Actaea racemosa L. Is More Effective in Combination with Rhodiola rosea L. for Relief of Menopausal Symptoms: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of a new herbal preparation (Menopause Relief EP®), the hybrid combination of Actaea racemosa L. (black cohosh, BC) and Rhodiola rosea L. (RR) root extracts, compared with the most effective dose of BC extract in women with menopausal complaints. Methods: A total of 220 women were randomly assigned to receive two capsules either BC (6.5 mg), BC500 (500 mg), Menopause Relief EP® (206,5), or placebo once per day for 12 weeks. The efficacy endpoints were relief of menopausal symptoms, measured using the Kupperman Menopausal Index (KMI), Menopause Relief Score (MRS), and menopause Utian Quality of Life (UQOL) index. Results: The menopause symptom relief effects of RR-BC were significantly superior in all tests to the effects of BC and placebo after their repeated administration for 6 and 12 weeks. There was no statistically significant difference between the effects of BC and BC500 over time. RR-BC significantly improved the QOL index in patients, compared to BC, BC500, and placebo, mainly due to the beneficial effects on the emotional and health domains. Conclusions: BC is more effective in combination with RR in relief of menopausal symptoms, particularly psychological symptoms

An update on the use of inositols in preventing gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and neural tube defects (NTDs)

Introductio

Breakthroughs in the use of inositol for Assisted Reproductive Treatment (ART)

It is well known that myo-inositol (MI) and D-chiro-inositol (DCI) are insulinsensitizingagents, and MI is of proven utility in polycystic ovary syndrome(PCOS). In addition, MI plays a pivotal role in the physiology of reproduction,and has beneficial effects on the development of oocytes, spermatozoa, andembryos. By contrast, DCI has little effect on spermatozoa, but high concentrationsin the ovary can negatively affect the quality of oocytes and the blastocyst.Overall, the evidence in the literature supports the beneficial effects of MI in bothfemale and male reproduction, warranting clinical use of MI in assistedreproductive treatment (ART).Fil: Facchinetti, Fabio. Università Di Modena E Reggio Emilia.; ItaliaFil: Espinola, Maria Salome Bezerra. Università degli studi di Roma "La Sapienza"; ItaliaFil: Dewailly, Didier. Inserm; Francia. University Of Lille.; FranciaFil: Ozay, Ali Cenk. Near East University; ChipreFil: Prapas, Nikos. Aristotle University Of Thessaloniki; Grecia. Iakentro Fertility Centre; GreciaFil: Vazquez, Monica Hebe. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Fundación de Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Wdowiak, Artur. Medical University Of Lublin; PoloniaFil: Unfer, Vittorio. Università degli studi di Roma "La Sapienza"; ItaliaFil: Expert Group on Inositols in Preclinical and Clinical Research. No especifíca;Fil: Appetecchia, Marialuisa. Istituto Nazionale Tumori Regina Elena; ItaliaFil: Aragona, Cesare. Università degli studi di Roma "La Sapienza"; ItaliaFil: Bertelli, Matteo. EBTNA Laboratory; Italia. MAGI Laboratory; ItaliaFil: Bevilacqua, Arturo. Università degli studi di Roma "La Sapienza"; ItaliaFil: Bizzarri, Mariano. Università degli studi di Roma "La Sapienza"; ItaliaFil: Cavalli, Pietro. ASST Cremona. Clinical Genetics; ItaliaFil: Copp, Andrew. Colegio Universitario de Londres; Reino UnidoFil: D'Anna, Rosario. Università Degli Studi Di Messina; ItaliaFil: Greene, Nicholas. Colegio Universitario de Londres; Reino UnidoFil: Marín, Imelda Hernández. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México; México. Hospital Juarez; MéxicoFil: Kamenov, Zdravko A.. Medical University of Sofia; BulgariaFil: Kandaraki, Eleni. HYGEIA Hospital; GreciaFil: Diamanti Kandarakis, Evanthia. HYGEIA Hospital; GreciaFil: Laganà, Antonio Simone. University of Insubria; ItaliaFil: Monastra, Giovanni. Università degli studi di Roma "La Sapienza"; ItaliaFil: Oliva, Mario Montanino. Ospedale Generale Santo Spirito; ItaliaFil: Nestler, John E.. Virginia Commonwealth University; Estados UnidosFil: Papalou, Olga. HYGEIA Hospital; GreciaFil: Pkhaladze, Lali. Ioseb Zhordania Institute of Reproductology; GeorgiaFil: Porcaro, Giusy. Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale Umbria 2.; ItaliaFil: Soulage, Christophe O.. Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1; Francia. Inserm; FranciaFil: Stringaro, Annarita. Istituto Superiore di Sanità ; Itali

D-chiro-inositol in clinical practice: A perspective from The Experts Group on Inositol in Basic and Clinical Research (EGOI)

Background: D-chiro-inositol is a natural molecule that, in association with its well-studied isomer myo-inositol, may play a role in treating various metabolic and gynecological disorders. Objectives: This perspective seeks to explore the mechanisms and functions of D-chiro-inositol, laying the foundations to discuss its use in clinical practice, across dysmetabolism, obesity, and hormonal dysregulation. Methods: A narrative review of all the relevant papers known to the authors was conducted. Outcome: D-chiro-inositol acts through a variety of mechanisms, acting as an insulin sensitizer, inhibiting the transcription of aromatase, in addition to modulating white adipose tissue/brown adipose tissue trans differentiation. These different modes of action have potential applications in a variety of therapeutic fields including: PCOS, dysmetabolism, obesity, hypoestrogenic/hyperandrogenic disorders, and bone health. Conclusions: D-chiro-inositol mode of action has been studied in detail in recent years, resulting in a clear differentiation between D-chiro-inositol and its isomer myo-inositol. The insulin sensitizing activities of D-chiro-inositol are well understood; however, its potential applications in other fields, in particular obesity and hyperestrogenic/hypoandrogenic disorders in men and women, represent promising avenues of research that require further clinical study