Black cohosh balances hormone levels in both men and women. Black cohosh contains at least three classes of compounds that act to regulate hormone use, first binding to receptor sites to reduce estrogen when levels are high, then formation of luteinizing hormone (LH), which stimulates a surge of estrogen production in the first fourteen days of the menstrual cycle. This stimulates estrogen production when estrogen levels are low. The dual action of the herb allows it to stabilize the body's estrogen usage.
One of the chemical constituents of black cohosh, ferulic acid, increases the motility and viability of sperm cells by protecting their cell walls from oxidation by compounds released from environmental toxins, helping in cases of infertility.
In vivo Effects of Black Cohosh and Genistein on Estrogenic Activity and Lipid Peroxidation in Japanese Medaka (Oryzias latipes).
J Herb Pharmcother. 2003;3(3):33-50.
This study was designed to assay the estrogenic activities and the antioxidant potential of ethanol extracts from the herbal dietary supplement black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa) relative to the natural phytoestrogen genistein. The in vivo mechanisms of action of these two natural products have not been completely elucidated, and Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes) provides a useful organism for initial in vivo screening of natural products. While both genistein and estradiol altered ovarian and testicular steroid release and decreased circulating testosterone levels in males, neither black cohosh total extract (75-30,000 ng/fish), cimiracemoside A, 25-O-methyl-cimigenoside, actein, nor 26-deoxy-actein caused any differences in estrogenic activity compared to control fish. To assess antioxidant potential, animals were treated with natural products then challenged with 2-acetylaminofluorene (2-AAF) to induce lipid peroxidation (LPO) in the liver. Neither the total ethanol extracts from black cohosh nor its individual components showed an inhibitory effect in 2-AAF induced LPO. However, genistein manifested potent antioxidative activity in the LPO assay, with similar potency to a high dose of á-tocopherol. In contrast to genistein, black cohosh did not exhibit traditional estrogenic effects nor significant in vivo anti-oxidant potential in this fish model system. black cohosh menopause.
To put it in English it contain plant estrogens which acts like estrogen in the body. So it is no PCT alternative.