Highlights on Important Medicinal Plants for the Menopause Syndrome

Background: A reduction in ovarian hormones, which is distinctive of menopause, often involves signs and symptoms that compromise the quality of life and health of women. The transient manifestations are changes in the menstrual cycle, vasomotor symptoms, neuropsychological symptoms, and genitourinary changes. In some cases, the hormonal changes can evolve to nontransitory manifestations, which include urinary incontinence, changes in metabolism, osteoporosis, and cardiovascular diseases. Hormone replacement therapy is the treatment of choice to alleviate transient symptoms of menopause; however, there are many limitations, contraindications, and situations in which the risks of adverse effects are high, such as coronary artery disease, stroke, venous thromboembolism, dementia, type 2 diabetes, and the increased incidence of breast cancer. Objectives: This work aims to highlight important medicinal plants for the treatment of the transient symptoms of menopause, with less side effects than traditional hormone replacement therapy. Conclusion: There is sufficient information regarding the efficacy and safety for the use of the following plant species in the treatment of transient symptoms of menopause: Actaea racemosa, Glycine max, Trifolium pratense, Salvia officinalis, Humulus lupulus, Panax ginseng, Vitex agnus-- castus, and Trigonella foenum-graecum. Additionally, the search indicated the chemical classes related to the benefits of the selected species, adverse effects, and interactions with other drugs.