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Menopause01:28

Menopause

Menopause, a natural biological process marking the end of a woman's fertility, typically occurs between the fifth and sixth decade of life. This phase is characterized by the exhaustion of the ovarian follicle pool, leading to less responsive ovaries despite the high levels of Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) and Luteinizing Hormone (LH). The consequential decrease in estrogen production results in symptoms like hot flashes, heavy sweating, headaches, hair loss, muscle pains, vaginal...
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The ovarian cycle regulates endometrial changes throughout a single menstrual cycle via the coordinated action of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and gonadotrophins.
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Generic intravenous (IV) drugs are considered bioequivalent to their branded counterparts due to their 100% bioavailability upon administration. However, variations in stability among different drug products can significantly influence their therapeutic performance, even if they are pharmaceutically equivalent.Cefuroxime, a prophylactic antimicrobial, is often used as a single-dose IV injection for patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting surgery. A 3 g dose typically provides...
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Black cohosh: coming full circle?

Teresa L Johnson1, Jed W Fahey

  • 1Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of International Health, Center for Human Nutrition, Baltimore, MD, USA.

Journal of Ethnopharmacology
|April 17, 2012
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Black cohosh, traditionally used for female issues, may actually act as a general analgesic. Re-examining ethnopharmacology could reveal overlooked mechanisms of action for herbal remedies.

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Area of Science:

  • Ethnobotany
  • Pharmacology
  • Phytochemistry

Background:

  • Black cohosh (Actaea racemosa L.) is a plant native to the eastern USA, historically used for menstrual pain and premenstrual syndrome (PMS).
  • Despite its economic importance and traditional use, successful cultivation has been limited.
  • Its ethnopharmacological uses have been documented for centuries in both Europe and the US.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine how a disregard for traditional ethnobotanical and ethnopharmacological knowledge may have hindered understanding of black cohosh's bioactive compounds.
  • To re-evaluate the mechanism of action of black cohosh by considering historical usage.

Main Methods:

  • Review of historical physician writings and folk literature from the 19th and 20th centuries.
  • Analysis of modern scientific research, including in vitro, animal, and human studies.
  • Comparison of traditional uses with current scientific findings on black cohosh's mode of action.

Main Results:

  • Historical research focused on black cohosh's presumed phytoestrogenic activity.
  • Recent findings suggest black cohosh may possess antinociceptive (pain-relieving) properties.
  • Traditional literature indicates potential analgesic actions that may have been overlooked in modern studies.

Conclusions:

  • The traditional perception of black cohosh solely as a remedy for "female problems" may be incomplete.
  • Black cohosh might have broader analgesic properties that warrant further investigation.
  • Ethnopharmacological data is crucial for re-evaluating the mechanisms of action of herbal remedies, including compounds like actein and cimicifugoside.