What is Black Cohosh ?Black Cohosh - A Lady's Herb.

Contents

• 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.
• Photo Gallery of Cimicifuga racemosa.

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.Some study related discussed their structure etc(19.).Other study identified new triterpene glycoside such as 26-deoxyactein (1), along with two known compounds, 23-epi-26-deoxyactein (2), previously designated as "27-deoxyactein", and actein (3)(34.).

 Some other early study identified:cimicifugoside H-1 (1), C35H52O9, mp 260-262 degrees C, [alpha]D -43.5 degrees, cimicifugoside H-2 (2), C35H54O10, mp 227-229 degrees C, [alpha]D -38.8 degrees, and cimicifugoside H-5 (3), C35H52O10, mp 262-264 degrees C, [alpha]D -22.9 degrees, together with known glycosides, actein and 27-deoxyactein(6.).Some analytical experiment identified a new cyclolanostanol xyloside named cimiaceroside Afrom the rhizome of Cimicifuga racemosa,25-O-methylcimigenol-3-O-beta-D-xylopyranoside, 27-deoxyactein and 23-O-acetylshengmanol-3-O-beta-D-xylopyranoside(17.).Some study identified new cycloartane glycoside: cimigenol 3-O-beta-D-xylopyranoside from Actaea racemosa(27.).Some relative study identified new compounts from EtOAc fraction of the rhizome of Cimicifuga racemosa,they are Four phenylpropanoid esters, cimiracemates A-D (1-4), along with three known compounds, isoferulic acid, ferulic acid and methyl caffeate(41.).Some related study identified known and two new cycloartane triglycosides,20S,22R,23S,24R-16beta,23;22,25-diepoxy-cycloartane-3beta,23,24-triol 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-xylopyranoside (2) and 20S,22R,23S,24R-16beta,23;22,25-diepoxy-cycloartane-3beta,23,24-triol 3-O-(6-O-trans-isoferuloyl-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)-(1-->2)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-xylopyranoside (3)(54.).Some relative study identified cyclic guanidine alkaloid, cimipronidine, together with the known compound fukinolic acid,from the n-BuOH-soluble fraction of Cimicifuga racemosa roots,and shows 5-HT7 receptor binding activity(54.).A new triterpene glycoside, cimiracemoside got identified from rhizome extracts of black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa),structure of the new compound was elucidated to be 12beta-acetoxycimigenol-3-O-beta-D-xylopranoside(115.).A new lignan, actaealactone (1), and a new phenylpropanoid ester derivative, cimicifugic acid G (2), together with 15 known polyphenols, protocatechuic acid, protocatechualdehyde, p-coumaric acid, caffeic acid, methyl caffeate, ferulic acid, ferulate-1-methyl ester, isoferulic acid, 1-isoferuloyl-beta-d-glucopyranoside, fukinolic acid, and cimicifugic acids A, B, and D-F, were isolated from an extract of the rhizomes and roots of Actaea racemosa(126.).Some other research gives some comparative summary(10.,28.).New cycloartane glycosides,named neocimicigenosides A (1) and B (2), were isolated from the rhizomes of Cimicifuga racemosa(130.).Two new 15-deoxycimigenol-type (1, 2) and three new 24-epi-cimigenol-type glycosides (3-5) were isolated from Cimicifuga Rhizome(139.).Some other analytical study identified and isolated three new 15,16-seco-cycloartane glycosides from Cimicifuga Rhizome(166.).Some study identified nitrogenous metabolites from Cimicifuga/Actaea species, three new guanidine alkaloids have been isolated and characterized from C. racemosa (syn. A. racemosa) roots. Of these, cyclo-cimipronidine (1) and cimipronidine methyl ester (2) are congeners of cimipronidine (3), whereas dopargine (5) is a derivative of dopamine.These strongly basic and frequently zwitterionic nitrogenous metabolites contribute considerable chemical diversity to the polar serotonergic fraction of black cohosh(213.).

