Comparative Study of the Effects of Chamomile (Matricaria Chamomilla L.) and Cabergoline on Idiopathic Hyperprolactinemia: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

Chamomile is a fascinating plant quoted in several traditional medicine texts, which has broad-spectrum pharmacological activity and medicinal uses. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of chamomile syrup in reducing serum prolactin in women with idiopathic hyperprolactinemia. The study was a randomized, controlled clinical trial that was conducted on 56 women with idiopathic hyperprolactinemia for a study period of four weeks. Patients were randomly enrolled in two parallel arms and were treated by chamomile syrup at a dose of 5 mL twice daily or cabergoline tablet orally at a dose of 0.25 mg twice weekly. Serum prolactin levels were measured at baseline and the end of the 4-week study period. Any report of adverse events was also recorded. Results revealed that within the cabergoline group the reduction in the mean prolactin level was significantly greater than that of the chamomile group (p <0.0001). It was also found that decline in the mean prolactin level was statistically significant within the chamomile group (p <0.0001). Chamomile syrup seems to be effective on serum prolactin reduction in women with idiopathic hyperprolactinemia. However, studies with a larger sample size and for a longer follow-up period are recommended.