Casticin, an active compound isolated from Vitex Fructus, ameliorates the cigarette smoke-induced acute lung inflammatory response in a murine model.

The aim of this study was to determine of the effect of casticin, as an anti-inflammatory agent, on an acute lung inflammation in vivo model established through exposure to cigarette smoke (CS). Casticin is a phytochemical from Vitex species such as Vitex rotundifolia and Vitex agnus-castus that was recently shown to exert an anti-inflammatory effect in vivo. To demonstrate the effects of casticin, C57BL/6 mice were whole-body exposed to mainstream CS or fresh air for two weeks and treated with 1, 2, and 10mg/kg casticin via an i.p. injection. Immune cell infiltrations and cytokine productions were assessed from bronchoalveolar lavage Fluid (BALF), and lung histological analysis was performed. Treatment with casticin was observed to significantly inhibit the numbers of total cells, neutrophils, macrophages, and lymphocytes and reduce the levels of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines in the BALF. In addition, casticin significantly decreased the infiltration of peribronchial and perivascular inflammatory cells and the epithelium thickness. The results of this study indicate that casticin has significant effects on the lung inflammation induced by CS in a mouse model. According to these outcomes, casticin may have therapeutic potential in inflammatory lung diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Vitex rotundifolia L. prevented airway eosinophilic inflammation and airway remodeling in an ovalbumin-induced asthma mouse model.

Vitex rotundifolia L. (VR) as long been used in China and Korea in traditional medicine. This study was conducted to evaluate the ability of Vitex rotundifolia L. to prevent airway inflammation and remodeling in an ovalbumin (OVA)-induced murine asthma model. The total cell number and number of inflammatory cells in the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid were counted. The levels of cytokines in the BAL fluid and serum IgE levels were measured using an ELISA. For histological analysis, hematoxylin and eosin staining, periodic acid-Schiff staining and immunohistochemistry were evaluated. The release of total cells into the BAL fluid was significantly inhibited in OVA-induced asthmatic mice treated with VR extract. In addition, eosinophilia and lymphocytosis were reduced significantly in mice that received VR extract. Furthermore, levels of the T(h)2 cytokines IL-4 and IL-5 and pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-α in the BAL fluid and total IgE in serum were markedly suppressed by VR extract. OVA-specific IgE in the serum and IL-13 in the BAL fluid were decreased, but not significantly. The allergic effects of VR extract were accompanied by a reduction in airway hyperresponsiveness. Additionally, morphologic findings demonstrated that VR extract substantially inhibited OVA-induced eosinophilia, goblet cell hyperplasia and smooth muscle mass production. This finding suggests that VR extract may have pharmacological effects that would be useful for the treatment of asthma via the inhibition of the T(h)2 response and airway remodeling.

El fruto de sauzgatillo en el tratamiento del síndrome premenstrual / No disponible

El síndrome premenstrual (SPM) es un trastorno recurrente que aparece en la fase lútea del ciclo, caracterizado por la aparición de síntomas físicos (hinchazón abdominal o de las extremidades, tensión mamaria, cefaleas) y psicológicos (depresión, irritabilidad, ansiedad, fatiga). Afecta a más del 50% de las mujer es en la etapa reproductiva y , en una minoría de casos (3-5%), puede llegar a ser incapacitante. En su etiología intervienen diversos factor es, entre los que destacan los relacionados con distintos sistemas de neurotransmisión (sero-toninérgico, gabaérgico, dopaminérgico y opioide) así como la influencia que sobre los mismos ejercen las hormonas sexuales y sus metabolitos. Una de las posibilidades terapéuticas con las que se cuenta en el tratamiento del SPM son los preparados del fruto de sauzgatillo (Vitex agnus-castus L.), activos sobre los receptores D2 y opioides, y que han sido objeto de varios ensayos clínicos en los que se ha demostrado su efecto beneficioso sobre este síndrome (AU)

The Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) is a recurrent disorder that occurs in the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle, characterised by symptoms both physical (abdominal bloating, breast swelling, headache) and psychological (depressed mood, irritability , anxiety, fatigue). It affects more than 50% of women in reproductive age, and, in a minority of cases (3-5%) can become disabling. Several factors are involved in its aetiology, the most outstanding among them being those related with several neurotransmitter systems (serotoninergic, gabaergic, dopaminer gic, and opioid), and the influence of sexual hormones and its metabolites on them. One of the therapeutic possibilities to consider in the treatment of PMS are the preparations obtained from the fruit of chaste tree (Vitex agnus-castus L.), which are active on brain D2 and opioid receptors, and have demonstrated efficacy on PMS in several clinical trials (AU)