A Review of In Vitro and In Vivo Studies on the Efficacy of Herbal Medicines for Primary Dysmenorrhea

Table 1

In vitro studies of herbal medicines for PD.

Study	Herbal medicines	Target cell	Herbal extraction	Dosage	Outcomes and mechanisms
Imai et al. (1995) [24]	Shakuyaku-kanzo-to (TJ-68)	Human endometrium (proliferative-phase from hysterectomy patients due to leiomyoma)	Concentration: 1 to 10 mg/mL Time: 30 min	0, 1, 10, 100, and 1000 μg/mL	(1) PG level↓; (2) Turnover of arachidonic acid in endometrial cells↓
Hsu et al. (2003) [61]	Wen-Jing Tang	Uterine muscle from female Wistar rats (250–350 g)	Extract rate: 35.73%.; Solvent: 50% alcohol	0.125–4 mg/mL	Uterine contraction; (i) Phasic contraction (induced by PG, acetylcholine, ergonovine, propranolol, and oxytocin)↓; (ii) Tonic contraction (induced by KCl)↓
Hsu et al. (2006) [14]	Dang-Qui-Shao-Yao-San	Uterine muscle from female Wistar rats (250–350 g, 6-7 weeks old)	Extract rate: 30.63%.; Solvent: 50% alcohol	0.125–4 mg/mL	Uterine contraction; (i) Phasic contraction (induced by PG, acetylcholine, ergonovine, propranolol, and oxytocin)↓; (ii) Tonic contraction (induced by KCl)↓
Du et al. (2006) [62]	Ligustilide (from Angelica sinensis)	Uterine muscle from female Wistar rats (180–200 g) and female ICR mice (20–24 g)	Purity: >97%	2–8 μg/mL	Uterine contraction; (i) Spontaneous↓; (ii) Induced by PG, acetylcholine, K^+, and Ca^2+-free solution↓
Hua et al. (2008) [25]	Dang-Gui-Shao-Yao-San	Endometrium from nonpregnant female Sprague-Dawley rats (190–210 g)	Solvent: 10 L of 50% ethanol	1, 10, and 100 μg/mL	(1) PG level↓; (2) COX-2 mRNA transcription, protein expression, and enzyme activity↓
Hsia et al. (2008) [56]	Adlay hull	Uterine muscle from female Sprague-Dawley rats (200–300 g)	Solvent: 1 L of methanol	0, 25, 75, 175, 375, and 500 μg/mL	(1) Uterine contraction (induced by PG)↓; (2) Intracellular ↓
Perez-Hernandez et al. (2008) [63]	Lepechinia caulescens	Uterine rings from virgin female Wistar rats (240–300 g)	Solvent: 3 L of hexanes	10, 30, and 100 μg/mL	Uterine contraction (induced by KCl)↓
Rowlands et al. (2009) [64]	Bak Foong Pills	Uterine muscle from mature female ICR mice (8–10 weeks old)	Solvent: ethanol	−4.5–2.5 log mg/mL	Uterine contraction (induced by oxytocin)↓
Su et al. (2010) [65]	Shaofu Zhuyu decoction	Uterine muscle from nonpregnant sexually mature female Kunming strain mice (18–22 g, 6-7 weeks old)	Solvent: 5 mL of methanol	6.25–200 μg/mL	Uterine contraction (induced by oxytocin)↓
Liu et al. (2011) [18]	Xiang-Fu-Si-Wu decoction	Uterine muscle from virgin female Wistar rats (180–220 g) and female ICR mice (20–25 g)	Solvent: ethanol (10–80%)	0.01 or 0.001 mg/mL	Uterine contraction (induced by oxytocin)↓
Shi et al. (2012) [35]	Isoliquiritigenin (from Glycyrrhiza glabra)	Uterine muscle from nonpregnant female ICR mice (18–22 g)	Purity: >99%	0.5–1000 μM	(1) Uterine contraction; (i) Spontaneous↓; (ii) Induced by acetylcholine, KCl, and oxytocin↓; (2) ↓; (3) iNOS↓; (4) COX-1/COX-2↓
Shih and Yang(2012) [66]	Wogonin (from Scutellaria baicalensis)	Uterine muscle from nonpregnant female Wistar rats (250–350 g)	Solvent: 50% aqueous ethanol; Purity: >99.0%	1–100 μM	Uterine contraction; (i) Spontaneous↓; (ii) Induced by oxytocin, PG, and acetylcholine↓
Jia et al. (2013) [67]	Core licorice extract (CLE)	Uterine muscle from healthy and young adult female ICR mice (25–30 g)	Concentration: 0.5 g/mL	(1) Control group: distilled water; (2) CLE group: 0.025, 0.05, and 0.1 mg/mL; (3) Reference drugs and CLE group	Uterine contraction; (i) Spontaneous↓; (ii) Induced by KCl, acetylcholine, carbachol, oxytocin, and bradykinin↓