title: Is black cohosh estrogenic?
abstract: Many women seek safe and effective alternative therapies for the treatment of menopausal symptoms. Black cohosh, a botanical product, is one such treatment. Its mechanism of action may involve estrogenic effects, but new data dispute the estrogenic theory and indicate that extracts of black cohosh do not bind to the estrogen receptor, up-regulate estrogen-dependent genes, or stimulate the growth of estrogen-dependent tumors in animal models.
authors.affiliation: UIC/NIH Center for Botanical Dietary Supplements Research, Program for Collaborative Research in the Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Pharmacy Practice, College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.
authors.forename: Gail B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Mahady
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D031885:Cimicifuga; D004967:Estrogens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause; D009374:Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000473:pathology; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004967:Estrogens; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen