Black Cohosh - Non-Timber Forest Products

Evaluates black cohosh for estrogenic or antiestrogenic activity.
Cornification of vaginal smears in castrated female mice was used as an
indicator of estrogenic activity. Mice treated with mestranol or 17–ß–
estradiol developed estrus, whereas mice treated with black cohosh did not.
No antiestrogenic effects were observed in mice treated with both estrogen
and black cohosh.
Keywords: Clinical studies, physiological actions.
Koeda, M.; Aoki, Y.; Sakurai, N. [and others]. 1994. Three novel
cyclolanostanol xylosides from Cimicifuga rhizome. Chemical and
Pharmaceutical Bulletin. 42(10): 2205-2207.
Reports the isolation of three new xylosides from a commercial black
cohosh rhizome. The structures and chemistry of the compounds are
presented.
Keywords: Chemical constituents.
Korn, W.D. 1991. Six-month oral toxicity study with Remifemin ® -granulate
in rats followed by an 8-week recovery period. Hannover, Germany:
International Bioresearch. [Number of pages unknown].
Investigates chronic toxicity over a six-month period of administering black
cohosh granulate to rats at up to 1800 mg/kg body weight, 90 times the
therapeutic dose. After an eight-week recovery period, no detectable toxic
effects were observed.
Keywords: Research, toxicity.
Kronenberg, F.; Fugh-Berman, A. 2002. Complementary and alternative
medicine for menopausal symptoms: a review of randomized, controlled
trials. Annals of Internal Medicine. 137(10): 805-813.
Reviews research on several herbs used to treat menopausal symptoms.
Triterpene glycosides, organic acids, esters, or the isoflavone biochanin have
all been suggested as sources for the the medicinal effects of black cohosh,
though the active constituents and their physiological actions had not yet
been identified at the time the article was published. Notes that no data was
available on the long-term safety of using black cohosh.
Keywords: Chemical constituents, research reviews.
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