range in the southwestern region also encompasses the Baleares.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Middle Europe | Germany | WCVP |
| Southwestern Europe | Baleares | WCVP |
| Southwestern Europe | Corse | WCVP |
| Southwestern Europe | France | WCVP |
| Southwestern Europe | Sardegna | WCVP |
| Southwestern Europe | Spain | WCVP |
| Southeastern Europe | Albania | WCVP |
| Southeastern Europe | Bulgaria | WCVP |
| Southeastern Europe | Greece | WCVP |
| Southeastern Europe | Italy | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, commonly known as Chasteberry, utilizes various anatomical structures for its medicinal properties. The most frequently used part is the fruits, which are small, dark, drupe-like berries often referred to as chasteberries. Within these fruits, the seeds contain concentrated bioactive compounds that are essential for therapeutic applications. In addition to the reproductive components, the leaf is also noted for its aromatic qualities and can be used in herbal preparations. Furthermore, the stems provide the structural framework that supports the plant's growth, contributing to the overall biological profile of the species.| Plant Part | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| fruit | Complementary therapies in nursing & midwifery (and other 5 sources) | ★★★☆☆ |
| leaf | Complementary therapies in nursing & midwifery (and other 3 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| flower | BioMed research international (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| root | BioMed research international (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| seed | BioMed research international (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| stem | BioMed research international (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Vitex agnus-castus has 134 reported phytochemicals identified across 12 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Casticin, Agnuside, Flavonoids, 3,4-DIHYDROXYBENZOIC ACID, p-Hydroxybenzoic acid.
| Chemical | Supporting sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Casticin | 6 supporting sources | ★★★☆☆ |
| Agnuside | 5 supporting sources | ★★★☆☆ |
| Flavonoids | 5 supporting sources | ★★★☆☆ |
| 3,4-DIHYDROXYBENZOIC ACID | 4 supporting sources | ★★☆☆☆ |
| p-Hydroxybenzoic acid | 4 supporting sources | ★★☆☆☆ |
| 1,8-Cineole | 3 supporting sources | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Artemetin | 3 supporting sources | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Aucubin | 3 supporting sources | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Vanillic acid | 3 supporting sources | ★★☆☆☆ |
| (E)-Caryophyllene | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Casticin
- Dr. Duke
- Phytotherapy research : PTR
- Journal of chromatography. B, Analytical technologies in the biomedical and life sciences
- PloS one
- Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin
View 1 additional sources
- Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
Agnuside
- Dr. Duke
- Journal of chromatography. B, Analytical technologies in the biomedical and life sciences
- PloS one
- Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin
- Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
Flavonoids
- Dr. Duke
- Bratislavske lekarske listy
- Journal of chromatography. B, Analytical technologies in the biomedical and life sciences
- Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
- Phytotherapy research : PTR
3,4-DIHYDROXYBENZOIC ACID
- Dr. Duke
- Phytotherapy research : PTR
- Journal of chromatography. B, Analytical technologies in the biomedical and life sciences
- BioMed research international
p-Hydroxybenzoic acid
- Dr. Duke
- Phytotherapy research : PTR
- Journal of chromatography. B, Analytical technologies in the biomedical and life sciences
- Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
1,8-Cineole
- Dr. Duke
- Planta medica
- Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciencias
Artemetin
- Dr. Duke
- Phytotherapy research : PTR
- Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
Aucubin
- Dr. Duke
- Iranian journal of pharmaceutical research : IJPR
- Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
Vanillic acid
- Dr. Duke
- Phytotherapy research : PTR
- BioMed research international
(E)-Caryophyllene
- Dr. Duke
- Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciencias
Activities
Vitex agnus-castus has 322 reported activities identified across 12 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antibacterial, Estrogenic, Antiinflammatory, Cytotoxic.
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Antioxidant | Dr. Duke (and other 4 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Antibacterial | Dr. Duke (and other 3 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Estrogenic | Dr. Duke (and other 3 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Antiinflammatory | Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Cytotoxic | Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| (-)-Chronotropic | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| (-)-Inotropic | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 11B-HSD-Inhibitor | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 5-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Vitex agnus-castus has 32 reported medicinal uses identified across 12 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include premenstrual syndrome, mastalgia, Candida albicans, amenorrhea, hirsutism.
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| premenstrual syndrome | Journal of the American Pharmaceutical Association (Washington, D.C. : 1996) (and other 5 sources) | ★★★☆☆ |
| mastalgia | Bratislavske lekarske listy (and other 4 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Candida albicans | Plants (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| amenorrhea | Plants (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| hirsutism | Current drug discovery technologies (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| hot flashes | Gynecological endocrinology : the official journal of the International Society of Gynecological Endocrinology (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| oligomenorrhea | Current drug discovery technologies (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Aspergillus niger | Plants (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Chagas disease | Experimental parasitology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| HIV-1 | Plants (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Preparations
| Preparations | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| VAC extracts | Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| essential oils | Complementary therapies in nursing & midwifery (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| extract | Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Standardized Dry Extract from the Fruits | Planta medica (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Ze 440 | Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| aqueous extracts | Current medical mycology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| capsule | Journal of complementary & integrative medicine (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| dried ripe fruit | Planta medica (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ethanolic Vitex agnus-castus fruit-extracts | Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ethanolic extracts | Current medical mycology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |