대한약국학회

Cimicifuga fluid extract's effect on breast cancer   

of female postmenopausal climacteric syndrome  

Daniel JEON 1 , Sang-hee HAN 2 , and Min-goo KANG 3

College of Pharmacy 1,3 , Woosuk University, Wan-ju 55338, Korea  

Jong-ro plaza Pharmacy 3 , Jeon-ju 54950, Korea   

Abstract  

Introduction Female climacteric syndrome results from declining female hormones such as 

estrogen  and  progesterone  after  menopause.  Although  hormone  therapy  directly  using 

estrogen  and  progesterone  can  be  considered  as  first-line  treatment,  some  patients  are 

worried about its side effect of increasing risk of breast cancer caused by long-term use. And 

this  worrying  also  applies  to  Cimicifuga  fluid  extract  due  to  its  similar  pharmaceutical 

mechanism of action to female hormones. For this reason, as a pharmacist, it is necessary to 

know about effects of Cimicifuga fluid extract on breast cancer clearly, to provide appropriate 

pharmaceutical service to the patients who want to use it. 

Purpose  The  study  aims  to  investigate  pharmaceutical  characteristics  of  Cimicifuga  fluid 

extract and identify the risk of breast cancer's outbreak to using it. 

Method We investigated various experimental data including Black Cohosh, Cimicifuga (fluid 

extract), Estrogen, (Female) Climacteric Syndrome, and Non-hormone Therapy. The search 

and  analysis  were  focused  on  diverse  factors  which  may  influence  the  outbreak  of  breast 

cancer in vivo and in vitro. We considered from the relationship between Black Cohosh and 

breast cancer to molecular biological effects of cimicifuga fluid extract on an activation of 

estrogen and its receptor. 

Result  Black  Cohosh  (Cimicifuga  Rhizome)  concentration-dependently  decreased  relative 

intensity of estrogen receptor α and progesterone receptor A&B. And it also decreased local 

estrogen formation in normal human breast tissue and expressed cytotoxicity on MCF-7 cells. 

Conclusion Cimicifuga fluid extract is relatively safe and effective medication for whom are 

worried  about  breast  cancer.  But  pharmacists  should  refrain  from  recommending  the 

alternative medication therapy and provide appropriate pharmaceutical service individually to 

patients. 

Key word: Cimicifuga fluid extract, breast cancer, estrogen, climacteric syndrome