Testing the Toxicity of Black Cohosh
By Robert Frederick
Initial studies from the U.S. National Toxicology Program indicate that black cohosh extract—widely marketed to treat women's health issues—is genotoxic.
July 28, 2016
From The Staff Chemistry Medicine
In this podcast, genetic toxicologist Stephanie Smith-Roe of the U.S. National Toxicology program talks about her team’s initial investigation of the toxicity of black cohosh extract—a plant-derived supplement, or botanical—that is frequently used to treat the symptoms of gynecological ailments.
Because of the 1994 Dietary Supplement Health Education Act, botanicals are not regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. For this reason, the National Toxicology Program, as a part of the Department of Health and Human Services, has been testing botanicals and making its data available to the public. The FDA may then act to ban sales of a botanical—as it did in 2004 in banning the sale of ephedra—when research demonstrates that the botanical can cause people serious harm.
Please note that the views expressed in this podcast do not represent those of the National Toxicology Program, but those only of the speaker, Stephanie Smith-Roe.
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