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Caulophyllum thalictroidesFrom: JSBowpat@aol.comTue Aug 16 19:37:08 2005
Blue cohosh (caulophyllum thalictroides) Also known as papoose root, yellow ginseng, blue ginseng, and squaw root, this root was used by native Americans to facilitate childbirth and was given up to 2–3 weeks before labor _(19)_ (http://www.journals.elsevierhealth.com/periodicals/jmwh/article/PIIS0091218299000373/fulltext#bib19) . Current commercial supplies are obtained from the Appalachian region in the United States. It was also used for amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, menorrhagia, and threatened or induced abortion, implying contradictory properties _(19)_ (http://www.journals.elsevierhealth.com/periodicals/jmwh/article/PIIS0091218299000373/fulltext#bib1 9) . Between 1882 and 1905, it was listed in the United States Pharmacopoeia as a labor inducer _(19)_ (http://www.journals.elsevierhealth.com/periodicals/jmwh/article/PIIS0091218299000373/fulltext#bib19) . The plant contains several glycosides, caulosaponin and caulophyllosaponin, which have documented oxytocic properties _(28)_ (http://www.journals.elsevierhealth.com/periodicals/jmwh/article/PIIS0091218299000373/fulltext#bib28) ; caulophylline has convulsant and hypertensive properties _(28)_ (http://www.journals.elsevierhealth.com/periodicals/jmwh/article/PIIS0091218299000373/fulltext#bib28) , whereas caulophyllosaponin and caulosaponin are vasoconstrictors with cardiotoxic and oxytocic properties _(28)_ (http://www.journals.elsevierhealth.com/periodicals/jmwh/article/PIIS0091218299000373/fulltext#bib28) . It is pharmacologically similar to nicotine and results in increased blood pressure, stimulation of the small intestine, and hyperglycemia. In animal studies, it is 10–40 times less active than nicotine _(29)_ (http://www.journals.elsevierhealth.com/periodicals/jmwh/article/PIIS0091218299000373/fulltext#bib29) . Manganese, magnesium, ethyl-acetate, and valerianic acid are the components that are antispasmodic and anticonvulsant _(28)_ (http://www.journals.elsevierhealth.com/periodicals/jmwh/article/PIIS0091218299000373/fulltext#bib28) . It is both a uterine stimulant and antispasmodic, which are seemingly contradictory properties. It can have a toxic effect on cardiac muscle, probably because of the vasoconstrictor activity on coronary vessels _(8,18,27)_ (http://www.journals.elsevierhealth.com/periodicals/jmwh/article/PIIS0091218299000373/fulltext#bib8) . Additionally, severe stomach pain and toxicity have been documented _(27)_ (http://www.journals.elsevierhealth.com/periodicals/jmwh/article/PIIS0091218299000373/fullt ext#bib27) . Over 22 substances were found in patented preparations marketed as “female remedies†in the early 1900s, including blue cohosh _(28)_ (http://www.journals.elsevierhealth.com/periodicals/jmwh/article/PIIS0091218299000373/fulltext#bib2 8) . Studies were performed on the excised uteri of guinea pigs by Pilcher et al in 1916 _(30)_ (http://www.journals.elsevierhealth.com/periodicals/jmwh/article/PIIS0091218299000373/fulltext#bib30) . Blue cohosh was found to contain the only active oxytocic responsible for increasing uterine tone. It frequently initiated contractions in nonactive strips of uterine tissue but also increased tone with cessation of contractions, which the authors described as tetanus _(30)_ (http://www.journals.elsevierhealth.com/periodicals/jmwh/article/PIIS0091218299000373/fulltext#bib30) . Although a decrease in blood pressure of 30–50 mm with a “fairly prompt†return to normal was observed when blue cohosh was administered to dogs in these large doses, a subsequent in vivo study on dogs indicated no effect on the uterus when blue cohosh was administered in high doses _(31)_ (http://www.journals.elsevierhealth.com/periodicals/jmwh/article/PIIS0091218299000373/fulltext#bib31) . The alkaloid anagyrine, which is found in the root of blue cohosh, has been held responsible for the congenital deformity “crooked calf disease†_(32)_ (http://www.journals.elsevierhealth.com/periodicals/jmwh/article/PIIS0091218299 000373/fulltext#bib32) . This disease is found in bovine stock but could not be reproduced in sheep or hamsters. The severity of the deformity was found to be directly related to the concentration of anagyrine in the extracts used _(32)_ (http://www.journals.elsevierhealth.com/periodicals/jmwh/article/PIIS0091218299000373/fulltext#bib32) . There is also a case report of a similar human congenital malformation (marked anemia, skeletal dysplasia, and vascular anomaly) in an infant, which could have been due to maternal exposure to anagyrine contamination of goat milk in early pregnancy _(33)_ (http://www.journals.elsevierhealth.com/periodicals/jmwh/article/PIIS0091218299000373/fulltext#bi b33) . The use of blue and black cohosh has been advocated for the stimulation of labor by herbalist E. Yarnell _(34)_ (http://www.journals.elsevierhealth.com/periodicals/jmwh/article/PIIS0091218299000373/fulltext#bib34) and recipes are provided. He cautions, however, that, “A gaping hole in published research occ urs in the field of botanical medicine used during human labor†_(34)_ (http://www.journals.elsevierhealth.com/periodicals/jmwh/article/PIIS009121829900037 3/fulltext#bib34) .
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