2008

Black Cohosh extract Extract of black cohosh may halt the growth of breastcancer cells, according to a new study conducted by the Frenchcompany Naturex and published in the journal "Phytomedicine." Thestudy was funded by the National Institutes of Health and the SusanG. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Cimicifugae racemosae rhizome, also known as black cohosh, is aplant in the buttercup family that is native to eastern NorthAmerica, ranging from central Georgia in the south to southernOntario in the north, and as far west as Missouri. It is also knownas black bugbane, black snakeroot and fairy candle. Black cohosh has a history of use as a traditional medicine forgynecological problems, kidney problems and sore throat, and iscommonly used to help relieve the symptoms of menopause. In the current study, researchers applied extracts of black cohoshto breast cancer cells in a laboratory setting. Growth of cancer cells was inhibited in cell lines that had the extract added, apparentlydue to an increase in programmed cell death (apoptosis). The researchers linked the cancer-inhibiting effects of black cohosh extract to its content of triterpene glycosides. "Taken together, these results indicate that the triterpeneglycoside actein and related compounds may be useful in theprevention and treatment of human breast cancer," the researchers wrote. Various safety concerns have been raised over the use of blackcohosh dietary supplements by women with breast cancer. A YaleSchool of Medicine study found that black cohosh increased the celltoxicity of two chemotherapy drugs, doxorubicin and docetaxel,making them more dangerous. At the same time, black cohosh appearsto decrease the cell toxicity of a different drug, known ascisplatin. Black cohosh has also been known to induce labor or miscarriage incertain cases. The connection of the plant with the female reproductive system isnot well understood. Originally, researchers believed that theplant contained phytoestrogens, but this hypothesis is now indispute.