ANANTRA FEMALE

Beneficial effects of Lepidium meyenii (Maca) on psychological symptoms and measures of sexual dysfunction in postmenopausal women are not related to estrogen or androgen content

Brooks NA et al.

Objective: To examine the estrogenic and androgenic activity of Lepidium meyenii (Maca) and its effect on the hormonal profile and symptoms in postmenopausal women.

Design: Fourteen postmenopausal women completed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial. They received 3.5 g/day of powered Maca for 6 weeks and matching placebo for 6 weeks, in either order, over a total of 12 weeks. At baseline and weeks 6 and 12 blood samples were collected for the measurement of estradiol, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, and sex hormone-binding globulin, and the women completed the Greene Climacteric Scale to assess the severity of menopausal symptoms. In addition, aqueous and methanolic Maca extracts were tested for androgenic and estrogenic activity using a yeast-based hormone-dependent reporter assay.

Results: No differences were seen in serum concentrations of estradiol, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, and sex hormone-binding globulin between baseline, Maca treatment, and placebo (P > 0.05). The Greene Climacteric Scale revealed a significant reduction in scores in the areas of psychological symptoms, including the subscales for anxiety and depression and sexual dysfunction after Maca consumption compared with both baseline and placebo (P < 0.05). These findings did not correlate with androgenic or alpha-estrogenic activity present in the Maca as no physiologically significant activity was observed in yeast-based assays employing up to 4 mg/mL Maca extract (equivalent to 200 mg/mL Maca).

Conclusions: Preliminary findings show that Lepidium meyenii (Maca) (3.5 g/d) reduces psychological symptoms, including anxiety and depression, and lowers measures of sexual dysfunction in postmenopausal women independent of estrogenic and androgenic activity.

Menopause. 2008 Nov-Dec;15(6):1157-62. doi: 10.1097/gme.0b013e3181732953. PMID: 18784609. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18784609/

The enhancement of female sexual function with ArginMax, a nutritional supplement, among women differing in menopausal status

Ito TY et al.

Abstract

We conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled study to determine the role of dietary supplementation on sexual function in women of differing menopausal status. One hundred eight (108) women, age 22-73 years, who reported a lack of sexual desire, enrolled as participants. Of these, 55 received ArginMax for women and 53 received placebo. ArginMax for women contains L-arginine, ginseng, ginkgo, damiana, multivitamins, and minerals. The 108 women, given definitions, self-reported as 59 premenopausal (PRE); 20 perimenopausal (PERI), and 29 postmenopausal (POST). After 4 weeks, PRE women on ArginMax primarily reported significant improvement in level of sexual desire (72%; p = 0.03) and satisfaction with overall sex life (68%; p = 0.007), compared with placebo group, according to the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI; Kaplan et al., 1999) scales. Frequency of sexual desire (60%; p = 0.05) and frequency of intercourse (56% p = 0.01) also increased among the PRE women. In contrast, among PERI women, primary improvements were reported for frequency of intercourse (86%; p = 0.002), satisfaction with sexual relationship (79%; p = 0.03), and vaginal dryness (64%; p = 0.03) compared with placebo group. POST women primarily showed an increased in level of sexual desire, with 51% showing improvement, compared with only 8% in the placebo group (p = 0.008). Nutritional intervention plays an important role in women’s sexual health, but issues and areas of greatest improvement differ among women of different menopausal states. The largest number of attribute improvements were seen in PRE and PERI women, although attribute types vary among these groups. Level of desire was shown to increase significantly in POST women. Since ArginMax for women has been shown to exhibit no estrogen activity, it may be desirable alternative to hormone therapy for sexual concerns.

J Sex Marital Ther. 2006 Oct-Dec;32(5):369-78. doi: 10.1080/00926230600834901. PMID: 16959660. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16959660/

The non-estrogenic alternative for the treatment of climacteric complaints: Black cohosh (Cimicifuga or Actaea racemosa)

Wuttke et al.

Abstract

In postmenopausal women estrogens in combination with progestins have beneficial effects on climacteric complaints and on osteoporosis but this hormone replacement therapy (HRT) bears the risk of increased mammary carcinomas and cardiovascular diseases. Phytoestrogens at low doses have little or no effects on climacteric complaints, at high doses they mimic the effects of estrogens. Therefore other plant derived substances are currently intensively investigated. Extracts of the rhizome of black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa = CR) did not bind to estrogen receptors and were shown to be devoid of estrogenic effects on mammary cancer cells in vitro and on mammary gland and uterine histology in ovariectomized rats. In addition in this rat model the special extract CR BNO 1055 inhibited the occurrence of hot flushes and development of osteoporosis.

In postmenopausal women CR BNO 1055 reduced major climacteric complaints as effectively as conjugated estrogens and significantly more than placebo. Similar data were published for other European CR preparations whereas 2 US American preparations were ineffective. This was most likely due to the too high doses or due to the adulteration with Asian Cimicifuga preparations. In all European studies neither effects in the uterus nor in mammary glands were observed.

