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Is black cohosh estrogenic?
1UIC/NIH Center for Botanical Dietary Supplements Research, Program for Collaborative Research in the Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Pharmacy Practice, College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.
Nutrition Reviews
|June 26, 2003
Summary
Black cohosh is a popular herbal remedy for menopausal symptoms. However, research suggests it does not act like estrogen, challenging previous theories about its effectiveness.
Area of Science:
- Herbal medicine
- Menopause research
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Many women seek non-estrogenic alternative therapies for menopausal symptom relief.
- Black cohosh is a widely used botanical supplement for managing menopausal symptoms.
- The precise mechanism of action for black cohosh remains under investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the estrogenic activity of black cohosh extracts.
- To determine if black cohosh interacts with the estrogen receptor.
- To assess the effect of black cohosh on estrogen-dependent gene expression and tumor growth.
Main Methods:
- In vitro assays to test estrogen receptor binding.
- Gene expression analysis in relevant cell lines.
- In vivo studies using animal models of estrogen-dependent tumors.
Main Results:
- Black cohosh extracts did not bind to the estrogen receptor.
- No up-regulation of estrogen-dependent genes was observed.
- Black cohosh did not stimulate the growth of estrogen-dependent tumors in animal models.
Conclusions:
- Current data dispute the estrogenic theory of black cohosh's action.
- Black cohosh may exert its effects through non-estrogenic pathways.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the non-estrogenic mechanisms of black cohosh.