ArticleLiterature Review

Echinacea species (Echinacea angustifolia (DC.) Hell., Echinacea pallida (Nutt.) Nutt., Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench): A review of their chemistry, pharmacology and clinical properties

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Abstract

This paper reviews the chemistry, pharmacology and clinical properties of Echinacea species used medicinally. The Echinacea species Echinacea angustifolia, Echinacea pallida and Echinacea purpurea have a long history of medicinal use for a variety of conditions, particularly infections, and today echinacea products are among the best-selling herbal preparations in several developed countries. Modern interest in echinacea is focused on its immunomodulatory effects, particularly in the prevention and treatment of upper respiratory tract infections. The chemistry of Echinacea species is well documented, and several groups of constituents, including alkamides and caffeic acid derivatives, are considered important for activity. There are, however, differences in the constituent profile of the three species. Commercial echinacea samples and marketed echinacea products may contain one or more of the three species, and analysis of samples of raw material and products has shown that some do not meet recognized standards for pharmaceutical quality. Evidence from preclinical studies supports some of the traditional and modern uses for echinacea, particularly the reputed immunostimulant (or immunomodulatory) properties. Several, but not all, clinical trials of echinacea preparations have reported effects superior to those of placebo in the prevention and treatment of upper respiratory tract infections. However, evidence of efficacy is not definitive as studies have included different patient groups and tested various different preparations and dosage regimens of echinacea. On the basis of the available limited safety data, echinacea appears to be well tolerated. However, further investigation and surveillance are required to establish the safety profiles of different echinacea preparations. Safety issues include the possibility of allergic reactions, the use of echinacea by patients with autoimmune diseases and the potential for echinacea preparations to interact with conventional medicines.

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... However, a high risk of bias overall was mentioned [40]. To summarize, most clinical reviews point towards Echinacea's potential role in RTI prevention and report that the herb is likely safe for most populations when used in the short term [38,41,[44][45][46][47][48]. In terms of treatment for RTIs, more studies are needed to clarify which plant parts, extraction methods, and specific compounds could be responsible for the positive outcomes seen in the mixed clinical results to date Most Echinacea products on the market today contain E. purpurea, E. pallida var. ...
... pallida (syn. E. pallida), or a combination of these species [47,49,50]. Most of the literature to date has investigated E. purpurea products made from the roots and/or aerial parts, followed by studies on E. angustifolia [8,47,48]. ...
... E. pallida), or a combination of these species [47,49,50]. Most of the literature to date has investigated E. purpurea products made from the roots and/or aerial parts, followed by studies on E. angustifolia [8,47,48]. Several secondary metabolites from Echinacea have been investigated for potential pharmacological activity, including polysaccharides, glycoproteins, caffeic acid derivatives, flavonoids, and alkylamides [50,51]. The amount of these constituents varies by plant part and species [6,52,53]. ...
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Echinacea purpurea is a perennial medicinal herb with important immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory properties, especially purported for the alleviation of cold and flu symptoms. Different classes of secondary metabolites of the plant, such as alkylamides, caffeic acid derivatives, polysaccharides, flavonoids, and glycoproteins, are believed to be biologically and pharmacologically active. Although previous research suggests that the alkylamides present in Echinacea may be responsible for reducing the symptoms associated with the common cold or flu through their immunomodulatory activity, the roles of specific alkylamides and their targets (i.e., immune and/or antiviral) have not been well-elucidated or established. This study tested the antiviral and cytokine regulatory activity of various specific alkylamides that are present predominantly in Echinacea root extracts and found that one specific alkylamide, Dodeca-2E,4E-Dienoic acid isobutylamide, had potent antiviral activity against rhinovirus (the causative agent of most common colds) and influenza virus, as well as potent inhibition of IL-8 cytokine production. IL-8 is responsible for many of the symptoms associated with the common cold and is upregulated in other common respiratory infections. The broad activity and low cytotoxicity of this specific alkylamide support its potential use for treating rhinovirus and influenza virus infections.
... Various Native American tribes, including the Plains Indians and Early North American settlers and herbalists, have reported using the plant to strengthen the immune system and to treat wounds, burns, insect and snake bites, and various skin conditions. The immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties of ECH and other active phenolic compounds in these species have been found to contribute to their role in the treatment of various diseases (Facino et al. 1995;Hu et al., 2000;Sloley et al. 2001;Speroni et al. 2002;Pellati et al. 2004;Wölkart et al. 2004;Barnes et al. 2005;Dalby-Brown et al. 2005;Matthias et al. 2005;Zhai et al. 2009;Senchina et al. 2011;Sharifi-Rad et al., 2018;Bialik-Wąs et al. 2021). ECH is an essential compound in Callicarpa dichotoma (Lour.) ...
