Black Cohosh

At a glance

Origin / distribution: Dutch, German, English, French, US, Turkey, Spanish, Danish

Cultural traditions: not documented

Recorded uses: Alterative, Aphrodisiac, Astringent, Diuretic

Science studied: 12-ACETYLACTEIN, ACETIC-ACID, ACTEIN, ALUMINUM

Research volume: 0 indexed records · volume only · methodology ↗

Legal status: Varies by jurisdiction; not assessed in this record.

Names and identity

Family: Ranunculaceae

Scientific name: Actaea racemosa

Common names: Black Cohosh, Black Snakeroot, Juli-Silberkerze, Park-Wanzenkraut (DE), black baneberry, black cohosh, black snakeroot, cimicaire à grappes, läkesilverax, tähkäkimikki, 总序类叶升麻, Black Bugbane

POWO: 316204-2 · WCVP June 2026 / POWO backbone

History

The source record documents this plant in Dutch, German, English, French, US, Turkey, Spanish, Danish.

It records these historical or traditional applications:

• Alterative
• Aphrodisiac
• Astringent
• Diuretic
• Emmenagogue
• Expectorant
• Nervine
• Sedative

This summary is limited to the cited source record.

Origins and distribution

• Dutch
• German
• English
• French
• US
• Turkey
• Spanish
• Danish

Documented cultural uses

• Alterative
• Aphrodisiac
• Astringent
• Diuretic
• Emmenagogue
• Expectorant
• Nervine
• Sedative
• Stomachic
• Sudorific
• Spasm

Cultural record detail

These entries are transcribed from the cited ethnobotanical source; they do not represent current advice or a claim of efficacy.

• Alterative · Dutch · "
• Aphrodisiac · German · "
• Astringent · English · "
• Diuretic · French · "
• Emmenagogue · English · "
• Expectorant · English · "
• Nervine · French · "
• Sedative · US · "
• Stomachic · Turkey · "
• Sudorific · Spanish · "
• Spasm · Danish · "

Contemporary uses

Contemporary practice is not documented separately in this record.

Scientific research

Indexed records indicate research activity; they do not establish efficacy or safety.

Indexed research records

• Efficacy and safety of Actaea racemosa for relieving climacteric complaints. · 2026 source ↗
• Bridging Pharmacopeial Standards and Chemical Reality of Triterpene Glycosides in <i>Actaea racemosa</i>. · 2026 source ↗
• On the Biosynthesis of Bioactive Tryptamines in Black Cohosh (<i>Actaea racemosa</i> L.). · 2025 source ↗

Scientific compounds

Chemical presence is not evidence of clinical efficacy.

• 12-ACETYLACTEIN
• ACETIC-ACID
• ACTEIN
• ALUMINUM
• ASCORBIC-ACID
• BUTYRIC-ACID
• CALCIUM
• CARBOHYDRATES
• BETA-CAROTENE
• CHROMIUM
• CIMICIFUGIN
• CIMICIFUGOSIDE
• CIMIFUGOSIDE
• CIMIGENOL-XYLOSIDE
• CIMIGONITE
• CIMIGOSIDE

Legality

No exact international trade listing was returned by the CITES checklist for this accepted name. Country-specific law is not assessed here.

Consult the CITES species checklist for current international and national requirements.

Reference images

Sources

Plants of the World Online (POWO) · Kew data terms; cite POWO/WCVP

World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP) · CC BY 3.0

CC0 · Dr. Duke raw CSV archive

Contributions and revisions

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