End Fatigue

Black Cohosh Stops Breast Cancer Growth in the Lab

Many women do not want to take estrogen for menopause, or cannot because they have breast cancer. In these cases, a special brand of Black Cohosh, called Remifemin, has been shown to be effective. Unfortunately, other brands do not work as well, and a recent article in an Internal Medicine journal trying to slam natural remedies had to admit (it appeared grudgingly) that Remifemin was effective while noting that other forms of Black Cohosh were not. Now a new study shows that extracts from Black Cohosh may inhibit breast cancer cells.

The test tube study, published in Phytomedicine, looked at extracts and compounds from black cohosh and related Cimicifuga species and found that the potential anti-cancer benefits were related to a component of the herb called triterpene glycosides.

The study adds to a small but growing body of research suggesting breast cancer prevention for a herb most commonly used by women to reduce menopausal symptoms such as hot flushes.

Black cohosh (technically the Cimicifugae racemosae rhizome) is a member of the buttercup family, and is a perennial plant native to North America.

The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

"These results corroborate the results of our previous studies indicating that the growth inhibitory effect of actein or an extract of black cohosh is associated with activation of specific stress response pathways and apoptosis," wrote the researchers, referring to their studies published earlier this year in Anticancer Research (Vol. 2, pp. 697-712) and the International Journal of Cancer (Vol. 121, pp. 2073-2083).

"Taken together, these results indicate that the triterpene glycoside actein and related compounds may be useful in the prevention and treatment of human breast cancer," they concluded.

Although these results are promising, further scientific research is needed to determine whether the herb could be considered an effective breast cancer treatment.

The standard dose of Remifemin for hot flashes is 2 tabs 2x day for 2 months. Then the dose can often be lowered to 1 twice a day. Like most natural remedies, give it 6-8 weeks to see the optimal effect.

L. Saxe Einbond, Y. Wen-Cai, K. He, H.-a. Wu, E. Cruz, M. Roller and F. Kronenberg.

"Growth inhibitory activity of extracts and compounds from Cimicifuga species on human breast cancer cells" Phytomedicine Published on-line ahead of print 5 November 2007, doi: 10.1016/j.phymed.2007.09.017