... The ECH content in medicinal herbs has notably been affected by various preparation processing parameters, such as the thickness of the slice, temperature of drying, and the duration of enzyme inactivation (Cai et al. 2007). Moreover, ECH content for E. angustifolia and E. pallida has been found to increase in response to higher moisture content (Barnes et al. 2005). During extraction, it has also been extremely prone to enzymatic oxidation and degradation in hydroalcoholic solutions (Liu et al. 2018). ...
... For example, the content of ECH has been found to enhance when the temperature of extraction increases from 30 to 70 °C, whereas when the temperature rises to 80 °C, the amount of ECH reduces (Pei et al. 2019). Furthermore, the analysis of dried E. angustifolia roots at temperatures ranging from 23 to 60 °C has revealed a reduction of 25% and 45% in ECH content at 30 °C and 60 °C, respectively (Barnes et al. 2005). ...
Article
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Echinacoside (ECH), a naturally occurring water-soluble phenylethanoid glycoside, is one of the primary bioactive compounds present in several plant species, such as Echinacea, Cistanche, Plantago, Rosa, Buddleja, and Rehmannia. Research has revealed that these plants, rich in ECH, have diverse traditional uses and pharmacological activities, like anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, anti-fatigue, anti-allergic, anti-ageing, anti-skin glycation, analgesic, wound healing, and aphrodisiac properties. Among other activities, ophthalmic, haematopoiesis, pulmonary, anti-bacterial, anti-protozoal, anti-fungal, and anti-viral effects of ECH have been reported. Chemically, the compound comprises caffeic acid glycoside containing a trisaccharide that includes two glucose and one rhamnose unit. These units are linked through glycosidic bonds to a caffeic acid and a dihydroxyphenylethanol (hydroxytyrosol) residue, which are connected to the central rhamnose. The biosynthesis of ECH has been reported to start with forming L-phenylalanine and tyrosine precursors via the shikimic acid pathway. The structure-activity relationship of ECH has shown that various functional groups in the structure, particularly phenolic hydroxyl groups, are crucial for antioxidant activities. Similarly, in silico studies have revealed that ECH binds to different receptors, like Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1), receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE), etc., to affect various pharmacological activities. The ECH contents in the reported plants often own these multifaceted properties, highlighting their importance in clinical research. Evident from its therapeutic efficacy, there is a huge potential for a comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms of actions of ECH, which underscores the need for more research in this area. Thus, this review is a compendium of the latest literature to analyse the existing knowledge on ECH, encompassing its distribution, traditional uses, extraction, chemical constituents, biosynthesis, pharmacological activities, structure-activity relationship, and in silico studies, following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.
... There are three species of this genus widely used as medicinal plants for their many therapeutic effects-E. purpurea, E. pallida, and E. angustifolia [2]. They originate from North America and have been used for centuries in folk medicine for colds and coughs, for inflammation of the upper respiratory tract, and as an immunostimulator [3,4]. ...
... Three quality-control samples with known concentrations (low, medium, and high, different from those analyzed for the calibration) of the investigated compounds were analyzed. The results of five replicates of the same sample were averaged, and recovery (R a ) was calculated as follows: R a (%) = 100 × found concentration/true concentration (2) We also evaluated the matrix effect through the recovery (R b ). A known amount of standards was added to 0.5 g of the plant material and then extracted and analyzed by using the method described above. ...
... The richest composition was found in the preparation Ultimate Echinacea herbal extract, which, according to the manufacturer's information, contains extract from the roots of E. purpurea, E. pallida, and E. angustifolia. In addition to chicoric and caftaric acids, high levels of echinacoside and cynarin (Table 7), which are characteristic of E. pallida and E. angustifolia, were also found [2]. Quercetin and apigenin were also identified but at a concentration below the limit of quantification (Figure 3). ...
