Product from Gencor Pacific significantly reduced symptoms of menopause in a cohort of older Australian women
The product is composed of the extracts of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), Shatavari (Asparagus racemosa), Guggl (Commiphora mukul) and Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia).
“Ashwagandha is well known for its stress reducing properties, Guggul for its cholesterol and hormone modulating activity, and Shatavari is well-known as an adaptogen that increases non-specific resistance of organisms against a variety of stresses. It is also well known for its hormone modulating properties. Guduchi is a well known immunostimulant and stress reliever that also has hepatoprotective and antioxidant properties,” said RV Venkatesh, managing director at Gencor.
Genopause is one of two horses in Gencor’s menopause product stable. The other is Libifem, a fenugreek extract.
“Genopause and Libifem have different mechanisms of action. Libifem, with its standardization for furostanol saponins, has shown activity in studies through the cholesterol and hormonal pathways, increasing the efficiency in the body's own estrogen management,” Venkatesh said.
“Genopause acts through the adaptogenic pathway,” he said.
Subjects improved on all measures
In the Genopause study, researchers recruited 117 health women 40 to 65 years old. The single site study took place over a period of months from 2014 into 2016. The women received either the study material or a placebo for a 12 week period.
The primary outcome measure was the change in scores on the validated Menopause-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire (MENQOL). This self administered questionnaire contains 29 items. The study also measured changes in psychosocial, vasomotor, physical and sexual domains.
Over the 12 weeks, there was a 26.5% improvement in the MENQQL score for the treatment group, whereas the placebo group improved by only 2.3%. In the other measures improvements were noted, too. These included feeling less depressed or blue, being able to accomplish more tasks. Subjects also reported fewer hot flashes, fewer backaches and headaches, and an improvement on questions relating to vaginal dryness and avoidance of intimacy.
“Together, these extracts which make up Genopause, have been shown to act synergistically to provide symptomatic relief for women undergoing Post-Menopausal Syndrome. Benefits such as a reduction of hot flashes, promotion of restful sleep, healthy mood and attitude have been clinically shown to help with the typical menopausal symptoms,” Venktash said.
Market poised for growth
Venkatesh said that the menopause market is poised for significant growth. Some of this is of course due to the growth in the aging population in general. But he said that companies like Gencor that have good data to back up new products are helping to tell the story that herbal ingredients can provide a significant support to consumers looking for help in this area.
“The menopause market has excellent potential for growth. With the well-publicized side effects of hormone replacement therapy, with the reports of potential live damage side effects of Black Cohosh and with the potential endocrine functions disruptions concerns for Soy Isoflavones and similar phytoestrogens, consumers are looking to non-estrogenic sources for relief from post-menopausal syndrome. This provides an excellent opportunity for Genopause and Libifem to be products of choice in this segment,” he said.
“This segment of the market has also not seen anything new or significant in terms of research or products other than phytoestrogens over the past couple of decades, and we expect that newer products with good, quality published clinical studies will have a strong potential for growth,” Venkatesh added.
Source: Journal of Herbal Medicine
doi.org/10.1016/j.hermed.2018.01.001
“A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial evaluating safety and efficacy of an ayurvedic botanical formulation in reducing menopausal symptoms in otherwise healthy women”
Authors: Steels E, Steele M, Harold M, Adams L, Coulson S
