Study, 2007
Could a plant from Costa Rica help with period pain and PMS?
Lab tests show that extracts from Justicia pectoralis plant have effects on proteins involved in pain and hormones, which could explain its traditional use. However, the plant has not been tested in people with PMS or dysmenorrhea.
What they did
Lab tests on plant extracts from Justicia pectoralis collected in Costa Rica. Researchers tested whether the extracts could block a key pain-causing enzyme, and whether they could bind to receptors for estrogen, progesterone, and serotonin.
What they found
The plant extracts blocked a pain-causing enzyme called COX-2. They bound to estrogen receptors, progesterone receptors, and a serotonin receptor. These findings suggest potential ways the plant could help with pain and mood symptoms.
What it means for you
The plant has biological properties that could plausibly explain traditional use for period pain and PMS symptoms. However, this is lab work on plant extracts, not testing in people, so we cannot know if it actually helps women.
About the study
- Original title
- Alternative therapies from Costa Rica for the management of PMS and dysmenorrhea: Justicia pectoralis Jacq.: mechanisms of action
- Authors
- Tracie Locklear, Brian Joseph Doyle, Alice Pérez Sánchez et al.
- Journal
- The FASEB Journal
- Year
- 2007
- Study design
- Study
- What was tested
- Justicia pectoralis plant extracts
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1096/fasebj.21.5.a436-a
Topics
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