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The trend towards alternative medicine and naturopathy increases the interest in the use of natural products. This requires larger quantities of qualitative raw material of medicinal plants, including the well-known genus Echinacea. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the quality of E. purpurea and pallida cultivated in Kazanlak, Bulgaria. We developed and validated a rapid, reliable, and inexpensive HPLC method for the quantitative determination of chicoric, caftaric, and caffeic acids, and of cynarin, echinacoside, quercetin, and apigenin. The amount of chicoric and caftaric acids was monitored in different phases of plant development in aerial parts and roots. Maximal concentrations of chicoric acid (3.4%) were reported in roots in the seed-formation phase, and a concentration of 2.8% was reported in aerial parts in the vegetative phase. Caftaric acid was 0.9% in aerial parts in the vegetative and flowering phases and 0.5% in roots in the vegetative and seeding phases. Their amounts significantly exceed the requirements of the European Pharmacopoeia 8.0. Therefore, Kazanlak-grown E. purpurea could be a reliable raw material for the formulation of phytopreparations. In addition, the proposed method was applied to the detection and determination of the above-described substances in phytopreparations containing Echinacea from commercial sources. The amounts of the tested substances were found to vary widely.
... Drug repositioning and repurposing existing drugs for new therapeutic applications presents an opportunity for phytochemicals. Bioactive phytochemicals such as the taxanes (14), ellipticine (15), camptothecin (16), combretastatin (17), podophyllotoxin (19), homoharringtonine (20) (Figure 7), and others are reported for their potential anticancer effects on various neoplastic diseases [63]. ...
... Drug repositioning and repurposing existing drugs for new therapeutic applications presents an opportunity for phytochemicals. Bioactive phytochemicals such as the taxanes (14), ellipticine (15), camptothecin (16), combretastatin (17), podophyllotoxin (19), homoharringtonine (20) (Figure 7), and others are reported for their potential anticancer effects on various neoplastic diseases [63]. Moreover, phytochemicals have been applied in cancer immunotherapy and vaccines and used as immune checkpoint inhibitors [64]. ...
... Sci. 2024, 25, Chemical structures of taxane(14), ellipticine(15), camptothecin(16), combretastatin(17), curcumin(18), podophyllotoxin(19), homoharringtonine (20). ...
Article
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Phytochemicals have a long and successful history in drug discovery. With recent advancements in analytical techniques and methodologies, discovering bioactive leads from natural compounds has become easier. Computational techniques like molecular docking, QSAR modelling and machine learning, and network pharmacology are among the most promising new tools that allow researchers to make predictions concerning natural products’ potential targets, thereby guiding experimental validation efforts. Additionally, approaches like LC-MS or LC-NMR speed up compound identification by streamlining analytical processes. Integrating structural and computational biology aids in lead identification, thus providing invaluable information to understand how phytochemicals interact with potential targets in the body. An emerging computational approach is machine learning involving QSAR modelling and deep neural networks that interrelate phytochemical properties with diverse physiological activities such as antimicrobial or anticancer effects.
... Ascorbic acid is also present, and it aids in immune augmentation. The polysaccharides and glycoproteins in the plant, including arabinogalactans, inulin and heteroxylans, possess immunostimulatory and anti-inflammatory activities that aid in immune modulation, thus reducing inflammation often experienced during illness episodes [14][15][16]. ...
... Drug repositioning and repurposing existing drugs for new therapeutic applications presents an opportunity for phytochemicals. Bioactive phytochemicals such as the taxanes (14), ellipticine (15), camptothecin (16), combretastatin (17), , podophyllotoxin (19), homoharringtonine (20) (Figure 7), and others are reported for their potential anticancer effects on various neoplastic diseases [62]. (14), ellipticine (15), camptothecin (16), combretastatin (17), curcumin (18), podophyllotoxin (19), homoharringtonine (20). ...
... Bioactive phytochemicals such as the taxanes (14), ellipticine (15), camptothecin (16), combretastatin (17), , podophyllotoxin (19), homoharringtonine (20) (Figure 7), and others are reported for their potential anticancer effects on various neoplastic diseases [62]. (14), ellipticine (15), camptothecin (16), combretastatin (17), curcumin (18), podophyllotoxin (19), homoharringtonine (20). ...
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Phytochemicals have a long and successful history in drug discovery. With recent advancements in analytical techniques and methodologies, discovering bioactive leads from natural compounds has become easier. Computational techniques like molecular docking, QSAR modelling and machine learning, and network pharmacology are among the most promising new tools that allow researchers to make predictions concerning natural products' potential targets, thereby guiding experimental validation efforts. Additionally, approaches like LC-MS or LC-NMR speed up compound identification by streamlining analytical processes. Integrating structural and computational biology aids in lead identification, thus providing invaluable information to understand how phytochemicals interact with potential targets in the body. Emerging computational approach is machine learning involving QSAR modelling and deep neural networks that interrelate phytochemical properties with diverse physiological activities such as antimicrobial or anticancer effects.