 Some study identified some new triterpenol glycosides from rhizomes of Cimicifuga dahurica (Ranunculaceae):3-arabinosyl-24-O-acetylhydroshengmanol 15-glucoside (1), C43H70O16, mp 222-223 degrees C, [alpha]D +21.0 degrees and 3-xylosyl-24-O-acetylhydroshengmanol 15-glucoside (2), C43H70O16, mp 208-210 degrees C, [alpha]D +9.5 degrees. On acidic hydrolysis, 1 afforded cimigenol (3) as an aglycone, and glucose and arabinose as sugars. On enzymatic hydrolysis with molsin, 1 afforded 24-O-acetylhydroshengmanol 15-O-glucoside (4)(5.). Some other study identified neocimiside from rhizomes of Cimicifuge foetida L,it classified as a cycloartane triterpenoid glycoside,the structure of the new triterpene is assigned as 24-des-isopropyl-7-ene-23-one-9,19; 16,24-dicycloart-3 beta,11 beta,16 alpha,24 alpha-tetraol 3-O-beta-D-xylopryanoside(7.),some relative study isolated cimicifugamide from rhizoma of Cimicifuga dahurica(29.).Some other study identified new Cycloartane glycosides from Cimicifuga foetida, cycloartane bisdesmoside and two new trinorcycloartane glycosides, along with four known cycloartane compounds(31.).Two new cylcoartane glycosides along with a known compound, 12beta-hydroxycimigenol 3- O-alpha- L-arabinopyranoside, were isolated from the rhizomes of Cimicifuga dahurica (Ranunculaceae)(152.).
 Some study about Cimicifuga dahurica aerial parts identified two new cyclolanostanol xylosides, cimilactone A (1) and cimilactone B (2), and three known compounds were isolated(42.).Some relative study identified new cyclolanostanol xylosides from aerial parts of Cimicifuga dahurica,Cimidahuside 1 and 2(64.),some other analytical study proposed EtOAc section of EtOH extracts from aerial parts of Cimicifuga dahurica isolated two cyclolanostanol xylosides, cimidahuside C and D(77.).

 Cimicifuga foetida has been identified cycloartane-type saponin constituents of the roots of Cimicifuga foetida were established by the interpretation of spectroscopic data as 2'-O-acetylactein (1) and 2'-O-acetyl-27-deoxyactein (2), respectively(26.).Cimicifuga foetida aerial part Five 9,19-cycloartane triterpenoid saponins and one sitosterol saponin were obtained and identified as cimifoetiside I [12 beta-hydroxycimigenol-3-O-beta-D-galactoyranoside, (1)], cimifoetiside II [(23R,24R) cimigenol-3-O-beta-D-galactopyranoside, (2)], cimigenol-3-O-beta-D-galactopyranoside (3), 12 beta-hydroxycimigenol-3-O-beta-D-xylopyranoside (4), 12 beta-hydroxycimigenol-3-O-alpha-L-arabinopyranoside (5), daucosterol (6)(69.).Rhizome of Cimicifuga foetida phenolic acid constituents has been isolated and identified as cimicifugic acid (1), esculetin (2), caffeic acid methyl ester (3), 4-O-acetyl-caffeic acid (4), sinapic acid (5), caffeic acid (6), ferulic acid (7), isoferulic acid (8)(70.).Some relative study has isolated from the rhizomes of Cimicifuga foetida Two new cycloartane-type triterpene glycosides, namely cimicifoetisides A (1) and B (2), along with seven known compounds cimigenol, 25-O-acetylcimigenol, cimigenol 3-O-beta-D-xylopyranoside, 12beta-hydroxycimigenol 3-O-beta-D-xylopyranoside, cimigenol 3-O-alpha-L-arabinopyranoside, 25-deoxyshengmanol 3-O-beta-D-xylopyranoside and cimilactone A(153.).Some relative study isolated an unprecedented triterpene alkaloid glycoside, designated cimicifugadine (1), with a pyridine ring incorporated to a cycloartane triterpenoid nucleus, was isolated from the roots of Cimicifuga foetida(157.).Some relative study proposed rhizome of Cimicifuga foetida isolated Five new 9,19-cycloartane triterpene diglycosides, which have been named cimiaceroside C (1), and cimifosides A-D (2-5) together with the known compounds cimiracemoside D (6), cimidahurine (7) and alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-l-beta-D-fructofuranoside (8)(198.).Some other study declared isolated three new trinor-cycloartane glycosides from the rhizoma of Cimicifuga foetida,15alpha-hydroxy-16-dehydroxy-16(24)-en-foetidinol-3-O-beta-D-xylopyranoside (1), 28-hydroxy-foetidinol-3-O-beta-D-xylopyranoside (2) and foetidinol-3-O-beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1"-->3')-beta-D-xylopyranoside (3) together with the known compound foetidinol-3-O-beta-D-xylopyranoside (4)(218.).Some recent analytical study identified Two new cyclolanostanol glycosides, cimifoetiside IV and cimifoetiside V from the aerial parts of Cimicifuga foetida L.(82.,162.),other relative study identified four 9,19-cycloartane triterpenoid saponins were obtained from aerial part of Cimicifuga foetida,as Cimifoetiside III (25-anhydrocimigenol-3-O-beta-D-galactopyranoside, 1), 25-O-acetyl-cimigenol xylopyranoside (2), 25-O-acetyl-cimigenol galactopyranoside (3), 7 beta-hydrocimigenol xylopyranoside (4)(85.).

