Black cohosh and St. John's wort (GYNO-Plus) for climacteric symptoms.
OBJECTIVE
This study was conducted to investigate the efficacy of black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa) and St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) in women with climacteric symptoms, and to assess their effects on vaginal atrophy, hormone levels, and lipid profiles.


METHODS
In this double-blind randomized, placebo-controlled, multicenter study, 89 peri- or postmenopausal women experiencing climacteric symptoms were treated with St. John's wort and black cohosh extract (Gynoplus), Jin-Yang Pharm., Seoul, Korea) or a matched placebo for 12 weeks. Climacteric complaints were evaluated by the Kupperman Index (KI) initially and at 4 and 12 weeks following treatment. Vaginal maturation indices, serum estradiol, FSH, LH, total cholesterol, HDL- cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and triglyceride levels were measured before and after treatment. From the initial 89 participants, 77 completed the trial (42 in the Gynoplus group, 35 in the placebo group).


RESULTS
Baseline characteristics were not significantly different between the two groups. Mean KI scores and hot flushes after 4 and 12 weeks were significantly lower in the Gynoplus group. Differences in superficial cell proportion were not statistically significant. HDL levels decreased in the control group from 60.20 +/- 16.37 to 56.63 +/- 12.67, and increased in the Gynoplus group from 58.32 +/- 11.64 to 59.74 +/- 10.54; this was statistically significant (p=0.04).


CONCLUSIONS
Black cohosh and St. John's wort combination was found to be effective in alleviating climacteric symptoms and might provide benefits to lipid metabolism.
Chung
Da-Jung
DJ
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 134 Sinchon-Dong, Seodaemun-Gu, Seoul, Korea.
Kim
Hye-Yeon
HY
Park
Ki-Hyun
KH
Jeong
Kyung-Ah
KA
Lee
Sung-Ki
SK
Lee
Yu-Il
YI
Hur
Sung-Eun
SE
Cho
Min-Sun
MS
Lee
Byung Seok
BS
Bai
Sang Wook
SW
Kim
Cheong Mee
CM
Cho
Si Hyun
SH
Hwang
Ju Youn
JY
Park
Joo Hyun
JH
D031885:Cimicifuga; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004967:Estrogens / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D019584:Hot Flashes / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D020902:Hypericum; D008875:Middle Aged; D047648:Perimenopause; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010919:Placebos; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D004967:Estrogens; D010919:Placebos; D010936:Plant Extracts