Disclosed is a safe substance which can inhibit the activity of
aromatase (an
enzyme capable of converting
androgen into
estrogen) to thereby effectively treat and / or prevent a sex
hormone-dependent
disease such as
breast cancer occurring in a female person after
menopause, as well as a
climacteric disorder in a male person and
metabolic syndrome caused by the accumulation of a
visceral fat. Specifically disclosed is a therapeutic and / or prophylactic agent for a sex
hormone-dependent
disease, which is characterized by comprising at least one herbal extract selected from the group consisting of “Kokeiten” (golden root),
prunella spike, sweet
hydrangea leaf,
milk thistle, a jasmine tea, “Bokusoku” (a
bark of
Quercus acutissima or a closely related
plant thereof), “Tencha” (sweet tea), “Karensou” (
Eclipta prostrata), “Youbaihi” (a
bark of
Myrica rubra Sie b. et Zucc.), French maritime pine,
betel palm,
asparagus, “Rouro” (a root of
Rhaponticum unifloru m DC. or Echinops latifolius Tausch), “Ryoukyou” (a
rhizome of
Alpinia officinarum Hance), rooibos tea, rhubarb, pu-erh tea,
green tea, “Ougon” (a root of
Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi), St. John's wort (
Hypericum perforatum L.), licorice, “Senrikou” (
Senecio scandens Buch.-Ham.), wintergreen, “Kashi” (a matured fruit of
Terminalia chebula Retz.), “Yagotou” (a
bark of
Mallotus japonicus), polygnum root, barrenwort (
Epimedium Herb), guarana, “Ouhi” (a bark of
Prunus jamasakura Sieb. ex. Koidz. or a closely related
plant thereof), Argy's wormwood, sticky
rehmannia, Japanese cornel, Asiasarum root, cinnamon, peony root, pine needle and amla fruit.