Caulophyllum
thalictroides.Blue cohosh,
Squaw root, Papoose root
Family: Berberidaceae
North American Indians used the rhizome to facilitate childbirth, hence the
synonyms. PART USED: Underground parts,
rhizome TASTE: Bitter and acrid ODOR: Slight, sternutatory ACTIONS GROUP:The Endocrine and Reproductive
Systems- Reproductive System Tonics
1. Antirheumatic.[1] Antiinflammatory.[4]
Febrifuge.[4]
2. Antispasmodic.[1,4]
3. Emenagogue.[1,4]
4. Uterine tonic.[1]
5. Diuretic.[4]
6. Vermifuge.[4] INDICATIONS
1. Amenorrhea.[1,4] Dysmenorrhea.[1]
Dyspareunia.[2] Uterine inflammation.[2]
Conditions associated with uterine atony, including difficult labor.[2]
As partus prepaerator.[2] Threatened
miscarriage.[1,4]- though should be
avoided during the first trimester of pregnancy.[4]
False labor pains.[1]
2 . Rheumatic pain.[1,4]
Neuralgia.[2]
3 . Spasmodic conditions including epilepsy.[2]
Hiccoughs, cramps, colic.[2]
4. Nervous exhaustion.[2]
5. Whooping cough.[2] SPECIFIC INDICATIONS: Conditions associated with uterine atony.[1] COMBINATIONS
- Uterine weakness, use with Chamaelirium,
Leonurus and Yarrow.[1] PREPARATIONS:
3X/day
Dried underground parts 0.3-1 g,[1]
or by decoction 1:20.[1,2] 0.3-2 g.[4]
Fluid extract 1:1 in 70%, alcohol 0.5-1 ml.[1]
Fluid extract 1:2 or 1:5 in 70%.[3]
Liquid extract (BPC1934) 0.6-2 ml.[4]
NOTE -The low recommended dose. During the first trimester of pregnancy only
small doses should be taken.[1]
ORIGIN:
Eastern USA and Canada DESCRIPTION: A herbaceous plant. Rhizome brownish grey, about 10 cm long
and 0.5-1 cm thick, knotty with short branches; with numerous, crowded, concave
stem scars on the upper surface, and long, paler brown, tough rootlets about
1 mm thick underneath. Internally whitish with narrow, woody rays. References
[1] British Herbal Pharmacopoeia 1983 Published by the British Herbal Medicine
Association ISBN 0 903032 07 4.
[2] Herbal Materia Medica Course Notes For Diploma of Naturopathy and Diploma
of Herbalism Students by Lydia Mottram.
[3] Mediherb- A herbal extract company based in Warwick Qld. 4370 Australia
www.mediherb.com
[4] Potter's New Cyclopaedia of Botanical Drugs and Preparations R.C.
Wren Revised by Elizabeth M. Williamson and Fred J Evans. First published
in Great Britain in 1988 and reprinted in 1989 and 1994 by the C. W. Daniel
Company Limited. 1 Church Path, Saffron Walden Essex. Published 1988 Printed
and bound by Biddles, Guildford ISBN 085207 1973. Images
1. en.wikipedia.org
by carol CC BY-SA 3.0
2. en.wikipedia.org
Public domain
3. desertcart.ae
Inner Path can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from
the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant
medicinally.
Constituents
Alkaloids- magnoflorine, laburnine, cytisine,
caulophylline, caulosapogenin.[1,3,4]
Anagryine, baptifoline.[3,4]
Resins including Caulophyllin.[2]
Saponins 12%- leontin.[2] Caulosaponin.[3]
Tannins.[2] References
[1] British Herbal Pharmacopoeia 1983 Published by the British Herbal Medicine
Association ISBN 0 903032 07 4.
[2] Herbal Materia Medica Course Notes For Diploma of Naturopathy and Diploma
of Herbalism Students by Lydia Mottram.
[3] Flom, M. S. et al. (1967) J. Pharm. Sci. 56, 1515
[4] Strigina, L. I. et al. (1975) Phytochem. 15, 1583
Research
Experiments have shown that extracts timulate phagocytosis in mice.[1]
Antiinflammatory in the rat paw edema test.[2] References
[1] Di carlo, F. I. et al. (1964) J. Reticuloendothelial. Soc.1, 224
[2] Benoit, P. S. et al. (1976) Lloydia 39, 160
Nicotinic toxicity from tincture of blue cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictroides)
used as an abortifacient.
Rao RB, Hoffman RS. Abstract
Numerous natural products have been used as traditional abortifacients, each
with their own efficacy and adverse effects. With the continued growth of the
natural products industry, clinicians are more likely to see adverse effects
from attempted abortions using these agents. A 21-y-old female developed tachycardia,
diaphoresis, abdominal pain, vomiting and muscle weakness and fasciculations
after using blue cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictroides) in an attempt to induce
an abortion. These symptoms are consistent with nicotinic toxicity and probably
resulted from methylcytisine known present in blue cohosh. The patient's symptoms
resolved over 24 h and she was discharged. Whether successful or not, the use
of natural agents to induce abortion is frequently associated with adverse effects
in the mother or fetus. Clinicians should recognize the potential toxicity of
these agents.
