Effect of Isopropanolic Cimicifuga racemosa Extract on Uterine Fibroids in Comparison with Tibolone among Patients of a Recent Randomized, Double Blind, Parallel-Controlled Study in Chinese Women with Menopausal Symptoms

Abstract EN

Effect of isopropanolic Cimicifuga racemosa extract (iCR) on uterine fibroid size compared with tibolone.

Method.

The randomized, double-blind, controlled study in China enrolled 244 patients aged 40–60 years with menopausal symptoms (Kupperman Menopause Index ≥ 15).

The participants were treated with either iCR of 40 mg crude drug/day ( N = 122 ) or tibolone 2.5 mg/day ( N = 122 ) orally for 3 months in 2004.

Now, we investigated the subset of all women ( N = 62 ) with at least one uterine fibroid at onset of treatment for the effect of iCR (N = 34) on fibroid size compared with tibolone ( N = 28 ) by transvaginal ultrasonography.

Results.

The median myoma volume decreased upon iCR by as much as −30% ( P = 0.016 ) but increased upon tibolone by + 4.7 % .

The percentage of volume change, mean diameter change and geometric mean diameter change of the iCR group compared to tibolone were statistically significant ( P = 0.016 , 0.021, 0.016 respectively).

Conclusion.

Our results suggest that iCR (Remifemin) is a valid herbal medicinal product in patients with uterine myomas as it provides adequate relief from menopausal symptoms and inhibits growth of the myomas in contrast to tibolone.