Agnuside found in vitex herb

Most published research uses standardized vitex agnus preparations, which are tested for potency based on their content of agnuside, one of the active components. Vitex agnus has several beneficial substances, therefore it is not necessary that the vitex extract preparation be standardized for agnuside. Vitex agnus is also known as Chaste Berry.

Agnuside in vitex agnus-castus
The methanolic extract of the flowering stems of Vitex agnus-castus have iridoids: 6'-O-foliamenthoylmussaenosidic acid (agnucastoside A), 6'-O-(6,7-dihydrofoliamenthoyl)mussaenosidic acid (agnucastoside B) and 7-O-trans-p-coumaroyl-6'-O-trans-caffeoyl-8-epiloganic acid (agnucastoside C) in addition to aucubin, agnuside, mussaenosidic acid and 6'-O-p-hydroxybenzoylmussaenosidic acid, and one known phenylbutanone glucoside (myzodendrone).

Evaluation of the estrogenic activity of the constituents in the fruits of Vitex rotundifolia L. for the potential treatment of premenstrual syndrome.
J Pharm Pharmacol. 2007 Sep. Department of Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, 325 Guohe Road, Shanghai 200433, China.
The ethanol extract of the fruits of Vitex rotundifolia and its four major compounds (casticin, luteolin, rotundifuran and agnuside) were tested for their estrogen-like activity by using the modified cell proliferation assay, as well as the estrogen receptor (ER(alpha)), estrogen receptor-regulated progesterone receptor and pS2 mRNA expression in MCF-7 cells. The results showed that only agnuside and rotundifuran could stimulate the proliferation of MCF-7 cells. These actions were dose dependent and could be significantly inhibited by the specific estrogen receptor antagonist ICI 182,780. The estrogen receptor ER(alpha) and the estrogen receptor-regulated progesterone receptor and pS2 mRNA levels were increased by treatment with rotundifuran and agnuside within 24 h, and the effects could be reversed by ICI 182,780. Vitex rotundifolia and its compounds showed estrogen-like activity and that the estrogenic effects of rotundifuran and agnuside were mediated by the estrogen inducible gene, which may be useful in regulating the hormone levels to treat related diseases. However, further studies are required to assess the physiological significance of Vitex rotundifolia in animals and man.

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