Monk’s pepper

The monk’s pepper (Vitex agnus-castus) belongs to the Lamiaceae family of plants and is also called chaste tree, sweet pea bedstraw or chaste mud. The plant originates from the Mediterranean region and southwest Asia. It prefers streams, where the violet-blue flowers often line the banks, and dense forest soils. Monk’s pepper can grow up to four metres high and flowers between July and September. The spike-like inflorescences ripen into small black-red fruits that look like peppercorns.

The shrub was already used for ritual and medicinal purposes in ancient times. In ancient times, women adorned themselves with the flowers of the plant during a traditional fertility festival to express their chastity in this way. 400 years before the birth of Christ, no less a person than Hippocrates recommended taking monk’s pepper leaves with wine: the potion was supposed to speed up the afterbirth. In the monastery kitchen, on the other hand, the fruits and seeds of the plant served as a substitute for real pepper because they have a pungent taste. But they were not only used there as a spice plant, but were also supposed to dampen the sex drive in nuns and monks.

Monk’s pepper and its ingredients and medicinal effects

Monk’s pepper is rich in valuable ingredients. The lipophilic flavonoids, triglycerides, oleic and linoleic acids, bicyclic diterpenes and the iridoid glycosides, which include aucubin and agnuside, are particularly worth mentioning. The essential oil of the plant contains the substances sabinene, cineole and alpha-pinene. All these ingredients contribute to the fact that monk’s pepper has a harmonising effect on the female hormone balance.

In natural medicine, the extract is therefore traditionally used against menstrual disorders, an irregular cycle, headaches, and breast tenderness. The reason: premenstrual syndrome is often associated with an increase in the prolactin level and a too low progesterone level. Monk’s pepper is able to reduce prolactin and favourably influence the hormonal balance. This has a very positive effect on the skin’s appearance, as too much prolactin promotes the development of pimples and pustules. By targeting the dopamine receptors of the pituitary gland, the extract controls the release of the hormone depending on the dosage.

In contrast to all other hormones that are produced in the front part of the pituitary lobe, prolactin is always dependent on the respective amount of dopamine. The neurotransmitter dopamine inhibits the production of prolactin. Hyperprolactin anaemia, i.e., an excess of prolactin, is considered a widespread hormone problem in women.

Monk’s pepper is also useful against typical symptoms of the menopause and acts as a natural antidepressant in hormonally induced depression. For women with an unfulfilled desire to have children due to hormonal imbalance, monk’s pepper is also often a lifeline.

However, it should be noted that pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers should refrain from taking preparations such as tablets containing monk’s pepper. The reason given for this is that the ingredients interfere with the hormone balance.

However, men also benefit from the positive properties of the plant. Smaller doses can help men to alleviate erectile dysfunction and improve their libido. Conversely, a higher dose ensures that excessive sexual desire is diminished.

Monk’s pepper as an innovative ingredient in cosmetics

The medicinal plant is also increasingly being used in cosmetics. This is due in particular to the ingredient artemetine. For example, an extract can be produced from the fruits of the plant that has excellent antimicrobial properties and is very well suited for cosmetic preparations against acne and skin impurities. The high content of free fatty acids, linoleic acid and the aforementioned artemetine often contributes to a significant improvement of the skin’s appearance, provided the skin blemishes are a hormonal problem.

As a natural regulator of the hormonal balance, monk’s pepper indirectly influences the sex hormones and in this way reduces the androgens that are usually responsible for acne. The production of progesterone is stimulated, while testosterone production is reduced.

Moreover, corresponding products are not only aimed at women, but also at men who suffer from acne and pimples. In addition, cosmetic preparations with monk’s pepper can be used to treat itching and eczema. Studies also suggest that monk’s pepper can have a healing effect on hormone-induced hair loss. The extract from the medicinal plant is usually used in ointments and creams, where it has a particularly effective effect. Tea with monk’s pepper extract is also available on the market, which is also said to be effective against skin impurities.

So far, no noteworthy side effects have been observed with the cosmetic application of monk’s pepper. However, allergic reactions cannot be ruled out. Under certain circumstances, they can cause an itchy skin rash with or without wheals.

Fact Sheet Monk’s Pepper

INCI: Vitex Agnus-Castus Extract, Vitex Agnus-Castus Fruit Extract

CAS number: 91722-47-3

EINECS / ELINCS number: 294-446-5

Alternative names: Lover’s bedstraw, chaste tree, chaste mud.

Description: Plant species in the labiates family.

Constituents: bicyclic diterpenes, lipophilic flavonoids, triglycerides, iridoid glycosides, oleic and linoleic acids

Effect: contributes to the regulation of the hormonal balance, in the cosmetic field effective against hormonally caused acne, skin impurities, itching and eczema.

We like to work with these active ingredients based on monk’s pepper:

Monk’s pepper extract in high-quality formulations from Cosmacon

Monk’s pepper has proven to be an effective remedy for hormonally induced acne and is particularly suitable in cosmetic formulations for creams and ointments. On request, we can develop sophisticated formulations for your target group.

Literature:

Characterization and Pharmacological Evaluation of Anti-Cellulite Herbal Product(s) Encapsulated in 3D-Fabricated Polymeric Microneedles.

Amer RI, El-Osaily GH, Bakr RO, El Dine RS, Fayez AM.Sci Rep. 2020 Apr 14;10(1):6316

Data on the inhibitory effect of traditional plants from Sri Lanka against tyrosinase and collagenase.

Ito J, Hara K, Someya T, Myoda T, Sagane Y, Watanabe T, Wijesekara RGS, Toeda K, Nojima S.Data Brief. 2018 Aug 30;20:573-576

Vitexin compound 1, a novel extraction from a Chinese herb, suppresses melanoma cell growth through DNA damage by increasing ROS levels.

Liu N, Wang KS, Qi M, Zhou YJ, Zeng GY, Tao J, Zhou JD, Zhang JL, Chen X, Peng C.J Exp Clin Cancer Res. 2018 Nov 6;37(1):269