title: Oral administration of Cimicifuga racemosa extract attenuates immobilization stress-induced reactions.
abstract: Dried rhizomes of Cimicifuga racemosa (CR), known as black cohosh, have been widely used as a herbal dietary supplement in the treatment of menopausal symptoms. Here we used experimental mouse stress models to investigate the role of anti-stress food factors, and found that a CR extract had stress-relieving effects. A single oral administration of CR extract (1,000 mg/kg) significantly attenuated plasma corticosterone and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels that had increased as a result of enforced immobilization. Bioassay-guided fractionation of the CR extract resulted in the isolation of 10 triterpenes, among which actein, 23-epi-26-deoxyactein, and cimiracemoside F (100 mg/kg, per os) were shown to contribute to the anti-stress effects. Furthermore, the CR extract significantly prevented the development of water immersion stress-induced gastric mucosal ulcers in rats. We propose that the CR extract might be suitable for the prevention and treatment of stress-related disorders.
authors.affiliation: Research Laboratories for Fundamental Technology of Food, Asahi Group Holdings, Ltd., Moriya 302-0106, Japan. nadaokai@wakodo.co.jp
authors.forename: Isao
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Nadaoka
authors.forename: Kazuki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Masaaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yasue
authors.forename: Manabu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sami
authors.forename: Yasushi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kitagawa
authors.forename: Yoshihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mimaki
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D031885:Cimicifuga / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012149:Restraint, Physical; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts