EstroG-100®

Overview

EstroG-100® is a proprietary blend of three botanical roots used for centuries in traditional Korean medicine — Cynanchum wilfordii, Phlomis umbrosa and Angelica gigas.

It is a hormone-free menopause support ingredient developed after screening more than 70 plants. The plants in the formula have a documented history of use spanning more than 390 years, dating back to the medical text Dong-eui-bo-gam.

It is supported by five human clinical studies involving more than 300 pre-, peri- and postmenopausal women. It has been recognized as non-toxic by the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety.

Applications

EstroG-100® can be used in food supplements in capsule, tablet, powder and liquid forms. As a free-flowing fine powder that is water-soluble and heat-stable, it adapts to different manufacturing processes. Its shelf life is 3 years.

Key features

Five human clinical studies have been conducted involving more than 300 pre-, peri- and postmenopausal women. The studies include randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled designs and cover diverse populations in the USA, South Korea, India and Iran. The dose administered in all studies was 514 mg/day.

Hot flashes and night sweats: in the study using the modified Kupperman Menopausal Index (KMI), significant improvement in hot flashes was reported at weeks 6 and 12. In the study conducted in postmenopausal Iranian women, a marked reduction in hot flash frequency was observed at weeks 3, 6 and 12.

Fatigue and sleep disturbances: significant improvement was reported at weeks 6 and 12. In the study conducted in India, a notable improvement in sleep quality was observed, and more than 96% of participants reported satisfaction with the treatment.

Vaginal dryness and mood: statistically significant improvements compared with placebo were reported in mood-related symptoms, including irritability and melancholy, and in vaginal dryness.

Bone health: in a one-year randomized study, significant improvement in bone metabolism markers and femoral bone mineral density was found after 12 months of use. It has been reported not to contribute to weight gain or to increases in serum triglycerides.

Safety: no serious adverse effects were observed in clinical trials. No changes in hormone levels, endometrial thickness or body mass index were reported, and no statistically significant differences from baseline or between groups were seen in body weight, BMI, serum estrogen (E2) or follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). No adverse metabolic effects were detected after one year of use.

Mechanism of action

The distinguishing feature of EstroG-100® is that it relieves menopausal symptoms without showing estrogen receptor binding activity.

Its safety has been evaluated in three separate models: an STTA assay using a human estrogen receptor α (hERα) cell model, an MCF-7 breast cancer cell proliferation assay and a uterotrophic assay in ovariectomized rats (OECD TG 455). No estrogenic activity was observed at any concentration tested, whereas estradiol (E2) and genistein, used as references, showed significant dose-dependent estrogenic activity.

In the MCF-7 assay, unlike the positive control E2, it was found not to promote the growth of hormone-sensitive breast cancer cells. It did not increase uterine weight in ovariectomized rats.

In animal studies, it has been reported to prevent decreases in dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex in a chronic stress model, and to significantly reduce swelling at doses above 100 mg/kg in a carrageenan-induced model (54.3% at a dose of 200 mg/kg).