 Cimicifuga simplex Wormsk got analyzed and find 8 new glycosides from some relative study:23-O-acetyl-7-8-didehydroshengmanol-3-O-alpha-L-arabinopyranosi de (1), 24-epi-24-O-acetyl-7,-8- didehydrohydroshengmanol-3-O-beta-D-galactopyranoside (2), 7,8-didehydrocimigenol-3-O-beta-D-galacytopyranoside (3), 24-epi-24-O-acetylhydroshengmanol-3-O-beta-D-galactopyranoside (4), cimigenol-3-O-beta-D-galactopyranoside (5), 25-O-methylcimigenol-3-O-beta-D-galactopyranoside (6), 25-O-acetylcimigenol-3-O-beta-D-galactopyranoside (7) and 25-O-acetylcimigenol-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (8). Genuine aglycones were obtained by the hydrolysis of 1--7 with lactase F[Amano] and of 8 with cellulase T[amano]4. Acerinol was prepared from 7,8-didehydrocimigenol and showed antilipemic effects(9.). Other relative study identified Four new cycloart-7-ene triterpenol arabinosides, bugbanosides C-F from rhizoma of Cimicifuga simplex Wormsk(22.).Some analysis of the essential oil from rootstock of Cimicifuga simplex declared main components in essential oil were m-acetanisole (27.57%), (E)-cinnamaldehyde (6.84%), paeonol (5.58%), caproic acid (5.07%) and atractylone (3.10%). The oil was characterized by a high content of aromatic components (52.59%)(137.).
 Cimicifuga acerina:some relative study about rhizomes of Cimicifuga acerina (Sieb. et Zucc.) Tanaka proposed:Five cycloartane triterpenoids were isolated and identified as: (22R)-22-hydroxycimigenol (I), (22R)-22-hydroxy-24-O-acetylhydroshengmanol 3-O-beta-D-xylopyranoside (II), dahurinol (III), 24-epi-24-O-acetyl-7,8-didehydroshengmanol 3-O-beta-D-xylopyranoside (IV), 25-O-acetyl-7,8-didehydrocimigenol 3-O-beta-D-xylopyranoside (V)(47.).

 Herbs of the Cimcifuga family is fairly large,C. racemosa, Cimicifuga dahurica, Cimicifuga foetida, Cimicifuga heracleifolia, Cimicifuga japonica, Cimicifuga acerina, and Cimicifuga simplex, which are very different from each other.Some method suggestion proposed 23-Epi-26-deoxyactein was found only in C. racemosa, C. dahurica, and C. foetida.C. racemosa and its six commercial products are found contains 6-15% of 23-epi-26-deoxyactein in total triterpene glycosides(100.),some other relative study proposed HPLC-PDA/MS/ELSD method can be used to developed and validated using a total of 10 Cimicifuga species,include three North American species, Cimicifuga racemosa, Cimicifuga americana, Cimicifuga rubifolia, and seven Asian species, Cimicifuga acerina, Cimicifuga biternat, Cimicifuga dahurica, Cimicifuga heracleifolia, Cimicifuga japonica, Cimicifuga foetida, and Cimicifuga simplex. In its differentiation point,"The triterpene glycoside cimigenol-3-O-arabinoside (3), cimifugin (12), and cimifugin-3-O-glucoside (18) were determined to be suitable species-specific markers for the distinction of C. racemosa from the other Cimicifuga species"(123.). and seems provide a reliable and reproducible method that can be readily utilized for botanical identification of Cimicifuga plants, for examination and validation of its commercial products, and for "chemical" quality control in the manufacture of black cohosh products.Some relative study analyzed 11 black cohosh products for triterpene glycosides, phenolic constituents, and formononetin,are found to contain the marker compound cimifugin and not cimiracemoside C, thereby indicating that these plants contain Asian Actaea instead of black cohosh(127.).Some study about adulterants declared find out a practical, rapid, and reliable high-performance thin-layer chromatographic (HPTLC) method for identification of C. racemosa and detection of its most common adulterants by fingerprint profiles.The adulterants of Black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa) this study thinks majorly are:C. americana from eastern United States,and 3 Asian Cimicifuga species C. foetida, C. heracleifolia, and C. dahurica(211.).

Reference:

• 1.What is Black Cohosh?Black Cohosh - A Lady's Herb.

This article written and edited via herbalist of MDidea Extracts Professional. They run a range of online descriptions about this herb,including general information related and summarized updating discoveries from findings of professional scientisits this field related.Describe style aimed to form a useful detecting literature space where the intertwined threshold and related questions raise out and visualize themselves.

♣ last edit date:08th,Oct.2010.