The efficacy of herbal medicines on anxiety and depression in peri- and postmenopausal women: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

The main objective in this systematic review was to analyse herbal medicine interventions for anxiety and depression to detect possible benefits of herbal medicines in peri-and postmenopausal women. Material and method: The trials published since inception to August 2017 were searched on the databases of MEDLINE, ISI Web of Science, Scopus and Cochran central register of controlled trials Results: Twenty-one trials were included into systematic review. The anxiety score (standardized mean difference ¼ À1.19; p ¼ 0.04; six trials) and depression (standardized mean difference ¼ À0.952; p ¼ 0.023; five trials) was lower in the phytoestrogen group compared to the placebo. However, the heterogeneity was notably high among trials that assessed anxiety outcome (p < 0.0001; I 2 ¼ 97.12%) and depression (p < 0.0001; I 2 ¼ 94.51%), and we were unable to reduce the heterogeneity to below 90% after one with one exclusion of the studies; 1000 mg of fenugreek extract on depression and anxiety, 600 mg of Trigonella foenum-graecum de-husked seed extract on psychosocial symptoms, 0.4 mg/ml Maca extract on anxiety, 500 mg of Hop plant on depression and anxiety, 80 mg or more than 80 mg of red clover-derived isoflavones on psychological symptoms had significant effect. Non-significant effect was observed in black cohosh on anxiety. However, significant effect of black cohosh was seen on psychological symptoms. Fennel had a positive effect in both patients with anxiety or depression and healthy women. Flaxseed group showed a non-significant effect on psychological symptoms. Conclusion: The present systematic review found that some of the herbal medicines may have good effect in the relief of the anxiety and the depression.

The management of premenstrual syndrome: results of a questionnaire survey of women in Lviv pharmacies, Ukraine

“…Medications containing St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) are effective in eliminating behavioral disorders in PMS (level of evidence C) [32][33][34]. Medicines based on black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa) facilitate "hot flashes", reduce sweating, normalize nervous stress, and eliminate headaches, depression, anxiety, and insomnia (level of evidence C) [35,36].…”

Menopause Anxiety and Depression; How Food Can Help?

“…There are few studies that suggest that phytoestrogens may wield some effects on psychological and mental health, resulting in a better quality of life in perimenopausal females [34], [35], [36]. The effectiveness of soy and herbal medicines (fennel, red clover, and kava) was assessed in improving depression and anxiety in menopausal women [37]. Overall, soy was found to have a minimal effect on these psychological symptoms [36], fennel had a significant positive effect on menopausal women with depression and anxiety disorder [38], and red clover showed varying effects ranging on these two psychological symptoms [39].…”

Phytoestrogens and Health Effects

“…Medicinal plants displaying estrogenic effects are used in the treatment of acute menopausal syndrome: mainly hot flushes, insomnia, vaginal atrophy, and osteoporosis, [ 36 , 37 ] but also mood and anxiety [ 38 ]. Estrogenic effects of aromatic or medicinal plants have often been established in clinical observations and demonstrated experimentally on the basis of plant extracts [ 39 , 40 ].…”