Actea racemosa 2

First one wasn't put together very well, here is an updated one for black cohosh (actea)

BOTANICAL NAME/FAMILY

·         Actea racemosa (cimicifuga)

OTHER NAMES

·         Black cohosh, Baneberry, black snakeroot, bugbane, rattle-root, rattle-top, rattleweed, squawroot, traubensilberkerze, wanzenkraut

         PLANT PARTS USED

·        Rhizome and root

CHEMICAL COMPONENTS

·         Black cohosh contains various triterpene glycosides, including cimicifugoside and actein, 27-deoxyactein, N-methylcytosine and other quinolizidine alkaloids, phenolic acids, isoferulic and salicylic acids, resins, fatty acids and tannins.

MAIN ACTIONS        

·        Relaxant, normalizer of female reproductive system, antirheumatic

·        Pituitary/estrogen mimetic: decrease serum luteinizing hormone and appears able to bind estrogen receptors

Other actions include

·        Antitussive, nervine, antispasmodic, hypotensive, alterative, emmenagogue, anti-inflammatory.

Indications

·        Painful menses, delayed menses, ovarian cramps, menopause, rheumatic pain, RA, OA, Sciatica and neuralgia, whooping cough, tinnitus

DOSAGE RANGE

• Decoction or powdered root: 0.3–2 g three times daily.

•     Tincture (1:10): 2–4 mL three times daily.

•     Fluid extract (1:1) (g/mL): 0.3–2 mL three times daily.

 ADVERSE REACTIONS

·        Large doses have been reported to produce h/a, tremors, and gastrointestinal disturbances.  Rashes seem to be the most common adverse reaction.

SIGNIFICANT INTERACTIONS

·       Cisplatin

Black cohosh decreased the cytotoxicity of cisplatin in an experimental breast cancer model — whilst the clinical significance of this finding is unknown, it is recommended that patients taking cisplatin should avoid black cohosh until safety can be confirmed.

·       Doxorubicin

Black cohosh increased the cytotoxicity of doxorubicin in an experimental breast cancer model — whilst the clinical significance of this finding is unknown, it is recommended patients taking doxorubicin avoid black cohosh until safety can be confirmed.

·       Docetaxel

A trial used mouse breast cancer cell line to test whether black cohosh altered the response of cancer cells to radiation and to four drugs commonly used in cancer therapy. The black cohosh extracts increased the cytotoxicity of doxorubicin and docetaxel and decreased the cytotoxicity of cisplatin, but did not alter the effects of radiation or 4-hydroperoxycyclophosphamide (4-HC), an analogue of cyclophosphamide which is active in cell culture. This evidence may be applicable to humans so it is advisable that patients undergoing cancer therapy should be made aware that use of black cohosh could alter their response to the agents commonly used to treat breast cancer

PREGNANCY USE

• Although it has been used to assist in childbirth, black cohosh is not traditionally recommended in pregnancy, particularly during the first trimester although it has been used in the final weeks of pregnancy to aid in delivery. Safety in lactation remains to be confirmed; however, it is usually avoided because of its hormonal effects