The effective compounds in CR are most likely neurotransmitter-mimetic in nature: dopaminergic, noradrenergic, serotoninergic and GABAergic effects were demonstrated and some have been structurally identified. We conclude that CR extracts at low doses are effective to ameliorate climacteric complaints but are devoid of adverse estrogenic effects. These finding strengthens the role of CR extracts as substitutes for HRT.

Journal of Steroid Biochemistry & Molecular Biology 139 (2014) 302–310 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23459142/

The immediate effect of natural plant extract, Angelica sinensis and Matricaria chamomilla (Climex) for the treatment of hot flushes during menopause. A preliminary report

Kupfersztain C et al.

Abstract

Objective: To assess the efficiency of a medicinal herb extract preparation (Climex) for the treatment of menopausal symptoms.

Method: In this placebo-controlled experiment on 55 postmenopausal women who complained of hot flushes and refused hormonal therapy. The women were randomly divided into two groups, one to receive Climex (5 chewable tablets daily between meals) and the other group to receive a placebo; both groups would take the tablets for 12 weeks. The women were asked to complete a daily structured (Kupperman) questionnaire assessing the frequency and intensity of menopausal symptoms, starting one week prior to treatment to the completion of the study. All women underwent hormone profile measurements and transvaginal ultrasonography evaluation before and after treatment.

Results: There was a significant difference between the study group and the control group in the decrease in number and intensity of hot flushes from baseline to completion of treatment (90-96% vs 15-25%, p < 0.001). In the study group, a response was already noted during the first month of treatment (68% +/- 2% reduction of hot flushes during the day and 74% +/- 4% during the night). There was also a marked alleviation of sleep disturbances and fatigue.

Conclusions: Treatment with Climex seems to be effective for menopausal symptoms without apparent major adverse effects. This hormone-free preparation may be used as an important modality for menopausal women with contraindications for hormone replacement therapy.

Clin Exp Obstet Gynecol. 2003;30(4):203-6. PMID: 14664413. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14664413/

Crocin, the main active saffron constituent, as an adjunctive treatment in major depressive disorder: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, pilot clinical trial

Talaei A et al.

Objective: Herbal remedies play an important role in treatment of psychiatric disorders. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of crocin, the main active constituent of saffron, as an adjunctive treatment in major depressive disorder (MDD).

Method: This study was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, pilot clinical trial. It was carried out during 4 weeks in two groups (placebo and treatment) on 40 MDD patients between 24 and 50 years old in Ibn-e-Sina psychiatric hospital, Mashhad, Iran, from March 2013 to December 2013. The crocin group (n=20) was given one selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) drug (fluoxetine 20mg/day or sertraline 50mg/day or citalopram 20mg/day) plus crocin tablets (30mg/day; 15mg BID) and placebo group (n=20) was administered one SSRI (fluoxetine 20mg/day or sertraline 50mg/day or citalopram 20mg/day) plus placebo (two placebo tablets per day) for 4 weeks. Both groups filled beck depression inventory (BDI), beck anxiety inventory (BAI), general health questionnaire (GHQ), the mood disorder questionnaire (MDQ), side effect evaluation questionnaire, and demographic questionnaire before and after one month intervention.

Results: The crocin group showed significantly improved scores on BDI, BAI and GHQ compared to placebo group (Pvalue<0.0001). The averages of decrease in BDI, BAI and GHQ scores in placebo group were 6.15, 2.6 and 10.3 respectively, whereas the values in crocin group were 17.6, 12.7 and 17.2 after 4 weeks trial.

Conclusion: These results demonstrated the effect of crocin in depression and could be administered in treatment of MDD patients.

J Affect Disord. 2015 Mar 15;174:51-6. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2014.11.035. Epub 2014 Nov 26. PMID: 25484177. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25484177/

Role of arginase in the male and female sexual arousal response

Kim NN et al.

Abstract

The NO-cGMP pathway plays a key role in the male and female genital sexual arousal response. Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) utilizes L-arginine and oxygen as substrates to produce nitric oxide (NO) and citrulline. Arginase is a metalloenzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of L-arginine to produce L-ornithine and urea. It is proposed that arginase competes for L-arginine and reduces NOS activity in genital tissues, thus modulating sexual function. Using 2 transition state analogue inhibitors of arginase, 2(S)-Amino-6-boronohexanoic acid (ABH) and S-(2-boronoethyl)-L-cysteine (BEC), we have characterized arginase activity in penile and vaginal tissue. Neither of these inhibitors has activity against NOS. Thus, ABH and BEC are useful compounds for examining the role of arginase in genital tissue physiology, without directly influencing NOS activity. We present data to suggest that arginase may regulate NO production by competing for endogenous pools of L-arginine. In this fashion, arginase is an indirect regulator of penile and vaginal blood flow and specific arginase inhibitors may improve genital blood flow during sexual arousal. As evidenced by the upregulation of arginase in specific disease states, its distribution in the vagina, and its modulation by sex steroid hormones, this enzyme may also participate in numerous other physiological and pathophysiological processes, such as tissue growth, fibrosis, and immune function.

J Nutr. 2004 Oct;134(10 Suppl):2873S-2879S; discussion 2895S. doi: 10.1093/jn/134.10.2873S. PMID: 15465804. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15465804/