Search research articles

Search research articles

Related Experiment Videos

"Bust enhancing" herbal products.

Adriane Fugh-Berman¹

¹Department of Health Care Sciences, George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, DC, USA. fughberman@aol.com

Obstetrics and Gynecology

|June 12, 2003

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

The effects of menopausal hormone therapy on cardiovascular disease, cancer, cognition and depression in younger women: A systematic review.

JRSM open·2026

Same author

Redefining Pain and Addiction: How Opioid Manufacturers Changed Medical Language to Foster Opioid Use.

The Journal of law, medicine & ethics : a journal of the American Society of Law, Medicine & Ethics·2026

Same author

Menopausal Hormone Therapy: Limited Benefits, Significant Harms.

American family physician·2025

Same author

Does menopause hormone therapy prevent Alzheimer's disease and dementia?

Drug and therapeutics bulletin·2024

Same author

Parkinson's Disease Psychosis and the Marketing of Pimavanserin.

International journal of social determinants of health and health services·2024

Same author

Are New Alzheimer Drugs Better Than Older Drugs?

JAMA internal medicine·2023

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Bust enhancing herbal products lack clinical trials and may contain potent phytoestrogens and zearalenone. Their use is discouraged due to unproven efficacy and safety concerns.

Area of Science:

Herbal Medicine
Endocrinology
Phytochemistry

Background:

"Bust enhancing" herbal products are widely advertised without clinical trial evidence.
These supplements contain numerous botanicals, including hops, saw palmetto, dong quai, and fenugreek.
Some ingredients possess hormonal activity, such as the potent phytoestrogen 8-prenylnaringenin found in hops.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the composition of "bust enhancing" herbal products.
To assess the potential hormonal activity and safety of ingredients in these supplements.
To evaluate the scientific basis for the efficacy claims of these products.

Main Methods:

Literature review of "bust enhancing" herbal product ingredients.
Analysis of known hormonal activities of constituent herbs.

Related Experiment Videos

Identification of potential contaminants or hormonally active byproducts.

Main Results:

No clinical trials support the efficacy of "bust enhancing" herbal products.
Key ingredients like hops contain potent phytoestrogens (e.g., 8-prenylnaringenin).
Some products may contain substrates for Fusarium, producing zearalenone, a known estrogenic mycotoxin linked to breast enlargement.

Conclusions:

The efficacy of "bust enhancing" herbal products is not supported by scientific evidence.
Hormonal activity and potential contamination with mycotoxins raise significant safety concerns.
Use of these products should be discouraged pending further research and safety evaluations.