PMID: 12136970 Vet Hum Toxicol. 2002 Aug;44(4):221-2. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Safety and efficacy of blue cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictroides) during
pregnancy and lactation.
Dugoua JJ, Perri D, Seely D, Mills E, Koren G. Abstract
BACKGROUND:
There is a lack of basic knowledge on the part of both clinicians and patients
as to the indications for use and safety of herbal medicines in pregnancy and
lactation. This is one article in a series that systematically reviews the evidence
for commonly used herbs during pregnancy and lactation.
OBJECTIVES:
To systematically review the literature for evidence on the use, safety and
pharmacology of blue cohosh, focusing on issues pertaining to pregnancy and
lactation.
METHODS:
We searched 7 electronic databases and compiled data according to the grade
of evidence found.
RESULTS:
According to a survey of midwives in the United States, approximately 64% of
midwives reported using blue cohosh as a labour-inducing aid. There are three
case reports in the scientific literature that blue cohosh taken at the time
of delivery may cause; 1) perinatal stroke, 2) acute myocardial infarction,
profound congestive heart failure and shock and 3) severe multi-organ hypoxic
injury. There is one case report that blue cohosh possesses abortifacient properties.
There is in vitro evidence that blue cohosh may have teratogenic, embryotoxic
and oxytoxic effects. In lactation, the safety of blue cohosh is unknown.
CONCLUSIONS:
Based on the available scientific information, blue cohosh should; 1) be used
with extreme caution during pregnancy, 2) be used only under medical professional
supervision and 3) not be available to the public as an over-the-counter product.
There is an urgent need to conduct a retrospective or prospective cohort study
of midwifes using blue cohosh in order to determine its safety.
PMID: 18204101 Can J Clin Pharmacol. 2008 Winter;15(1):e66-73. Epub 2008 Jan
18. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Triterpene glycosides from the underground parts of Caulophyllum thalictroides.
Matsuo Y, Watanabe K, Mimaki Y. Abstract
A total of 22 triterpene glycosides, including 10 new compounds (1-10), were
isolated from the underground parts of Caulophyllum thalictroides. The structures
of the new glycosides were determined on the basis of extensive spectroscopic
analyses, including two-dimensional (2D) NMR data, and of hydrolytic cleavage
followed by chromatographic or spectroscopic analyses. All 22 compounds were
evaluated for cytotoxicity against HL-60 human leukemia cells. The triterpene
monodesmosides based on oleanolic acid (1 and 11-16) showed cytotoxic activity
against HL-60 cells with IC(50) values that ranged from 3.4 to 15.9 microg/mL.
PMID: 19449879 DOI: 10.1021/np900164b J Nat Prod. 2009 Jun;72(6):1155-60. doi:
10.1021/np900164b. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Toxins in botanical dietary supplements: blue cohosh components disrupt
cellular respiration and mitochondrial membrane potential.
Datta S, Mahdi F, Ali Z, Jekabsons MB, Khan IA, Nagle DG, Zhou YD. Abstract
Certain botanical dietary supplements have been associated with idiosyncratic
organ-specific toxicity. Similar toxicological events, caused by drug-induced
mitochondrial dysfunction, have forced the withdrawal or U.S. FDA "black
box" warnings of major pharmaceuticals. To assess the potential mitochondrial
liability of botanical dietary supplements, extracts from 352 authenticated
plant samples used in traditional Chinese, Ayurvedic, and Western herbal medicine
were evaluated for the ability to disrupt cellular respiration. Blue cohosh
(Caulophyllum thalictroides) methanol extract exhibited mitochondriotoxic activity.
Used by some U.S. midwives to help induce labor, blue cohosh has been associated
with perinatal stroke, acute myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure,
multiple organ injury, and neonatal shock. The potential link between mitochondrial
disruption and idiosyncratic herbal intoxication prompted further examination.
The C. thalictroides methanol extract and three saponins, cauloside A (1), saponin
PE (2), and cauloside C (3), exhibited concentration- and time-dependent mitochondriotoxic
activities. Upon treatment, cell respiration rate rapidly increased and then
dramatically decreased within minutes. Mechanistic studies revealed that C.
thalictroides constituents impair mitochondrial function by disrupting membrane
integrity. These studies provide a potential etiological link between this mitochondria-sensitive
form of cytotoxicity and idiosyncratic organ damage.
PMID: 24328138 PMCID: PMC3932489 DOI: 10.1021/np400758t J Nat Prod. 2014 Jan
24;77(1):111-7. doi: 10.1021/np400758t. Epub 2013 Dec 11. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov