Phytopreparations based on cimicifuga root extract for relieving menopausal symptoms

The severe and moderate course ofmenopause with pronounced vasomotor manifestations can substantially increase the risk of future vascular catastrophes and negatively affect cognitive functions, accelerating neurodegenerative processes. These are just some of the reasons that do not allow one to ignore the pathological symptoms of the menopausal transition, and particularly the vasomotor symptoms that are among the cardiovascular risk biomarkers. The presented review material contains information on the major therapeutic areas of mitigating the pathological manifestations during menopause and highlights the problem of finding alternative ways to solve this problem. It is proposed to pay attention to the high capacities of herbal remedies containing phytoestrogens. The paper considers their effects versus those of drugs for menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) and arguments in favor of choosing this alternative for MHT. The most studied agents based on cimicifuga root extract are taken as an example. Conclusion. In the situations, where MHT is impossible for whatever reasons, one of the acceptable alternative treatment options may be the drugs containing phytoestrogens. The latter contained in the cimicifuga root extract have the properties of selective estrogen receptor modulators, fail to affect breast tissue and endometrium, and are well tolerated. At the same time, they demonstrate the efficacy comparable to the effect of estrogens, which allows them to be successfully used to relieve vasomotor and other pathological symptoms during menopause.

climacterium, menopause, menopausal disorders, vasomotor symptoms, hot flashes, phytoestrogens, selective estrogen receptor modulators, cimicifuga, cohosh