International Journal of Phytomedicine and Phytotherapy
Table 1 Short description of clinical studies with Cimiciduga racemosa preparations
From: Black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa) is a non-estrogenic alternative to hormone replacement therapy
Ref. (placebo or comparator controlled) | Design | Patient characteristics and age | Treatment, dose, and duration | Outcome measures | Finding and comments | Effects in short |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No = Ø | ||||||
Signif. pos = + | ||||||
Signif. neg = − | ||||||
Wuttke et al., 2003 [34] | Randomized, double-blind, comparator and placebo-controlled | 64 early postmenopausal women with 3 or more hot flushes daily | Aquous-ethanolic CR extract BNO 1055 (40 mg dried rhizome powder daily (equivalent to 4.5-8.9 mg dried extract)) vs 0.6 mg conjugated estrogens vs placebo. Duration, 3 mo | Menopause Rating Scale I. Frequency of nocturnal wake-up periods | Significantly better improvement of most climacteric complaints under CR an CE in comparison to placebo, | + |
Osmers et al. 2005 [41] | Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled | 304 early post-menopausal women | Isopropanolic CR extract (40 mg dried rhizome powder daily (equivalent to 5 mg dreid extract)), duration 12 weeks | Menopause Rating scale I. | Significantly better improvement of most climacteric complaints under CR an CE in comparison to placebo, | + |
Nappi et al. 2005 [42] | Randomized, comparator controlled trial | 64 postmenopausal women | Isopropanolic CR extract (40 mg dried rhizome powder daily (equivalent to 5 mg dried extract)) vs low-dos transdermal estradiol, duration 3 months | Diary recorded number of hot flushes per day | Identical improvement under CR and transdermal E2 | + |
Frei-Kleiner et al. 2005 [43] | Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial | 122 postmenopausal women with 3 or more hot flushes per day | CR extracr Cr 99 vs placebo, duration 12 weeks | Kupperman Index and Menopause Rating Scale | Significant superiority of the CR extract in comparison to placebo. | + |
Pockaj et al. 2006 | Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, trial, cross-over design | 132 postmenopausal women | 2x20 mg of a CR extract (probably equivalent to 2x200 mg dried root powder) for 4 weeks, then crossover to verum or placebo respectively | Hot flush score | Slightly better improvement under placebo in comparison to verum. | - |
Note: The dose was approximately 10-fold higher than in all other studies which had a positive outcome |