Evidence supporting the use of: Agnuside
For the health condition: Menopause
Synopsis
Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2
Agnuside is an iridoid glycoside found in the fruit of Vitex agnus-castus (chaste tree), a plant traditionally used in herbal medicine for various female reproductive health issues. The use of Vitex agnus-castus, and by association agnuside, for menopause is primarily rooted in traditional European herbal practice, where it has been recommended to support hormonal balance, alleviate menstrual irregularities, and sometimes to help with menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes and mood swings.
Scientific evidence specifically supporting agnuside or Vitex agnus-castus for menopause is limited. Most research on Vitex focuses on premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and mastalgia, with some modest evidence showing benefit. However, clinical trials directly assessing its efficacy for menopause-related symptoms are few, low in quality, and show inconsistent results. Mechanistically, Vitex is thought to act via dopaminergic pathways that influence prolactin secretion, but clear effects on menopausal estrogen decline or related symptoms are not well-established.
In summary, while agnuside-containing Vitex agnus-castus is traditionally used for female hormonal complaints, robust scientific validation for its effectiveness in treating or supporting menopause is lacking. Its use for menopause is thus justified more by tradition than by rigorous clinical evidence.
Other ingredients used for Menopause
7-hydroxymatairesinol (HMR)alfalfa
aloe vera
ashwagandha
asparagus
astragalus
black cohosh
black currant
Indian frankincense
bupleurum falcatum
burdock
calcium
chaste tree
cordyceps
damiana
DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone)
DIM (diindolylmethane)
dog rose
dong quai root
eleuthero
evening primrose oil
fenugreek
fish oil
flaxseed
genistein
genistin
hibiscus
HMR lignan
hops
knotweed
jujube
kudzu
licorice root
lignans
maca
marine lipid
melatonin
moringa
motherwort
nettle
okra
omega-3 fatty acids
ophiopogon root
pollen
pomegranate
rehmannia glutinosa
reishi mushroom
rose oil
saffron
sage
soybean
valerian root
vitamin B6
vitamin D
vitamin D3
vitamin E
seaweed
wild yam
red clover
atractylodes
smilax
rubia cordifolia
bee pollen
lingzhi
root tuber
dioscorea
royal jelly
Equol (proprietary)
anemarrhena asphodeloides
barrenwort
goji berry
amaranth
soy isoflavones
27-deoxyactein
8-Prenylnaringenin
akebia
Antler
Achyranthes
Alchemilla
Agrimonia pilosa
Agnuside
Ashoka
Anemarrhena
Atractylone
Black Seed
Banyan
Bioflavonoids
Black root
Chinese Silkvine
Cohosh
Clary sage
Cnidium
Cynomorium
Crinum latifolium
DHEA
Danshen
Daidzein
Durian
Dong Quai
Elk antler
Evening Primrose
Isoflavones
Lotus
Prickly Pear Cactus
Rose
Rhubarb
Soy Protein
Vervain