مرکز منطقه ای اطلاع رساني علوم و فناوري - A retrospective study on Vitex agnus castus L. preperation

Abstract :

Aim: To retrospectively evaluate short- and medium-term use of a preparation marketed in Turkey containing Vitex agnus castus at ordinary doses for various gynecologic indications. Materials and methods: The study group consisted of women using VAC fruit extract preparation for at least 3 months throughout a 1-year-period (n=215). Women prescribed non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) for dysmenorrhea during the same period served as controls (n=108). Demographic data and primary diagnoses were retrieved from the files. Persistence of symptoms (present/absent) at week 6 and 12 were classified. Chi-square and student s t-test were used for comparisons. Results: There were no differences among groups considering demographic variables. At week 6, 83% of women in the VAC group versus 80% of the controls had reported symptom regression (p=0.72). At week 12, 87% of the VAC users stated resolution of symptoms , whereas this figure remained at 50% in the control group (p=0.009). Mild and transient side effects (stomachache and headache) were recorded (3.6%). Conclusion: VAC treatment can induce symptomatic relief with an acceptable side effect profile in gynecologic patients. Double-blind randomized clinical trials with a cross-over design are warranted to reveal whether this is a placebo effect or not.