Scientific evidence of medicinal plants in the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea and premenstrual syndrome: Integrative Review

• Autor(a) principal: Robert, Ana Paula
• Data de Publicação: 2024
• Outros Autores: Durães Alves Monteiro, Maria Helena
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: por
• Título da fonte: Revista Fitos
• Texto Completo: https://revistafitos.far.fiocruz.br/index.php/revista-fitos/article/view/1634
• topic: Plantas Medicinais; Fitoterapia; Dismenorreia; Síndrome Pré-menstrual; Cólica Menstrual; Medicinal plants; Phytotherapy; Dysmenorrhea; Premenstrual Syndrome; Menstrual cramps

The prevalence of primary dysmenorrhea (painful menstrual cramps) accompanied by premenstrual syndrome is a daily phenomenon in the experience of many women. The objective of this research was to analyze evidence of the therapeutic potential of medicinal plants in the treatment of dysmenorrhea and premenstrual syndrome. An integrative review was carried out in the Virtual Health Library and Pubmed databases, from 2002 to 2022, in Portuguese and English, following the inclusion criteria of clinical trials and systematic reviews with metanalysis. The contemplated plants were: Acteae racemosa, Anethum graveolens, Angelica sinensis, Artemisia vulgaris, Borago officinalis, Cinnamomum verum, Dioscorea villosa, funcho – Foeniculum vulgare, Himatanthus bracteatus, Leonurus sibiricus, Oenothera biennis, Origanum majorana, Salvia officinalis e  Vitex agnus-castus. Except for one clinical trial, all others have seen considerable improvements in outcomes. Dill and fennel showed no significant difference compared to treatment with mefenamic acid, being effective in reducing pain and guinea fowl observed similar effectiveness in reducing pain intensity when compared to the use of contraceptives. The findings suggest the nedd for standardization of extraces in trials, larger samples and description of adverse events.