Black Cohosh - Non-Timber Forest Products

Evaluates constituents from black cohosh for anti-HIV activity. Actein, a
tetracyclic triterpenoid, showed potent anti-HIV activity, and 12 saponins
showed moderate anti-HIV activity.
Keywords: Chemical constituents, clinical studies, medicinal uses.
Schaper and Brummer, GmbH. 1997. Remifemin ® : a plant-based
gynecological agent. Salzgitter, Germany: Schaper and Brummer GmbH.
[Number of pages unknown].
Summarizes a controlled, randomized, double-blind, multicenter clinical
study involving 152 women before or after menopause (age 43 to 60 years)
who were experiencing moderate neurovegetative climacteric complaints.
Patients received either one or two 20-mg tablets twice daily for three
months. Patients were examined before starting treatment, at 2, 4, and 8
weeks of treatment, and after the study ended. Effectiveness was evaluated
using the Kupperman Menopausal Index, the Self-Assessment Depression
Scale, the Clinical Global Impression scale, and vaginal cytology indices.
Levels of luteinizing hormone, follicle stimulating hormone, estradiol–17b,
prolactin, and globulin were also measured. Both dosages showed similar
effectiveness and safety results; the Kupperman Menopausal Index and Self-
Assessment Depression Scale showed significantly decreased scores, but
no changes were seen in vaginal cytology or hormone levels. No details are
given on adverse effects, though the treatment was rated as well tolerated
by 95 percent of patients and 92 percent of their doctors, and as “good”
or “very good” in 80 percent of cases. This brochure is provided by the
manufacturers of Remifemin ® .
Keywords: Assessment scales, clinical studies, dosage, luteinizing hormone,
medicinal uses, menopause, Remifemin ®
Schlosser, K.K. 2002. Counting cohosh. North Carolina Wildflower
Preservation Society. 14(2): [Number of pages unknown]. http://www.
nps.gov/plants/medicinal/pubs/countingcohosh.htm. [Date accessed:
September 13, 2004].
Describes a monitoring study of black cohosh in the forests of North
Carolina sponsored by the Plant Conservation Alliance - Medicinal Plant
Working Group and the Forest Service, and executed by members of the
Garden Club of America. In this study, black cohosh plants in designated 10
X 10-meter plots were counted, measured, and evaluated for health status.
Plots were divided into one of three groups: controls with no harvest, 33
percent harvest, or 66 percent harvest. The purpose of the research is to
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