The Action of the So-Called Female Remedies on the Excised Uterus of the Guinea-Pig

Research Article: Pharmacological effects of the aqueous extract of Caulophyllum thalictroides (blue cohosh) on isolated Mus musculus uteri

“…The data reported herein show that the roots and rhizomes of blue cohosh produce an increase in contractile force in isolated longitudinal strips of murine uterine smooth muscle. These results are consistent with earlier investigations demonstrating that blue cohosh has a definite oxytocic action in uterine tissue (Pilcher et al, 1916;Ferguson and Edwards, 1954). In the present study, tissue contractile responses to lower doses of blue cohosh were statistically less than those to larger, indicating that blue cohosh has some dose-dependency.…”

“…When uterine muscle responses to blue cohosh were interpreted based on the stage of the estrous cycle that the experimental mouse was in, there were no significant differences in contractile responses with respect to the stage of estrous. In an earlier study, Pilcher et al, (1916) also concluded that similar contractile results were seen between various stages of pregnancy and the estrous cycle when using isolated guinea pig uteri. These results would seem to infer that the number of neuronal nicotinic receptors available for blue cohosh binding is not influenced by fluctuating levels of estrogen (or estrogen-like) compounds.…”

“…Adham and Schenk (1969), however, using histochemical techniques, observed that the density of cholinergic innervation in the rat uterus is the most prominent during estrus and the least so during diestrus. Since the entire estrous cycle of a mouse can take place in four to five days (Allen, 1922), a possible reason for the different conclusions between Pilcher et al, (1916); Adham and Schenk, (1969), and the results herein may relate to the intraspecific variation occurring within such a continuous cycle as estrous. For example, the administration of DES 24 hours prior to experimentation served as an attempt to standardize the mice, moving them towards estrus.…”

A national survey of herbal preparation use by nurse-midwives for labor stimulation Review of the literature and recommendations for practice

“…Over 22 substances were found in patented preparations marketed as “female remedies” in the early 1900s, including blue cohosh (28). Studies were performed on the excised uteri of guinea pigs by Pilcher et al in 1916 (30). Blue cohosh was found to contain the only active oxytocic responsible for increasing uterine tone.…”

“…Blue cohosh was found to contain the only active oxytocic responsible for increasing uterine tone. It frequently initiated contractions in nonactive strips of uterine tissue but also increased tone with cessation of contractions, which the authors described as tetanus (30). Although a decrease in blood pressure of 30–50 mm with a “fairly prompt” return to normal was observed when blue cohosh was administered to dogs in these large doses, a subsequent in vivo study on dogs indicated no effect on the uterus when blue cohosh was administered in high doses (31).…”