Black cohosh, a native perennial herb of North America and relative of the buttercup, is a staple in the Western herbal medicine tradition for treatment of women's health issues, kidney disorders and mood disorders. Recent research has revealed considerable anti-inflammatory activity of black cohosh, with protective benefits for the cardiovascular and nervous systems. Black cohosh does not have blood-thinning properties and may cause blood clotting, as a side effect, in susceptible people. Consult with a qualified health professional before supplementing with black cohosh.
Inhibits Interleukins
Black cohosh inhibits pro-inflammatory molecules, known as cytokines, according to a study published in the November 2009 "Canadian Journal of Physiological Pharmacology." The research results support the traditional use of black cohosh in herbal medicine as a remedy for inflammatory conditions and menopausal complaints. In the study, volunteers took either 3 mcg per mL or 6 mcg per mL concentrations of black cohosh extract; both reduced, almost completely, the release of interleukin-6 and tissue necrosis factor-alpha. The researchers noted that a compound called isoferulic acid was the predominant active constituent in the black cohosh extract.
Protects Nerve Cells
Neuroprotection was one of the anti-inflammatory benefits of black cohosh in a study conducted at South Giuseppe Hospital, in Milan, Italy. In the study, laboratory rats consumed 15 mg per kg body weight of a combination herbal preparation containing genistein, daidzein, glycitein, black cohosh, angelica sin., licorice and vitex agnus for two weeks. Inflammatory response of microglia -- a type of neuron in the brain -- was found to be significantly lower in rats that received the cohosh-containing formula than a control group that did not receive the herbs, as measured by lower levels of inflammatory cytokine molecules. The study was published in the November 2006 "Annals of the New York Academy of Science."
Inhibits Nitric Oxide
Anti-inflammatory activities of black cohosh include inhibition of an enzyme called inducible nitric oxide synthase, which is active in conditions of high levels of oxidation and can lead to toxicity, say authors of a study published in the August 2009 "Journal of Pharmaceutical Pharmacology." The tissue culture study found that extract taken from the roots of black cohosh in concentrations up to 6 mg per mL reduced the production of the enzyme, though not its activity. Black cohosh also reduced levels of interferon beta, which has pro-inflammatroy properties and activates prostaglandin release.
Blood Coagulant
Black cohosh may act as a blood coagulant in some people, according to one report, published in the April 2010 "Climacteric" journal. In the study, a case report on a menopausal patient who took black cohosh, the herb caused blood coagulation, fluid retention and temporary autoimmune hepatitis. The fluid retention occurred as swelling in the lower legs and the authors of the study urged black cohosh consumption to be considered in the list of possible diagnoses in menopausal patients complaining of swelling in the legs.
References
- "Canadian Journal of Physiological Pharmacology"; Aqueous Extracts of Cimicifuga Racemosa and Phenolcarboxylic Constituents Inhibit Production of Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines in LPS-Stimulated Human Whole Blood; D. Schmid; November 2009
- "Annals of the New York Academy of Science"; Anti-Inflammatory and Neuroprotective Effect of a Phytoestrogen Compound on Rat Microglia; F. Marotta et al.; November 2006
- "Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology"; Inhibition of Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthesis by Cimicifuga Racemosa (Actaea Racemosa, Black Cohosh) Extracts in LPS-Stimulated RAW 264.7 Macrophages; D. Schmid et al.; August 2009
- "Climacteric"; Coagulation Activation and Fluid Retention Associated With the Use of Black Cohosh: A Case Study; R. Zimmermann et al.; April 2010
Member Comments