Efficacy of Cimicifuga racemosa, Hypericum perforatum and Agnus castus in the treatment of climacteric complaints: A systematic review

Gynecological Endocrinology

Volumn 28, Issue 9, 2012, Pages 703-709

  Laakmann, Elena ^a   Grajecki, Donata ^a   Doege, Katja ^a   Zu Eulenburg, Christine ^a   Buhling, Kai J ^a  

^a UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER HAMBURG EPPENDORF   (Germany)

Author keywords

Agnus castus; Cimicifuga; Hypericum perforatum; Menopause

Indexed keywords

AGNUS CASTUS EXTRACT; CIMICIFUGA RACEMOSA EXTRACT; CONJUGATED ESTROGEN; CONJUGATED ESTROGEN PLUS MEDROXYPROGESTERONE ACETATE; HYPERICUM PERFORATUM EXTRACT; MINERAL; MULTIVITAMIN; PLACEBO; PLANT EXTRACT; UNCLASSIFIED DRUG;

CIMICIFUGA RACEMOSA; CLIMACTERIUM; COGNITION; CONCENTRATION (PARAMETERS); ENDOMETRIUM; HOT FLUSH; HUMAN; HYPERICUM PERFORATUM; MENOPAUSAL SYNDROME; MONOTHERAPY; PRIORITY JOURNAL; REVIEW; SLEEP; SYSTEMATIC REVIEW; VAGINA ATROPHY; VASOMOTOR DISORDER; VITEX AGNUS CASTUS;

CIMICIFUGA; CLIMACTERIC; HOT FLASHES; HUMANS; HYPERICUM; MENOPAUSE; PHYTOTHERAPY; PLANT EXTRACTS; VITEX;

EID: 84865313115     PISSN: 09513590     EISSN: 14730766     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.3109/09513590.2011.650772     Document Type: Review

References (42)

1. Report of a WHO Scientific Group. Research on the Menopause in the 1990s. ISBN 92 4 120866 X. World Health Organization 1996. Geneva 1996. Printed in Switzerland 96/10889 Bentell 7500. WHO Technical Report Series. 866.
2. Breast cancer and hormone replacement therapy: collaborative reanalysis of data from 51 epidemiological studies of 52,705 women with breast cancer and 108,411 women without breast cancer. Collaborative Group on Hormonal Factors in Breast Cancer. Lancet 1997;350:1047-1059.
3. Düker EM, Kopanski L, Jarry H, Wuttke W. Effects of extracts from Cimicifuga racemosa on gonadotropin release in menopausal women and ovariectomized rats. Planta Med 1991;57:420-424.
4. Jarry H, Metten M, Spengler B, Christoffel V, Wuttke W. In vitro effects of the Cimicifuga racemosa extract BNO 1055. Maturitas 2003;44 Suppl 1:S31-S38. (Pubitemid 36263033)
5. Sliutz G, Speiser P, Schultz AM, Spona J, Zeillinger R. Agnus castus extracts inhibit prolactin secretion of rat pituitary cells. Horm Metab Res 1993;25:253-255. (Pubitemid 23161270)
6. Wuttke W, Jarry H, Christoffel V, Spengler B, Seidlová-Wuttke D. Chaste tree (Vitex agnus-castus)-pharmacology and clinical indications. Phytomedicine 2003;10:348-357. (Pubitemid 36597173)
7. Dugoua JJ, Mills E, Perri D, Koren G. Safety and efficacy of St. John's wort (hypericum) during pregnancy and lactation. Can J Clin Pharmacol 2006;13:e268-e276. (Pubitemid 44706204)
8. Sarris J, Kavanagh DJ. Kava and St. John's Wort: current evidence for use in mood and anxiety disorders. J Altern Complement Med 2009;15:827-836.
9. Lecrubier Y, Clerc G, Didi R, Kieser M. Efficacy of St. John's wort extract WS 5570 in major depression: a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Am J Psychiatry 2002;159:1361-1366. (Pubitemid 34832718)
10. Kasper S, Caraci F, Forti B, Drago F, Aguglia E. Efficacy and tolerability of Hypericum extract for the treatment of mild to moderate depression. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 2010;20:747-765.
11. Calapai G, Crupi A, Firenzuoli F, Inferrera G, Squadrito F, Parisi A, De Sarro G, Caputi A. Serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine involvement in the antidepressant action of hypericum perforatum. Pharmacopsychiatry 2001;34:45-49. (Pubitemid 32221748)
12. Newton KM, Reed SD, Grothaus L, Ehrlich K, Guiltinan J, Ludman E, Lacroix AZ. The Herbal Alternatives for Menopause (HALT) Study: background and study design. Maturitas 2005;52:134-146. (Pubitemid 41368036)
13. Newton KM, Reed SD, LaCroix AZ, Grothaus LC, Ehrlich K, Guiltinan J. Treatment of vasomotor symptoms of menopause with black cohosh, multibotanicals, soy, hormone therapy, or placebo: a randomized trial. Ann Intern Med 2006;145:869-879. (Pubitemid 351639962)
14. Wuttke W, Gorkow C, Seidlová-Wuttke D. Effects of black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa) on bone turnover, vaginal mucosa, and various blood parameters in postmenopausal women: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, and conjugated estrogens-controlled study. Menopause 2006;13:185-196.
15. Wuttke W, Raus K, Gorkow C. Efficacy and tolerability of the Black cohosh (Actaea racemosa) ethanolic extract BNO 1055 on climacteric complaints: A double-blind, placebo- and conjugated estrogens - controlled study. Maturitas 2006;55:83-91.
16. Wuttke W, Seidlová-Wuttke D, Gorkow C. The Cimicifuga preparation BNO 1055 vs. conjugated estrogens in a double-blind placebo-controlled study: effects on menopause symptoms and bone markers. Maturitas 2003;44 Suppl 1:S67-S77. (Pubitemid 36263037)
17. Nappi RE, Malavasi B, Brundu B, Facchinetti F. Efficacy of Cimicifuga racemosa on climacteric complaints: a randomized study versus low-dose transdermal estradiol. Gynecol Endocrinol 2005;20:30-35. (Pubitemid 40445238)
18. Van Die MD, Burger HG, Bone KM, Cohen MM, Teede HJ. Hypericum perforatum with Vitex agnus-castus in menopausal symptoms: a randomized, controlled trial. Menopause 2009;16:156-163.
19. Jadad AR, Moore RA, Carroll D, Jenkinson C, Reynolds DJ, Gavaghan DJ, McQuay HJ. Assessing the quality of reports of randomized clinical trials: is blinding necessary? Control Clin Trials 1996;17:1-12. (Pubitemid 26120810)
20. Frei-Kleiner S, Schaffner W, Rahlfs VW, Bodmer Ch, Birkhäuser M. Cimicifuga racemosa dried ethanolic extract in menopausal disorders: a double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial. Maturitas 2005;51: 397-404. (Pubitemid 41019367)
21. Osmers R, Friede M, Liske E, Schnitker J, Freudenstein J, Henneicke-von Zepelin HH. Efficacy and safety of isopropanolic black cohosh extract for climacteric symptoms. Obstet Gynecol 2005; 105:1074-1083. (Pubitemid 40571028)
