Cimicifuga rhizoma has long been used in traditional Korean medicine. In particular, a Cimicifuga heracleifolia extract (CHE) was reported to inhibit the formation of glutamate and the glutamate dehydrogenase activity in cultured rat islet.
OAH19T, a new herbal extract from a mixture of Aralia cordata Thunb and Cimicifuga heracleifolia, is traditionally used for the treatment of arthritis in far East Asia. To investigate the chondroprotective effects of OAH19T on osteoarthritis was examined and compared with its major compounds pimaradienoic acid (PA) and ferulic acid (FA) of human osteoarthritis (OA) chondrocytes.

Rhizome robust, blackish. Stems ca. 1 m tall or more, glabrous. Proximal cauline leaves 2 × ternate, glabrous, long petiolate; petiole to 20 cm, glabrous; leaf blade slightly triangular, to 20 cm wide; terminal leaflet obovate to obovate-elliptic,  base rounded to subcordate, margin dentate, apex 3-lobed. Scrub, grassy slopes; sea level to 1000 m. Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning, Nei Mongol [Korea, Russia (Far East)].