Challenges in the conduct of Thai herbal scientific study: efficacy and safety of phytoestrogen, pueraria mirifica (Kwao Keur Kao), phase I, in the alleviation of climacteric symptoms in perimenopausal women.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the preliminary efficacy and safety of Pueraria mirifica (Kwao Keur Kao), phytoestrogen, for the alleviation of climacteric symptoms.


METHODS
Perimenopausal women attending with climacteric symptoms, such as hot flushes and night sweats, were invited to join the present study, conducted at the Menopausal Clinic, Hat Yai Regional Hospital. The patients were voluntarily enrolled and randomly received the raw material of Pueraria mirifica, oral 50 and 100 mg capsule, once daily for six months, as an open-label study.


RESULTS
Of the 10 enrolled patients, 8 cases were completely evaluated. The modified Greene climacteric scale (MGCS) was satisfactorily decreased in both groups. The average scale declined from 44.1 at baseline, to be 26, 17, and 11.1 at 1-, 3-, and 6- month follow-up respectively. No other laboratory abnormalities, except one case had transiently increased the creatinine level, and one case of increased blood urea nitrogen. The mean serum estradiol was slightly increased, while the mean serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) were nearly stable.


CONCLUSIONS
Pueraria mirifica is relatively safe and preliminarily alleviates the climacteric symptoms in perimenopausal. women, but the data is insufficient to draw definite conclusions regarding the estrogenic effect.
Chandeying
Verapol
V
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla 90112, Thailand. verapol.c@psu.ac.th
Lamlertkittikul
Surachai
S
D000328:Adult; D002979:Climacteric; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D004967:Estrogens / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D052776:Female Urogenital Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D029001:Herbal Medicine; D006801:Humans; D007529:Isoflavones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008593:Menopause / Q000187:drug effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D048789:Phytoestrogens / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D029908:Pueraria / Q000009:adverse effects; D013785:Thailand
D004967:Estrogens; D007529:Isoflavones; D048789:Phytoestrogens