... The genus Echinacea, comprising several species commonly known as coneflowers, has garnered substantial attention in both botanical and pharmaceutical research due to its immunestimulating properties and diverse pharmacological effects [9,12]. Among the Echinacea species, E. purpurea, E. angustifolia, and E. pallida have emerged as focal points of investigation, predominantly for their roles in traditional herbal medicine ( Figure 1) [4,9,16]. These species exhibit a remarkable versatility in terms of their medicinal applications, with various plant parts, including roots, stems, leaves, and flowers, being employed to harness their therapeutic potential. ...
... In the n-hexane extract of E. purpurea roots, 10 alkamides have been isolated, with majority containing isobutylamide and 2methylbutylamide. Chloroform extraction of E. purpurea roots resulted in the purification and isolation of alkamides, with the majority of these compounds containing 2,4-dienoic structures [4][5][6]21]. ...
... Polysaccharides isolated from E. purpurea roots exhibit a similar composition to those from its aerial parts. Leaves and stems of E. purpurea contain a polysaccharide resembling pectin, while E. angustifolia roots are reported to contain 5.9% inulin [4,9,21]. ...
Article
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The Echinacea genus is known for its medicinal properties, particularly its immune-stimulating effects. Thus, it makes a significant focus of phytochemical research. This literature review provides a short overview of the chemical constituents found within the Echinacea genus, with a primary emphasis on E. purpurea, E. angustifolia, and E. pallida, the three most extensively studied species. The constituents discussed include alkamides, polysaccharides, glycoproteins, phenolic compounds, and flavonoids, which are derived from various plant parts, such as roots, stems, leaves, and flowers. Detailed insights into the structural diversity, distribution, and biological significance of these compounds are presented. Additionally, key differentiating markers for species identification are highlighted, aiding researchers and herbal practitioners in understanding the chemical complexities of Echinacea species. This review offers information for the development of herbal medicines and supplements, shedding light on the potential therapeutic benefits of chemical constituents of these species.
... E. purpurea is known as an "anti-infectious" agent because of an excellent potential to treat viral and bacterial infections and has been used to treat several infectious conditions ranging from simple acne and ulcers to mild septicemias [5][6][7]. Echinacea purpurea (E. purpurea) contains a number of chemical components including alkamides, polyalkenes, polyalkynes, chicoric and caftaric acids, as well as caffeic acid derivatives, glycoproteins and polysaccharides [4,8]. ...
... purpurea) contains a number of chemical components including alkamides, polyalkenes, polyalkynes, chicoric and caftaric acids, as well as caffeic acid derivatives, glycoproteins and polysaccharides [4,8]. Some of the substances mentioned above exhibit an immunomodulatory effect [4,5]. E. purpurea volatile oil contains borneol, bornyl acetate, pentadeca-8-(Z)-en-2-one, germacrene D, caryophyllene and caryophyllene epoxide. ...
... To the best of the authors' knowledge of the currently available literature, there are no data concerning the content of crude protein, fat and ash in E. purpurea's morphological parts cultivated in the traditional way or with mulching material. The composition of various types of extract from roots was evaluated for the bioactive substance content including phenolic acids, alkamides, polysaccharides and others [5,22,23]. ...
Article
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Antioxidants are added to foods to decrease the adverse effect of reactive species that create undesirable compounds that destroy essential nutrients and, therefore, lower the nutritional, chemical and physical properties of foods. This study was carried out to determine the antioxidant properties of flowers and plant stems with leaves of Echinacea purpurea grown with mulches of different colours and thicknesses. Coneflowers were grown in the Experimental Station of the Agricultural University in Kraków, Poland. The mulching materials used were black, green and brown colours of 100 g/m2 and 80 g/m2 density. In plant material, e.g., flowers or plant stems plus leaves the proximate analysis, the total polyphenol content and the ability to scavenge free radicals (ABTS, DPPH and FRAP) were determined. The results show that flower samples had a higher content of compound proteins, ash and phenolic compounds. The mulching colour and density did not affect the proximate analysis of the E. purpurea plant. Based on the result of this study, E. purpurea is a potential source of natural antioxidants and can be used to improve the antioxidant activity of various food products as well as in cosmetics within the pharmaceutical industry.
