Integrative Anti-PMS Effect Of Active Constituents In Fructus Viticis

Casticin, which exists in the fruits of Vitex rotundifolia and V. agnus-castus, is one of active constituents for the treatment of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) for its effects of decreasing the release of prolactin (PRL). In order to understand the mechanism of prolactin reducing effect of casticin, the anti-hyperprolactin activities of casticin in animal model and the effects on prolactin release from the normal pituitary cells or stimulated with estrogen were investigated using metoclopramide-dihydrochloride-induced hyperprolactinemia in rats and cultured pituitary cells. The proliferation of pituitary cells was measured by MTT assay. The prolactin concentration was measured using the double-antibody radioimmunoassay method. RT-PCR analysis was performed to measure the mRNA expression level. The results showed that casticin decrease the release of prolactin in metoclopramide-dihydrochloride-induced hyperprolactinemia rats, have no any effects on proliferation and prolactin release of normal pituitary cells, but significantly decrease proliferation, release of prolactin, and mRNA expression of ERa of pituitary cells stimulated by E2. These results implicated that casticin decrease the prolactin level by counteracting stimulatory effects of estrogen on the lactotropic cells of the pituitary, and Vitex rotundifolia could be considered as an efficient alternative phytotherapeutic drug in the treatment of premenstrual syndrome.