Actaea racemosa L. - syn.Cimicifuga racemosa (L.) Nutt. - Ranunculaceae \\
black cohosh, black snakeroot, rattle weed, rattlesnake root, squawroot, **Traubensilberkerze**, Traubiges Wanzenkraut, Silberkerze, Schwarze Schlangenwurzel

Perennial herb, up to 2.50m tall, native to eastern and central North America; leaves odd pinnate, serrate; flowers white, in racemes; fruit a black follicle, leathery, ovate, 5-10mm long. \\
[[http://www.mass.gov/eea/docs/dfg/nhesp/species-and-conservation/nhfacts/actaea-racemosa.pdf]]

"Some phytoestrogens are believed to have selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) activity with no action in the uterus but beneficial effects in the hypothalamo/pituitary unit and in the bone and are presently the focus of clinical interest. In the present experiments, the effects of the clinically used Cimicifuga racemosa
(CR) extract BNO 1055 in the uterus, in the bone and on serum luteinizing hormone (LH) were compared with the effects of estradiol-17b(E2) under acute and chronic conditions in ovariectomized rats...When given acutely, both E2 and the CR extract inhibited LH secretion and slightly stimulated gene expression of IGF-I, collagen-1
a 1, osteoprotegerin and osteocalcin (all osteoblast products), and of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP, an osteoclast product) in the metaphysis of the femur. While E2 stimulated uterine weight and expression of progesterone receptor (PR), the complement protein (C3) and IGF-I genes, and inhibited gene expression of the estrogen receptor b (ERb) in the uterus, no such effect was observed under acute CR treatment. After chronic application with pelleted food over 3 months E2 had profound effects in the uterus on weight and gene expression (ERb, PR, C3 and IGF-I) which were not seen in the CR-treated animals. Within 3 months after ovariectomy, control rats had lost more than 50% of the metaphyseal bone mass of the tibia, an effect prevented by E2 and partially by CR supplementation. Conclusions: These data confirm the concept that the CR extract BNO 1055 contains as yet unidentified substances with SERM properties which act in the hypothalamo/pituitary unit and in the bone but not in the uterus." \\
[Evidence for selective estrogen receptor modulator activity in a black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa) extract: comparison with estradiol-17beta., Seidlová-Wuttke, D., Hesse, O., Jarry, H., Christoffel, V., Spengler, B., Becker, T., Wuttke, W., European Journal of Endocrinology, Vol.149(4), 2003, 351-362] [[http://www.eje-online.org/content/149/4/351.full.pdf]]

"One new triterpene glycoside, cimiracemoside, and 14 known triterpene glycosides have been isolated from the rhizome extracts of black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa). On the basis of spectral and chemical evidence, the structure of the new compound was elucidated to be 12β-acetoxycimigenol-3-O-β-d-xylopranoside, and the known compounds were identified to be 25-acetylcimigenol xyloside, cimigenol-3-O-β-d-xylopyranoside, actein, 27-deoxyactein, cimicifugoside H-1, 23-O-acetylshengmanol 3-O-β-d-xylopranoside, foetidinol-3-O-β-xyloside, cimicifugoside H-2, 25-O-methylcimigenol xyloside, 21-hydroxycimigenol-3-O-β-d-xylopyranoside, 24-epi-7,8—didehydrocimigenol-3-xyloside, cimidahurinine, cimidahurine and cimifugin." \\
[Triterpenoid glycoside from Cimicifuga racemosa., Lai, G. F., Wang, Y. F., Fan, L. M., Cao, J. X., Luo, S. D., Journal of Asian natural products research, Vol.7(5), 2005, 695-699]

"Black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa) is an herbal supplement that is sold over-the-counter for management of menopausal symptoms, menstrual irregularities, and arthritis... There are a growing number of cases detailing acute hepatic necrosis in patients taking black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa), an over-the-counter herbal supplement for management of menopausal symptoms. Our aim is to illustrate two cases of liver injury following the use of black cohosh characterized by histopathological features mimicking autoimmune hepatitis. Both patients reported black cohosh use for at least six months and had no evidence of another cause of liver disease. Their liver biopsies showed a component of centrilobular necrosis consistent with severe drug-induced liver injury. In addition, the biopsies showed characteristics of autoimmune-like liver injury with an interface hepatitis dominated by plasma cells. Although serum markers for autoimmune hepatitis were not particularly elevated, both patients responded to corticosteroids, supporting an immune-mediated component to the liver injury. Liver injury following the use of black cohosh should be included in the list of differential diagnoses for chronic hepatitis with features mimicking autoimmune hepatitis." \\
[Guzman, G., Kallwitz, E. R., Wojewoda, C., Chennuri, R., Berkes, J., Layden, T. J., Cotler, S. J. (2010). Liver injury with features mimicking autoimmune hepatitis following the use of black cohosh. Case reports in medicine, 2009]