Maturitas
Volume 57, Issue 4 , Pages 382-391, 20 August 2007

Effects of black cohosh on estrogen biosynthesis in normal breast tissue in vitro

  • Petra Stute

      Affiliations

    • Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Clinic of Muenster, 48149 Muenster, Germany
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Tel.: +49 251 83 48202; fax: +49 251 83 48267.
    • ,
  • Thomas Nisslein

      Affiliations

    • Schaper & Brümmer GmbH & Co. KG, 38259 Salzgitter, Germany
    • ,
  • Martin Götte

      Affiliations

    • Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Clinic of Muenster, 48149 Muenster, Germany
    • ,
  • Axel Kamischke

      Affiliations

    • Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, St. Barbara Clinic, Hamm, Germany
    • ,
  • Ludwig Kiesel

      Affiliations

    • Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Clinic of Muenster, 48149 Muenster, Germany
    • ,
  • Walter Klockenbusch

      Affiliations

    • Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Clinic of Muenster, 48149 Muenster, Germany

Received 21 November 2006; received in revised form 16 April 2007; accepted 20 April 2007. published online 21 May 2007.

Abstract 

Objectives

To investigate the effect of black cohosh on the estrogen biosynthesis in the breast in vitro.

Methods

Steroid sulfatase (STS) activity was studied in normal breast tissue obtained from pre- and postmenopausal women undergoing reduction mammoplasty. STS protein expression was studied by immunohistochemistry and western blotting. Breast tissue was incubated in vitro without or with black cohosh (iCR) at concentrations ranging from 0.1mg/ml to 1ng/ml. STS activity was evaluated by incubating homogenized breast tissue with [3H]-estrone sulfate, separating the formed products, estrone (E1) and estradiol (E2), by thin layer chromatography and measuring the amounts of E1 and E2 by scintillation counting.

Results

STS protein expression and enzymatic activity were detected in all specimens investigated. In all groups, significantly more E1 than E2 was produced. Local estrogen formation was decreased in premenopausal breast tissue by treatment with iCR at 0.1mg/ml (p≤0.05).

Conclusions

iCR decreases local estrogen formation in normal human breast tissue in vitro. This may contribute to the lack of hormonal effects of black cohosh in breast tissue observed in previous studies.

Keywords: Breast, Black cohosh, Actaea racemosa, Cimicifuga racemosa, Sulfatase activity

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PII: S0378-5122(07)00162-4

doi:10.1016/j.maturitas.2007.04.007

Maturitas
Volume 57, Issue 4 , Pages 382-391, 20 August 2007

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