Acute breast pain after intake of Curcuma comosa Roxb rhizome

Beuy Joob, Viroj Wiwanitkit

1Sanitation 1 Medical Academic Center, Bangkok, Thailand

2Visiting Professor, Hainan Medical University, China

Acute breast pain after intake of Curcuma comosa Roxb rhizome

Beuy Joob1, Viroj Wiwanitkit2

1Sanitation 1 Medical Academic Center, Bangkok, Thailand

2Visiting Professor, Hainan Medical University, China

1. Introduction

Sir, the use of medical plant for promotion of female reproductive health is rooted believed in Southeast Asia. In Thailand,Curcuma comosa(C. comosa) Roxb rhizome is widely used believing that it can promote good menstruation cycle and strong uterus. Here, the authors report a case of 50 – year old female patient presenting with complaint of acute breast pain after intake ofC. comosaRoxb rhizome. This patient is a health female and has normal pelvic examination result from annual checkup. The patient notes that she intookC. comosaRoxb rhizome aiming at strengthening her uterus. However, 3 days after intake, she felt severe breast pain and visit to the physician. On breast examination, there is no mass and mammography shows no abnormality. This case is suggested to cease use ofC. comosaRoxb rhizome and the clinical problem relieves within 1 week. In fact,C. comosaRoxb rhizome is confirmed for its estrogenic property. The composition within this plant acts as strong agonist to estrogen receptor[1]. It is an important phytoestrogen that can induce breast or reproductive problem in one who intake it.

Conflict of interest statement

We declare that have no conflict of interest

[1] Winuthayanon W, Piyachaturawat P, Suksamrarn A, Ponglikitmongkol M, Arao Y, Hewitt SC, Korach KS. Diarylheptanoid phytoestrogens isolated from the medicinal plant Curcuma comosa: biologic actions in vitro and in vivo indicate estrogen receptor-dependent mechanisms. Environ Health Perspect 2009; 117(7): 1155-1161.

ment heading

10.1016/S2221-6189(14)60046-9

*Corresponding author: Beuy Joob, Sanitation 1 Medical Academic Center, Bangkok Thailand.