title: Black cohosh and St. John's wort (GYNO-Plus) for climacteric symptoms.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 134 Sinchon-Dong, Seodaemun-Gu, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Da-Jung
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Hye-Yeon
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Ki-Hyun
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Kyung-Ah
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.forename: Sung-Ki
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Yu-Il
authors.initials: YI
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sung-Eun
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Hur
authors.forename: Min-Sun
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Byung Seok
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sang Wook
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.forename: Cheong Mee
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Si Hyun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Ju Youn
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Joo Hyun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: D004967:Estrogens; D010919:Placebos; D010936:Plant Extracts