Effectiveness of the short-term use of Cimicifuga racemosa in the endothelial function of postmenopausal women: a double-blind, randomized, controlled trial

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to assess the effects of daily use of Cimicifuga racemosa on endothelial function through flow-mediated dilation of the brachial artery, when used for 28 days by healthy postmenopausal women.

Methods: The double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study included two groups of postmenopausal women (n = 31 each). The subjects were clinically assessed and flow-mediated dilation of the brachial artery was measured before and after 28 days of treatment. Patients received dry extract corresponding to 160 mg C. racemosa (extract with 4 mg of triterpene glycosides) or placebo.

Results: Mean age, time since menopause, and body mass index in the two groups were similar. The measurements of flow-mediated dilation of the brachial artery, pre and post treatment, respectively, showed a significant increase in patients who used C. racemosa (p = 0.006), unlike patients who used placebo, who did not present changes in the outcome of flow-mediated dilation of the brachial artery after 28 days of use (p ≥ 0.05). When comparing the number of women in both groups who showed an increase in flow-mediated dilation, a significant difference was found in the measurements of the treated group after the use of the medication (p = 0.018).

Conclusions: Daily use of 160 mg C. racemosa extract by postmenopausal women for 28 days beneficially influences endothelial function by promoting elasticity of the brachial artery.

摘要

目的：本研究旨在评估健康绝经后妇女每天应用黑升麻, 28天后通过由血流介导的肱动脉扩张对内皮功能的影响。

方法：这项双盲、随机、安慰剂对照的研究包括两组绝经后妇女（各31例）。对受试者进行临床评估, 并在治疗前和治疗后28天分别测量血流介导的肱动脉扩张。患者分别给予相当于160 mg黑升麻提取物（含4 mg三萜苷类提取物）或安慰剂的干提取物。

结果：两组的平均年龄、绝经后时间和体重指数相似。分别在治疗前和治疗后测量肱动脉血流介导的扩张功能, 结果显示, 应用黑升麻的患者比安慰剂患者血流显著增加（p=0.006）, 应用安慰剂28天后, 其血流介导的肱动脉扩张功能无明显变化（p≥0.05）。比较两组女性中血流介导扩张增加的人数, 用药治疗组的测量值存在显著差异（p=0.018）。

结论：绝经后妇女每日应用160 mg黑升麻提取物, 28天后可以促进肱动脉内皮功能、增加其弹性的作用。

Keywords:

• Cimicifuga racemosa
• black cohosh
• postmenopausal
• flow-mediated dilation
• brachial artery
• endothelial function

Acknowledgement

C. racemosa dry extract was kindly provided by the Herbarium laboratory.

Author contributions

All authors participated in the conception and design of the study, acquisition of data, analysis and interpretation of data, drafting/revising the manuscript, and approving the final version and agreed that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved.

Potential conflict of interest

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Source of funding

S. G. received a grant from the Brazilian Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq).