Komesaroff PA, Black CV, Cable V, Sudhir K.
 

OBJECTIVES: Many women seek alternatives to hormonal therapies for the management of menopausal symptoms. Among the treatments currently popular are extracts of wild yam (Dioscorea villosa), which are applied topically in the form of a cream. These preparations are known to contain steroidal saponins, including diosgenin, which has been claimed to influence endogenous steroidogenesis. However, there have been no studies of the safety or efficacy of these preparations in the management of menopausal symptoms. METHODS: We therefore conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over study of the effects of a wild yam cream in 23 healthy women suffering from troublesome symptoms of the menopause. After a 4-week baseline period, each woman was given active cream and matching placebo for 3 months in random order. Diaries were completed over the baseline period and for 1 week each month thereafter, and blood and saliva samples were collected at baseline and at 3 and 6 months, for measurement of lipids and hormones.RESULTS: The average age of the subjects was 53.3 +/- 1.1 (SEM) years and average time since last period 4.3 +/- 0.9 years. At baseline, the average body mass index was 27.3 +/- 0.8, cholesterol level 5.7 +/- 0.2 mmol/l and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) level 74.2 +/- 5.1 IU/l; estradiol levels were undetectable in the majority of cases. After 3 months of treatment, no significant side-effects were reported with either active treatment or placebo, and there were no changes in weight, systolic or diastolic blood pressure, or levels of total serum cholesterol, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, FSH, glucose, estradiol, or serum or salivary progesterone. Symptom scores showed a minor effect of both placebo and active treatment on diurnal flushing number and severity and total non-flushing symptom scores, and on nocturnal sweating after placebo, but no statistical difference between placebo and active creams. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that short-term treatment with topical wild yam extract in women suffering from menopausal symptoms is free of side-effects, but appears to have little effect on menopausal symptoms. It emphasizes the importance of careful study of treatments for menopausal symptoms if women are to be adequately informed about the choices available to them.
 

Cáceres A, Girón LM, Alvarado SR, Torres MF.
 

Ethnobotanical surveys were conducted among traditional healers and local market vendors; about 200 plants used in Guatemala for the treatment of dermatomucosal diseases were detected. By literature review and according to local availability, 89 plants were selected for in vitro screening for antimicrobial activity against the microorganisms usually causing skin and mucosal infections. Ethanolic macerations were prepared and impregnated in absorbent paper; once dried, these were applied over standardized inocula of Candida albicans, Escherichia, coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. After incubation, inhibition zones were measured, demonstrating that 28 of the plants exhibited some in vitro inhibition of the tested microorganisms.
 

Tomoda M, Miyamoto H, Shimizu N.
 

The structural features of rehmannan SA, a polysaccharide with remarkable reticuloendothelial system-potentiating activity obtained from the root of Rehmannia glutinosa, were investigated by methylation analysis and periodate oxidation. Rehmannan SA is mainly made up of arabino-3,6-galactan type structural units. Both rehmannan SA and rehmannan SB showed pronounced anti-complementary activity.