Efficacy and safety of Cimicifuga foetida extract on menopausal syndrome in Chinese women

Background It is now recognized that Cimicifuga foetida extract is effective in alleviating menopausal symptoms. But the durations reported were usually short. This paper compares the clinical effects of different regimens of three-month course on climacteric symptoms in Chinese women, so as to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Cimicifuga foefida extract. Methods This was a prospective, randomized trial. Ninety-six early menopausal women were recruited and randomly assigned into 3 groups to take different kinds of medicine for 3 months; participants were given Cimicifuga foefida extract daily in group A （n=32）, given estradiol valerate and progesterone capsule cycle sequentially in group B （n=32）, and given estradiol valerate and medroxyprogesterone acetate cycle sequentially in group C （n=32）. The questionnaires of Kupperman menopause index, Menopause-Specific Quality of Life, and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale were finished before and after the treatment. The status of vaginal bleeding and breast tenderness was recorded every day. Results Eighty-nine participants （89/96, 92.7%） completed the treatment. Kupperman menopause index decreased after taking the medicine for 3 months in each group （with all P〈0.001）, but the score after the treatment was higher in group A than in the other 2 groups. Except for the score of sexual domain in group A （P=0.103）, the scores of all domains of the Menopause-Specific Quality of Life decreased significantly after the treatment in all groups （with all P〈-0.01）. Score of anxity decreased significantly in group A （P=0.0l 5） and B （P=0.003）. Incidence of breast tenderness was 12.9% （4/31） in groupA, 36.7% （11/30） in group B, and 14.3% （4/28） in group C. Incidence of vaginal bleeding was 6.5% （2/31）in group A, 26.7% （8/30） in group B, and 82.1% （23/28）in group C. Conclusions Cimicifuga foeticla extract is effective and safe in the treatment of menopausal syndrome. It is worth extending its use in the treatment of climacteric complaints, especially among those having contradiction for hormone replacement therapy.

Ultrasonographic Observation of the Breast in Early Postmenopausal Women during Therapy with Cimicifuga Foetida Extract and Sequential Therapy with Estrogen and Progestin

Background： It is now recognized that Cimicifuga foetida （C. foetida） extract is effective in alleviating menopausal symptoms. But the durations reported were usually short, The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of C. fl）etida extract therapy and different estrogen and progesterone sequential therapies, on the breasts of early postmenopausal women. Methods： This was a prospective randomized trial. Ninety-six early menopausal women were recruited and randomly assigned into three groups treated with different therapies for 2 years. Patients were given C. foetida extract in Group A, estradiol valerate and medroxyprogesterone acetate in Group B, and estradiol valerate and progesterone in Group C. Ultrasonography was used to monitor changes in breast during treatment. Results： In comparing breast glandular section thickness before and after 1 and 2 years of treatment, no significant difference was observed in Group A （11.97 ± 2.84 mm vs. 12.09 ± 2.58 mm and 12.61 ± 3.73 mm, P 〉 0.05）; in Group B glandular section thickness had increased significantly （10.98 ± 2.34 mm vs. 11.84± 2.72 mm and 11.90 ± 3.33 mm, P 〈 0.05） after treatment, the same as Group C （ 11.56 ± 3.03 mm vs. 12.5 ± 3.57 mm and 12.22 ± 4.39 mm P 〈 0.05）. In comparing breast duct width betbre and after 1 and 2 years of treatment, no significant difference was seen in Group A （1.07 ± 0.19 mm vs. 1.02 ±0.18 mm and 0.98 ± 0.21 mm, P 〉 0.05）; in Group B the duct width had a downward trend after treatment （0.99 ± 0.14 mm vs. 0.96 ± 0.22 mm and 0.90 ± 0.18 mm, P 〈 0.05）, the same as Group C （ 1.07 ± 0.20 mm vs. 1.02 ± 0.17 mm and 0.91 ± 0.19 mm, P 〈 0.05）. The nodules detected before treatment had disappeared after 1 -year of treatment or exhibited no distinct changes in the three groups. However, new breast nodules had appeared after 2 years of treatment： There was one case in Group A, two cases in Group B and four cases in Group C, with breast hyperplasia after the molybdenum target check. Conclusions： In early postmenopausal patients, C. foetida extract therapy and estrogen and progesterone therapy at low doses did not increase the incidence of malignant breast tumors.

升麻提取液对榆紫叶甲不同龄期幼虫的防治效果

[目的]明确升麻提取液对榆紫叶甲幼虫的防治效果。[方法]测定升麻丙酮、乙醇、蒸馏水提取液对榆紫叶甲2龄、3龄、4龄幼虫的防治效果。[结果]升麻不同溶剂提取液的杀虫效果以丙酮提取液最佳,其次为乙醇提取液,升麻提取液对榆紫叶甲不同龄期幼虫的杀虫效果以2龄最佳。[结论]试验结果为园林害虫榆紫叶甲的有效防治提供了参考。

Box-Behnken响应面法结合多指标综合加权法优选升麻中酚酸类成分的提取工艺

目的:优化升麻中酚酸类成分的提取工艺。方法:在单因素试验的基础上,以乙醇体积分数、回流提取时间和液料比3个因素为自变量,以咖啡酸、阿魏酸、异阿魏酸含量和浸出物得率的综合评分为因变量,采用基于Box-Behnken设计的响应面法优化升麻中酚酸类成分的提取工艺。结果:最优提取工艺为以8倍药材量的70%乙醇提取2次,每次200 min。验证试验结果表明,综合评分指标的预测值与实测值相对偏差仅为2.20%。结论:优选的提取工艺方法简单、稳定可行,可为后续升麻药材的制剂生产提供参考。

升麻多糖提取及其抗氧化作用

研究了升麻多糖的提取及其对羟基自由基的清除作用。采用热水浸提及醇沉法从升麻中提取多糖,通过比色法研究其清除羟基自由基的能力。升麻多糖清除能力与多糖浓度有明显的量效关系,清除50%羟基自由基所需要的多糖浓度为2.4mg/mL,结果表明升麻多糖具有良好的清除羟基自由基的能力。

液相色谱-串联质谱法研究升麻提取物在大鼠体内的药动学

目的:建立同时测定大鼠血浆中升麻4组分,升麻素、升麻亭、7,8-二脱氢-27-脱氧升麻亭和25-O-甲基升麻醇-3-β-D-半乳糖苷的液相色谱-串联质谱方法。方法:采用20(S)-人参皂苷Rg3为内标,血浆样品经固相萃取处理后,在负离子条件下多反应监测(MRM)方式进行扫描。结果:血浆中4种组分的线性范围为0.1～500 ng.mL-1,最低定量下限为0.1 ng.mL-1。方法的日内和日间精密度(RSD)均小于11.6%,样品提取回收率大于89.5%。结论:该方法灵敏、快速、准确,可用于大鼠血浆中升麻提取物有效成分含量的测定。