... Increased total white blood cell count [72,73] Increased activity of T-lymphocytes, NK-cells, dendritic cells and macrophages [72,[74][75][76][77] Increased secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines [72][73][74][75][76][77] Expectorant [71] Increased presentation of viral antigens by infected cells [73] Anti-inflammatory effects:Inhibition of COX-1, COX-2 and 5-LOX [72,73,76] Decreased viral binding [71,78] Increased antibody-dependent and innate NK-mediated activity [73] 3. ...
... Increased total white blood cell count [72,73] Increased activity of T-lymphocytes, NK-cells, dendritic cells and macrophages [72,[74][75][76][77] Increased secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines [72][73][74][75][76][77] Expectorant [71] Increased presentation of viral antigens by infected cells [73] Anti-inflammatory effects:Inhibition of COX-1, COX-2 and 5-LOX [72,73,76] Decreased viral binding [71,78] Increased antibody-dependent and innate NK-mediated activity [73] 3. ...
... Increased total white blood cell count [72,73] Increased activity of T-lymphocytes, NK-cells, dendritic cells and macrophages [72,[74][75][76][77] Increased secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines [72][73][74][75][76][77] Expectorant [71] Increased presentation of viral antigens by infected cells [73] Anti-inflammatory effects:Inhibition of COX-1, COX-2 and 5-LOX [72,73,76] Decreased viral binding [71,78] Increased antibody-dependent and innate NK-mediated activity [73] 3. ...
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Reducing inappropriate antibiotic (AB) use by using effective non-antibiotic treatments is one strategy to prevent and reduce antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Andrographis paniculata (Burm. f.) Wall. ex Nees, Pelargonium sidoides DC., Echinacea species and a combination of ivy (Hedera helix L.), primrose (Primula veris L./Primula elatior L.) and thyme (Thymus vulgaris L./Thymus zygis L.) have promising clinical effects in uncomplicated, acute upper respiratory tract infections (URTI) treatment. However, mechanistic evidence of these herbal treatments is lacking. The objective of this Pstudy is to provide an overview of mechanistic evidence for these effects. Thirty-eight databases were searched. Included studies were mechanistic studies (in vitro, animal, and human studies and reviews) on these herbs; published before June 2021. Non-mechanistic studies or studies on combinations of herbs other than ivy/primrose/thyme were excluded. Furthermore, three experts in traditional, complementary and integrative healthcare (TCIH) research and pharmacognosy were interviewed to collect additional expert knowledge. The results show that A. paniculata acts through immunomodulation and antiviral activity, possibly supplemented by antibacterial and antipyretic effects. P. sidoides acts through antiviral, indirect antibacterial, immunomodulatory and expectorant effects. Echinacea species likely act through immunomodulation. The combination of ivy/primrose/thyme combines secretolytic and spasmolytic effects from ivy with antibacterial effects from thyme. Studies on primrose were lacking. This mechanistic evidence supports the difference-making evidence from clinical studies, contributes to evidence-based recommendations for their use in URTI treatment, and guides future mechanistic studies on URTI treatments.
... These studies examine the antimicrobial quality of various natural compounds against power of survive bacteria in the laboratory. The researchers evaluated the potency and potency of these compounds by performing experiments such as agar plate diffusion test and minimum inhibitory concentration test (12). In addition, in vivo studies are underway to analysis the safety & efficacy of these natural compounds in animal models. ...
... This natural antibacterial agent can be used in many applications, including disinfecting surfaces, treating water sources and controlling microbial growth in agriculture. In addition, (12) Lemongrass oil can be used as a natural substitute for synthetic herbicides and pesticides. Its effectiveness against keratolytic, ringworm and food preservation fungi open up potential applications in maintaining the health and safety of environments such as hospitals, food processing plants, and agricultural land. ...
Chapter
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For many years, Cymbopogon citratus has been grown for therapeutic purposes in numerous parts of the world. Lemongrass is used in traditional medicines for coughs, alcoholism, elephantiasis, malaria, pneumonia, and vascular problems. Cymbopogon citratus, commonly known as lemongrass.. The genus of family Cymbopogon includes more than 100 species showing extended growth in the many parts of the world .Lemongrass has many medicinal properties as well, like it helps in problem face during cough throat infection etc. The aim of the review was to find the antibacterial/microbial activity of lemongrass extract on various microorganisms in the medium. The antibacterial properties of lemongrass extract have been the subject of numerous studies, with researchers exploring its potential as a natural alternative to chemical-based antibacterial agents.
