(390) Chemotype Variation among Black Cohosh Populations

Abstract

<jats:p>Black cohosh [<jats:italic>Actaea racemosa</jats:italic> L.; syn. <jats:italic>Cimicifuga racemosa</jats:italic> (L.) Nutt.] is a medicinal plant native to America and the woodlands of eastern North America. The roots and rhizomes of black cohosh, used by Native Americans to ease childbirth and treat menstrual cramps, rheumatism, headaches, coughs, asthma, and snakebites, are currently popular as an herbal remedy in the United States and Europe for the relief of discomfort associated with menopause. To determine chemical variation among populations of this perennial plant, root samples from 33 locations within the natural range of the species, ranging from Massachusetts to South Carolina and west to Missouri and Tennessee, were collected and chemically analyzed by HPLC-PDA using a C-18 reversed phase column (Phenomenex) for separation of the chemical constituents. The constituents were identified by comparison with commercial standards, including actein, methyl-beta-arabinopyranoside, caffeic acid, cimicifugoside, cimicifugoside H1, cimiracemoside A, 26 deoxyactein, ferulic acid, isoferulic acid, kaempferol, formononetin, and others. Chemically, an extract of the root and rhizome is known to contain at least three major natural product groups: cycloartenal-type triterpenes, phenolics, and flavonoids. Chemical constituents, especially formononetin, varied among the populations.</jats:p>

Influence of Rhizome Propagule Size on Yields and Triterpene Glycoside Concentrations of Black Cohosh [Actaea racemosa L. syn Cimicifuga racemosa (L.) Nuttal]

“…The specific mode of action associated with their bioactivity has not been identified conclusively, although there have been numerous studies testing both triterpene glycosides and flavonoids (Kennelly et al, 2002;Upton, 2002). High intrapopulation variability of triterpene glycoside concentrations has been reported (Lata et al, 2002) as well as interpopulation variability (Al-Amier et al, 2005;Fabricant et al, 2001). Large variations in triterpene glycoside constituents among commercial products have also been reported along with adulterants from closely related species (Ganzera et al, 2000).…”