What is Black Cohosh ?Black Cohosh - A Lady's Herb.
Content:
- .Botanical Data of Black Cohosh.
- .Narrative History of Black cohosh.
- .Application and Uses of Black cohosh.
- .Phytochemicals,constituents and functional mechanism of Black Cohosh.
- .Historical Development of Black Cohosh.
- .Modern Use and application of Black cohosh.
- .Black Cohosh Physiology.
- .Clinical studies of Black Cohosh.
- .Dosage and other comments.
- .Skunk Bugbane and Application.
- .How Search engine think about black cohosh.
Phytochemicals,constituents and functional mechanism of Black Cohosh.
Black Cohosh Root Extract: Numerous studies have been conducted to show the medical benefits of Black Cohosh. Studies suggest that Black Cohosh is similar to the drugs used in hormone replacement therapy.
Chemical Constituents:
Nitrogenous Compounds: Alkaloids
N-methylcytisine and related unknown quinolizidine alkaloids have been reported (Newall et al., 1996).
Phenolic Compounds:Flavonoids
Formononetin was isolated by Jarry and co-workers in 1985, but more recent studies of the commercial preparation Remifemin? indicated its absence in the isopropyl/ethanolic aqueous extract (Struck et al., 1997), although other isoflavones were present.
Organic Acids:
Isoferulic and salicylic acids occur in black cohosh (Leung and Foster, 1996). (Note: low concentrations of salicylates are widely distributed in many plants. The small amounts in black cohosh are unlikely to cause any allergic reaction in individuals sensitive to acetylsalicylic acid.)
Terpenoid Compounds:
The chemical make-up of black cohosh is not completely known, but the triterpene glycosides are considered the main active constituents (Liske, 1998). Black cohosh contains principally xylosides: actein (aglycone: acetylacteol) and cimicifugoside (aglycone: cimigenol), "cimigoside," deoxyacetylacteol, and 27-deoxyactein (Leung and Foster, 1996; Schaper and Brummer GmbH, 1997). Three novel cyclolanostanol xylosides were recently isolated: cimicifugosides H-1, H-3, and H-4. All of these constituents contain a cyclopropane ring as a common structural feature and are structurally related to cycloartenol (Koeda et al., 1994). Recently, Li et al. (1994) isolated a new trinor-triterpenoid from shengma (A. foetida L. = C. foetida L.), which they named foetidinol, and a new cycloartane triterpenoid (Li et al., 1996) named neocimiside.
Other Constituents:
Other constituents include tannin, resins, volatile oils, palmitic, gallic, butyric, and oleic acids, starches and sucrose (Duke, 1985). Duke states that the roots contain 15% to 20% of cimicifugin, "an amorphous resinous substance" (cimicifugin = macrotin), and a bitter principle, racemosin.
Name:Cimicifugoside:
Molecular Formula:C37-H54-O11
Systematic Name: beta-D-Xylopyranoside, (3beta,12beta,16beta)-12-(acetyloxy)-16,23:23,26:24,25-triepoxy-26-hydroxy-9,19-cyclolanost-7-en-3-yl
CAS Registry No.66176-93-0
Phytochemicals and constituents of black cohosh:
include oleic, palmitic, and salicylic acids; cimigonite; tannin; and volatile oil. The tetracyclic triterpenes, which are oxidized and cyclicized by ketalization, are derived from cycloartanol such as actein and cimifugoside. Commission E reported estrogen-like action, luteinizing hormone suppression, and binding to estrogen receptors. [Herbal Medicine - Expanded Commission E monographs, by Mark Blumenthal, Alicia Goldberg, and Josef Brinckmann, first edition, 2000].
Mechanism and function of black cohosh:How it works in the body.
Gynecologically, in North America, it is thought that black cohosh balances estrogen by stabilizing it. In European herbalism it is thought to have an estrogenic action, which actively works to reduce progesterone and promote estrogen levels in the body. It is therefore used where there is a lack of estrogen and an excess of progesterone. In the musculoskeletal system it is used as an anti-inflammatory in arthritic conditions. Its sedative qualities have applications in other systems, for example, in lowering blood pressure, in reducing spasm and tension, and in the respiratory system.
Therapeutic Applications:
The primary therapeutic application of black cohosh is the treatment of menopausal symptoms. It is also used for post-operative functional deficits following ovariectomy or hysterectomy, for the treatment of premenstrual syndrome, and for juvenile menstrual disorders. The herbal extract, as well as homeopathic preparations, are used as an emmenagogue (a substance that promotes menstrual flow) (NAPRALERT 1997). The German Commission E cites evidence for the efficacy of black cohosh in its use for dysmenorrhea or painful menstruation (Blumenthal et al., 1998).
Shengma (See Common Names) is used in TCM for a variety of infectious diseases, including influenza, mumps, measles complicated with pneumonia, congenital syphilis, tonsillitis, and in some cases of plague. Shengma has also been used in TCM for uterine and rectal prolapse, and as a mouth-wash preparation for halitosis and mouth diseases. These applications are tenuous, due to the fact that only in vitro antibacterial effects for these species have been demonstrated. A. racemosa is a component of "Qingwei San" (Stomach Heat Clearing Powder), a multicomponent herbal preparation used for gum-swelling and erosion, and acute periodontal and pharyngeal diseases. It is an important component of "Buzhong Yiqi Tang" (Decoction for Reinforcing the Middle Burner and Replenishing Vital Energy), while A. foetida or A. dahurica have been used in lotions for skin "protection". A preparation known as "Cimicifuga-Amyda Shell Decoction" is used in the treatment of thrombocytopenia (abnormal reduction in number of blood platelets) and nephritis with hematuria (Chang and But, 1986).
Triterpenoid glycoside from Cimicifuga racemosa:One new triterpene glycoside, cimiracemoside (I), and 14 known triterpene glycosides have been isolated from the rhizome extracts of black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa). On the basis of spectral and chemical evidence, the structure of the new compound was elucidated to be 12beta-acetoxycimigenol-3-O-beta-d-xylopranoside (1), and the known compounds were identified to be 25-acetylcimigenol xyloside (2), cimigenol-3-O-beta-d-xylopyranoside (3), acetin (4), 27-deoxyacetin (5), cimicifugoside H-1 (6), 23-O-acetylshengmanol 3-O-beta-d-xylopranoside (7), foetidinol-3-O-beta-xyloside (8), cimicifugoside H-2 (9), 25-O-methylcimigenol xyloside (10), 21-hydroxycimigenol-3-O-beta-d-xylopyranoside (11), 24-epi-7,8-didehydrocimigenol-3-xyloside (12), cimidahurinine (13), cimidahurine (14) and cimifugin (15). The compounds 1to5, 14, and 15 showed weak antibacterial activities in the agar diffusion assay.
Reference:
1.What is Black Cohosh ?Black Cohosh - A Lady's Herb.
Statistics
Spectrum
FAQ
Of Herbs