... Several studies have since been conducted to validate the antibacterial properties traditionally attributed to echinacea species and their preparations [66]. One such study investigated the antibacterial activity of a fermented extract of E. purpurea (5% w/v, fermented with Lactobacillus plantarum) [67]. Using disc diffusion and broth microdilution assays, the extract was tested on a range of bacterial strains, including E. coli, Enterobacter aerogenes, Enterococcus durans, Yersinia enterocolitica, Weissella confusa, Leuconostoc lactis, Propionibacterium jensenii, Lactobacillus sakei, and Bacillus megaterium. ...
... Several studies have since been conducted to validate the antibacterial properties traditionally attributed to echinacea species and their preparations [66]. One such study investigated the antibacterial activity of a fermented extract of E. purpurea (5% w/v, fermented with Lactobacillus plantarum) [67]. Using disc diffusion and broth microdilution assays, the extract was tested on a range of bacterial strains, including E. coli, Enterobacter aerogenes, Enterococcus durans, Yersinia enterocolitica, Weissella confusa, Leu-conostoc lactis, Propionibacterium jensenii, Lactobacillus sakei, and Bacillus megaterium. ...
Article
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Background: Echinacea species, particularly Echinacea purpurea, Echinacea angustifolia, and Echinacea pallida, are renowned for their immunomodulatory, antibacterial, and antiviral properties. Objectives: This review explores the mechanisms by which echinacea herbal extracts modulate immune responses, focusing on their effects on both innate and adaptive immunity in bacterial and viral infections. Results: Key bioactive compounds, such as alkamides, caffeic acid derivatives, flavonoids, and polysaccharides, contribute to these effects. These compounds enhance immune cell activity, including macrophages and natural killer cells, stimulating cytokine production and phagocytosis. The antibacterial activity of echinacea against respiratory pathogens (Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Legionella pneumophila) and skin pathogens (Staphylococcus aureus, Propionibacterium acnes) is reviewed, as well as its antiviral efficacy against viruses like herpes simplex, influenza, and rhinovirus. Echinacea’s potential as a complementary treatment alongside conventional antibiotics and antivirals is discussed, particularly in the context of antibiotic resistance and emerging viral threats. Conclusions: Challenges associated with variability in phytochemical content and the need for standardized extraction processes are also addressed. This review provides a comprehensive overview of echinacea’s therapeutic potential and outlines future directions for research, including clinical trials and dosage optimization.
... Effective alkaloids: tussilagine and isotussilagine. [28] Plants 2024, 13, 1235 4 of 29 Table 3. Biological and pharmacological effects of the bioactive compounds of echinacea roots. ...
... Plants 2024, 13, 1235 ...
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For centuries, medicinal plants have been used as sources of remedies and treatments for various disorders and diseases. Recently, there has been renewed interest in these plants due to their potential pharmaceutical properties, offering natural alternatives to synthetic drugs. Echinacea, among the world’s most important medicinal plants, possesses immunological, antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties. Nevertheless, there is a notable lack of thorough information regarding the echinacea species, underscoring the vital need for a comprehensive review paper to consolidate existing knowledge. The current review provides a thorough analysis of the existing knowledge on recent advances in understanding the physiology, secondary metabolites, agronomy, and ecology of echinacea plants, focusing on E. purpurea, E. angustifolia, and E. pallida. Pharmacologically advantageous effects of echinacea species on human health, particularly distinguished for its ability to safeguard the nervous system and combat cancer, are discussed. We also highlight challenges in echinacea research and provide insights into diverse approaches to boost the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites of interest in echinacea plants and optimize their large-scale farming. Various academic databases were employed to carry out an extensive literature review of publications from 2001 to 2024. The medicinal properties of echinacea plants are attributed to diverse classes of compounds, including caffeic acid derivatives (CADs), chicoric acid, echinacoside, chlorogenic acid, cynarine, phenolic and flavonoid compounds, polysaccharides, and alkylamides. Numerous critical issues have emerged, including the identification of active metabolites with limited bioavailability, the elucidation of specific molecular signaling pathways or targets linked to echinacoside effects, and the scarcity of robust clinical trials. This raises the overarching question of whether scientific inquiry can effectively contribute to harnessing the potential of natural compounds. A systematic review and analysis are essential to furnish insights and lay the groundwork for future research endeavors focused on the echinacea natural products.
... Secondarily, administration of different formulations including pressed juice, and tablets in addition to the difference between the daily dosage and duration of treatment, are considered candidate factors to contribute to the variability of the results. Furthermore, the sample population used in these studies is not equal; as a result, the statistical analysis outcome is not always comparable [108][109][110]. ...
