Pharmacological Measures in Postmenopausal Women with an Isopropanolic Aqueous Extract of Cimicifugae Racemosae Rhizoma

Critical evaluation of the safety of Cimicifuga racemosa in menopause symptom relief

“…The noted lack of estrogenic effect of Cimicifuga on female reproductive hormones has also been demonstrated in a study of hysterectomized menopausal patients. 30 The results of Liske et al 31 confirm data from Nesselhut and Liske 53 that support a lack of estrogenic effect of Cimicifuga on the female genital tract. In their study, postmenopausal women treated with an isopropanolic Cimicifuga extract (136 mg crude drug per day) for 3 months showed no change in the endometrial thickness, monitored by transvaginal sonography, or in hormone levels (E 2 , LH, FSH, and prolactin).…”

“…24 A postmarketing surveillance study of isopropanolic Cimicifuga tablets (136 mg drug daily for 3 months) administered to 40 postmenopausal women with menopausal complaints and an endometrial status typical for menopause evaluated the safety of this extract over a 3-month period. 53 Of the 28 patients who completed the study (12 did not return to the control examination without stating a reason), the isopropanolic extract did not significantly affect vaginal cell status or reproductive hormones [luteinizing hormone (LH), folliclestimulating hormone (FSH), estradiol (E 2 ), and prolactin] as compared with baseline. Likewise, there was no increase in endometrial thickness in comparison to baseline.…”

Cimicifuga racemosa: a systematic review of its clinical efficacy

“…Several clinical studies examined the effect of C. racemosa in menopausal women [11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29]. Only four of these met our inclusion/exclusion criteria [21,22,24,29].…”

“…Most clinical trials were not well designed. Some were not controlled or randomised and included heterogeneous subject samples [11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,23,25,26,27,28]. Only four RCTs were located [21,22,24,29].…”

Black Cohosh Update: Does It Work ? Is It Hepatotoxic ?

“…In addition, prolactin and estradiol levels, as well as endometrial thickness, are not affected by black cohosh. 20,21 At the moment, the mechanism of action is not clear, although botanical experts have postulated an effect on serotonin levels.…”