CNS mechanisms of black cohosh in menopause

描述(申请人提供)：绝经期在50岁出头的美国女性S开始影响。许多这个年龄段的女性经历了各种血管舒缩、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有限，其中一些具有严重的不良反应。取而代之的是，许多女性转向植物性膳食补充剂。在美国和许多其他地区，黑升麻是最常用的植物膳食补充剂，用于缓解更年期症状。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，从而在更年期表现出有益的影响。在这一应用中，我们建议通过检测几种具有化学特征的黑升麻提取物(BCE)在γ-氨基丁酸(GABA)、阿片和多巴胺受体上的亲和力和功能活性来检验这一假设。从这些研究中获得的数据将提供一个基础，最终将导致预防和控制更年期症状的新方法。

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.