Verified
“Standardized to 2.5% triterpene glycosides”
The label lists 80 mg extract standardized to 2.5% triterpene glycosides (2 mg 27-deoxyactein), the marker actives used in research.
Reviewed
Verified by SAC team
+20
XP on completion
Cheapest Standardized (with caveats)
NOW Foods
NOW Supplements Black Cohosh Root 80 mg with Licorice and Dong Quai, 90 Veg Capsules Review
6.8/10SAC Product Score™
NOW's formula is the cheapest way to get a standardized black cohosh extract (80 mg at 2.5% triterpene glycosides, 2 mg 27-deoxyactein) from a GMP-audited maker. The complication is right on the label: it also contains licorice root and dong quai. Those additions mean any effect can't be attributed to black cohosh alone, and licorice in particular carries its own blood-pressure and potassium cautions. Great actives-per-dollar; less clean as a black cohosh study of one.
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Read the complete Black Cohosh guide →How we built the SAC Product Score™ — 6.8/10
Standardization & Actives30%8/10
The black cohosh portion is genuinely standardized — 80 mg extract at 2.5% triterpene glycosides (2 mg 27-deoxyactein), matching the studied actives.
Third-Party Testing20%6/10
NOW runs an extensive in-house GMP lab program and is Non-GMO, but there is no independent third-party seal on this SKU.
Dose vs Clinical Range25%6/10
80 mg black cohosh extract at one capsule twice daily is in range, but the added botanicals mean the effective black cohosh exposure isn't the whole story.
Tolerability & Safety15%5.5/10
Licorice root can raise blood pressure and deplete potassium, and dong quai has anticoagulant and photosensitivity cautions — extra risks layered on top of black cohosh's liver flag.
Value10%8.5/10
Around $11 makes it the cheapest standardized extract here, though the added herbs are why it's cheap rather than a pure black cohosh bargain.
The product at a glance
- Form
- Vegetarian capsule (combo formula)
- Dose
- 80 mg extract (2.5% triterpene glycosides) + licorice + dong quai; 1 cap twice daily
- Count
- 90 veg capsules
- Standardization
- 2.5% triterpene glycosides = 2 mg 27-deoxyactein
- Testing
- GMP Quality Assured; Non-GMO; vegetarian
- Cost per dose
- ~$0.24/day at 2 capsules
Marketing claims vs. reality
Partial
“Effects come from black cohosh”
The formula also contains licorice and dong quai, so any benefit cannot be attributed to black cohosh alone — a confounded combination.
Not verified
“Suitable for anyone seeking menopause support”
Licorice can raise blood pressure and lower potassium, and dong quai has anticoagulant cautions, making this combo inappropriate for people with hypertension or on blood thinners.
What our test actually found
01Standardized core, confounded formula
The black cohosh itself is well-standardized, which is why it ranks above the whole-root picks. But bundling licorice and dong quai turns it into a multi-herb product — you can't isolate black cohosh's contribution, and that's a real drawback if you're testing whether black cohosh works for you.
02Licorice deserves a real caution
Glycyrrhizin in licorice root can cause sodium retention, hypertension and hypokalemia with regular use. Anyone with high blood pressure, heart or kidney concerns should treat this combo with more caution than a single-herb black cohosh.
Pros & cons, no sugar-coating
Pros
- Cheapest standardized (2.5% glycoside) extract in the lineup
- GMP-audited, Non-GMO manufacturer with strong in-house QC
- 80 mg standardized black cohosh core dose
- Vegetarian capsules
Cons
- Added licorice and dong quai confound the black cohosh effect
- Licorice carries blood-pressure and potassium cautions
- Dong quai adds anticoagulant and photosensitivity concerns
- No independent third-party seal
A bargain combo, not a clean black cohosh trial
NOW gives you a legitimately standardized black cohosh extract at the lowest price here, but the added licorice and dong quai make it a multi-herb formula with extra cautions rather than a clean single-herb test. Choose it only if you specifically want a combination product and have no blood-pressure or anticoagulant concerns; otherwise a single-herb standardized extract is the wiser buy.
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Sources & further reading
- Borrelli F, Ernst E. Black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa) for menopausal symptoms: a systematic review of its efficacy. Pharmacol Res. 2008;58(1):8-14.Borrelli F, Ernst E · 2008 · Pharmacological Research · PMID 18585461
Black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa) for menopausal symptoms: a systematic review of its efficacy
Efficacy of black cohosh is uncertain and combination products complicate attribution of any observed effect.
- Leach MJ, Moore V. Black cohosh (Cimicifuga spp.) for menopausal symptoms. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012;(9):CD007244.Leach MJ, Moore V · 2012 · Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews · PMID 22972105
Black cohosh (Cimicifuga spp.) for menopausal symptoms
Insufficient evidence that black cohosh, alone or combined, outperforms placebo for menopausal symptoms.