22. Uebelhack R, Blohmer JU, Graubaum HJ, Busch R, Gruenwald J, Wernecke KD. Black cohosh and St. John's wort for climacteric complaints: a randomized trial. Obstet Gynecol 2006;107:247-255.
23. Chung DJ, Kim HY, Park KH, Jeong KA, Lee SK, Lee YI, Hur SE, et al. Black cohosh and St. John's wort (GYNO-Plus) for climacteric symptoms. Yonsei Med J 2007;48:289-294.
24. Bai W, Henneicke-von Zepelin HH, Wang S, Zheng S, Liu J, Zhang Z, Geng L, et al. Efficacy and tolerability of a medicinal product containing an isopropanolic black cohosh extract in Chinese women with menopausal symptoms: a randomized, double blind, parallel-controlled study versus tibolone. Maturitas 2007;58:31-41. (Pubitemid 47268705)
25. Nelson HD. Management of menopause-related symptoms. AHRQ 2005; Publication No. 05-E016-2, March.
26. Chedraui P, San Miguel G, Schwager G. The effect of soy-derived isoflavones over hot flushes, menopausal symptoms and mood in climacteric women with increased body mass index. Gynecol Endocrinol 2011;27:307-313.
27. European Medicines Agency. Press office. Doc. Ref.: EMEA/269259/2006. London, 18 July 2006.
28. Teschke R. Black cohosh and suspected hepatotoxicity: inconsistencies, confounding variables, and prospective use of a diagnostic causality algorithm. A critical review. Menopause 2010;17:426-440.
29. Naser B, Schnitker J, Minkin MJ, de Arriba SG, Nolte KU, Osmers R. Suspected black cohosh hepatotoxicity: no evidence by meta-analysis of randomized controlled clinical trials for isopropanolic black cohosh extract. Menopause 2011;18:366-375.
30. Firenzuoli F, Gori L, di Sarsina PR. Black Cohosh Hepatic Safety: Follow-Up of 107 Patients Consuming a Special Cimicifuga racemosa rhizome Herbal Extract and Review of Literature. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2011;2011:821392.
31. Green J, Denham A, Ingram J, Hawkey S, Greenwood R. Treatment of menopausal symptoms by qualified herbal practitioners: a prospective, randomized controlled trial. Fam Pract 2007;24: 468-474. (Pubitemid 350142644)
32. Liske E, Hänggi W, Henneicke-von Zepelin HH, Boblitz N, Wüstenberg P, Rahlfs VW. Physiological investigation of a unique extract of black cohosh (Cimicifugae racemosae rhizoma): a 6-month clinical study demonstrates no systemic estrogenic effect. J Womens Health Gend Based Med 2002;11:163-174.
33. Verhoeven MO, van der Mooren MJ, van de Weijer PH, Verdegem PJ, van der Burgt LM, Kenemans P; CuraTrial Research Group. Effect of a combination of isoflavones and Actaea racemosa Linnaeus on climacteric symptoms in healthy symptomatic perimenopausal women: a 12-week randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study. Menopause 2005;12:412-420. (Pubitemid 41098654)
34. Mucci M, Carraro C, Mancino P, Monti M, Papadia LS, Volpini G, Benvenuti C. Soy isoflavones, lactobacilli, Magnolia bark extract, vitamin D3 and calcium. Controlled clinical study in menopause. Minerva Ginecol 2006;58:323-334. (Pubitemid 44476708)
35. Gold EB, Flatt SW, Pierce JP, Bardwell WA, Hajek RA, Newman VA, Rock CL, Stefanick ML. Dietary factors and vasomotor symptoms in breast cancer survivors: the WHEL Study. Menopause 2006;13:423-433.
36. Jacobson JS, Troxel AB, Evans J, Klaus L, Vahdat L, Kinne D, Lo KM, et al. Randomized trial of black cohosh for the treatment of hot flashes among women with a history of breast cancer. J Clin Oncol 2001;19:2739-2745. (Pubitemid 32441380)
37. Briese V, Stammwitz U, Friede M, Henneicke-von Zepelin HH. Black cohosh with or without St. John's wort for symptom-specific climacteric treatment-results of a large-scale, controlled, observational study. Maturitas 2007;57:405-414. (Pubitemid 47048608)
38. Cheraskin E. Vitamin C and hot flashes. J Orthomol Med 1996;1:51.
39. Vermes G, Bánhidy F, Acs N. The effects of remifemin on subjective symptoms of menopause. Adv Ther 2005;22: 148-154. (Pubitemid 40874908)
40. Raus K, Brucker C, Gorkow C, Wuttke W. First-time proof of endometrial safety of the special black cohosh extract (Actaea or Cimicifuga racemosa extract) CR BNO 1055. Menopause 2006;13: 678-691. (Pubitemid 44079538)
41. Bijl D. Treatment of vasomotor symptoms of menopause with black cohosh, multibotanicals, soy, hormone therapy or placebo. Geneesmiddelenbulletin 2007;41:103-104. (Pubitemid 47441261)
42. Blohmer JU, Graubaum HJ, Busch R, Grunwald J, Wernecke KD, Uebelhack R. Cimicifuga und Hypericum als fixe Kombination gegen psychische wechseljahresbeschwerden: Placebokontrollierte doppelblindstudie mit 301 patientinen. Zeitschrift für Phytotherapie 2007;28 67-70. (Pubitemid 47234166)