CNS mechanisms of black cohosh in menopause

描述（由申请人提供）：绝经开始影响美国妇女在50岁出头。许多这个年龄段的女性会经历各种血管舒缩、阴道和心理症状，如潮热、盗汗、睡眠障碍、焦虑、易怒、抑郁、阴道干燥、性功能障碍、疲劳和健忘。可用于缓解这些症状的药物治疗有限，其中一些有严重的副作用。相反，许多女性转向植物性膳食补充剂。在美国和许多其他地区，黑升麻是缓解更年期症状最常用的植物性膳食补充剂。黑升麻的作用机制尚不完全清楚。我们假设黑升麻可以通过中枢神经系统发挥作用，在更年期表现出有益的作用。在本应用中，我们建议通过检测几种化学表征的黑升麻提取物（BCE）对氨基丁酸（GABA）、阿片和多巴胺受体的亲和力和功能活性来验证这一假设。从这些研究中获得的数据将为最终导致预防和控制更年期症状的新方法提供基础。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Menopause begins to affect American women in their early 50's. Many women at this age experience a variety of vasomotor, vaginal, and psychological symptoms, such as hot flashes, night sweats, sleep disturbance, anxiety, irritability, depression, vaginal dryness, sexual dysfunction, fatigue, and forgetfulness. Limited medical treatments are available to relieve these symptoms, some with severe adverse effects. Instead, many women have turned to botanical dietary supplements. Black cohosh is the most commonly used botanical dietary supplement for the relief of menopausal symptoms in the United States and many other regions. The mechanism of action of black cohosh is not entirely understood. We hypothesize that black cohosh can act through CNS systems to exhibit beneficial effects in menopause. In this application, we propose to test the hypothesis by examining the affinity and functional activity of several chemically characterized black cohosh extracts (BCE) at the y-aminobutyric acid (GABA), opiate, and dopamine receptors. Data gained from these studies will provide a foundation that will ultimately lead to novel approaches for preventing and controlling menopausal symptoms.