... The main chemical constituents of Echinacea spp. include alkamides, hydroxycinnamic acids, and polysaccharides [109]. Absorption of a chemical compound and bioavailability are two meanings with reciprocal interaction and critical process parameters to consider when a pharmaceutical formulation is made. ...
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Introduction: Echinacea spp. are worldwide known as anti-inflammatory medicinal plants. The phytochemistry of the genus Echinacea is complex, however most notable compounds to which the biological activity is attributed are the alkamides. Much research focuses on the study of certain Echinacea species, namely E. angustifolia, E. pallida, E. purpurea, and E. lannata, to deal with common cold symptoms, however, results between the various studies are inconsistent. There is a historical background for the therapeutic use of the plant against various disorders by many civilizations. Additionally, Echinacea species therapeutic uses in Traditional Chinese Medicine are discussed. Methodology: Databases including PubMed, Google Scholar and ScienceDirect were used for the research using the following keywords: Echinacea, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, immunostimulatory, cold-fighter, chemistry, alkamides and Traditional Chinese Medicine. The purpose of this review paper is to discuss the existing findings regarding the immunostimulatory, anti-inflammatory, and anti-viral activities of Echinacea species. Results: Echinacea extracts contain a variety of secondary metabolites including caffeic acid, derivates of caffeic acid, flavonoids and alkamides. Alkamides, are the most studied compounds and the pharmacological activities of the plant are mainly attributed to those. Discussion: Data gathered from the in vitro and in vivo studies provide substantiation regarding the anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory and anti-viral effects of Echinacea species. On the contrary evidence from clinical trials questions the useful effects of the plant in reducing the frequency and length of the common cold. Conclusion: Findings of the studies presented in the manuscript indicate that more research should be performed to evaluate whether Echinacea spp. is indeed a cold-fighter remedy. Additionally, conducting further studies regarding the bioavailability, pharmacokinetics, and toxicity of the plant is highly recommended.
... Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench is popularly known as 'purple coneflower' (Fig. 3) and is used as a medicinal plant and dietary supplement in North America and Europe (Barnes et al., 2005). It is also a popular plant used in cosmeceutical preparations. ...
... They also protect collagen from free radicalinduced degradation. Consequently, they are administered as skinprotective and skin-lightening agents (Table 3; Barnes et al., 2005). It has been demonstrated by Olah et al. (2017) and Hudson (2012) that purple coneflower alkamides ( Fig. 3) have potent anti-inflammatory qualities and can alleviate atopic eczema symptoms. ...
Article
Plants and their products have been utilized as raw materials in the preparation of cosmetics for millennia. Currently, research is being done to find new plant materials that may be used as ingredients in cosmetic preparations, including body sprays, shampoos, conditioners, hair dyes/sprays, and other cosmetics. The plants that are used in the preparation of cosmetic products are usually procured from nature, however, the quality and quantity of bioactive ingredients present in the biomass vary based on the species, environment, and geographical locations from where the material has been procured. In addition, procurement of plant material from natural resources may lead to a shortage of material and even endanger the status of rare plants in the natural environment. Therefore, there is increased interest in the use of plant cell, tissue, and organ cultures (PCTOC) for the production of raw materials and bioactive specialized metabolites. There is also scope for increasing the accumulation of biomass and bioactive compounds in PCTOC by adopting various strategies such as optimization of culture medium, culture environment, elicitation, and other bioprocess methods. Furthermore, PCTOC-produced raw materials are free from contaminants, pesticides, and heavy metals and an important benefit of producing biomass in vitro is that it is easily accepted by regulatory authorities and consumers. In the current review, we describe the bioactive compounds of ginseng, purple coneflower, He-shou-wu, and St. John's wort which have cosmetological importance. Additionally, we elucidate the PCTOC method adopted for the production of biomass and bioactive compounds in these plants.
... Echinacea is a popular herbal medicine in Western countries that has been used to treat colds and influenza [37,38]. However, its usefulness in clinical trials has been questioned [38]. ...
... Echinacea is a popular herbal medicine in Western countries that has been used to treat colds and influenza [37,38]. However, its usefulness in clinical trials has been questioned [38]. There are various reasons for this. ...
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Japanese pepper (sansho, Zanthoxylum piperitum) contains several types of sanshools belonging to N-alkylamides. Because of the long-chain unsaturated fatty acids present in their structure, sanshools are prone to oxidative deterioration, which poses problems in processing. In this paper, we evaluated the effects of antioxidants from the genus Zanthoxylum in preventing sanshool degradation using accelerated tests. An ethanolic extract of segment membranes of the sansho fruit pericarp was incubated at 70 °C for 7 days with different antioxidants to determine the residual amount of hydroxy-α-sanshool (HαS) in the extract. α-Tocopherol (α-Toc) showed excellent HαS-stabilizing activity at low concentrations. Among phenolic acids, we noted that the HαS-stabilizing activity increased with the number of hydroxy groups per molecule. For example, gallic acid and its derivatives exhibited excellent sanshool-stabilizing activity. Quercetin was found to be a superior HαS stabilizer compared with hesperetin and naringenin. However, the effective concentration was much higher for phenolic compounds than for α-Toc. These substances are believed to play a role in preventing the decomposition of sanshools in the pericarp of sansho. These sanshool stabilizers should be useful in the development of new beverages, foods, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals that take advantage of the taste and flavor of sansho.
... Due to their properties, they represent one of the most used natural remedies to treat seasonal diseases, such as the common cold and upper respiratory tract infections. Echinacea preparations are traditionally used to counteract colds, tonsillitis, toothaches, bowel pain, snakebites, rabies, seizures, wound infections and septic conditions (Barnes et al., 2005). Phytochemicals isolated from root or aerial parts are phenolic compounds (caffeic acid derivatives), high molecular weight polysaccharides and unsaturated alkylamides (Barnes et al., 2005). ...
... Echinacea preparations are traditionally used to counteract colds, tonsillitis, toothaches, bowel pain, snakebites, rabies, seizures, wound infections and septic conditions (Barnes et al., 2005). Phytochemicals isolated from root or aerial parts are phenolic compounds (caffeic acid derivatives), high molecular weight polysaccharides and unsaturated alkylamides (Barnes et al., 2005). The whole phytocomplex is reported to exhibit immune-stimulant and anti-inflammatory activities (Catanzaro et al., 2018;Chicca et al., 2009;Spelman et al., 2009), which are related to the combination of several active compounds and not to a single individual constituent (Zhai et al., 2007). ...
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There is a large demand for nutraceuticals in the market and studies related to their action are needed. In this paper, the antimicrobial activity and the immunomodulatory effect of a nutraceutical formulation containing 14.39% of ascorbic acid, 7.17% of coenzyme Q10, 1.33% of Echinacea polyphenols, 0.99% of pine flavan‐3‐ols, 0.69% of resveratrol and 0.023% of Echinacea alkylamides were studied using in vitro assays and cell‐based metabolomics . Chromatographic analysis allowed us to study the nutraceutical composition. The antibacterial activity was evaluated on S. aureus , K. pneumoniae , P. aeruginosa , E. coli , H. influenzae , S. pyogenes , S. pneumoniae and M. catarrhalis . The immunomodulatory activity was assessed on human macrophages and dendritic cells. The production of IL‐1β, IL‐12p70, IL‐10 and IL‐8 was evaluated on culture medium by ELISA and the activation/maturation of dendritic cells with cytofluorimetric analysis. Treated and untreated macrophages and dendritic cell lysates were analysed by liquid chromatography coupled with high‐resolution mass spectrometry, and results were compared using multivariate data analysis to identify biological markers related to the treatment with the food supplement. The food supplement decreased K. pneumoniae , P. aeruginosa , E. coli , Methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and M. catharralis growth, reduced the inflammatory response in macrophages exposed to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and modulated the activation and maturation of the dendritic cells. Oxidized phospholipids were identified as the main biological markers of treated cell lysates, compared with controls.
... Echinacea is a popular herbal medicine in Western countries that has been used to treat colds and influenza [29,30]. However, its usefulness in clinical trials has been questioned [30]. ...
... Echinacea is a popular herbal medicine in Western countries that has been used to treat colds and influenza [29,30]. However, its usefulness in clinical trials has been questioned [30]. There are various reasons for this. ...
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Japanese pepper (sansho, Zanthoxylum piperitum) contains several types of sanshools belonging to N-alkylamides. Because of long-chain unsaturated fatty acids present in their structure, sanshools are prone to oxidative deterioration, which poses problems in processing. Here, we evaluated the effects of antioxidants from the genus Zanthoxylum in preventing sanshool degradation using accelerated tests. An ethanolic extract of segment membranes of the sansho fruit pericarp was incubated at 70 °C for 7 days with different antioxidants to determine the residual amount of hydroxy-α-sanshool (HαS) in the extract. α-Tocopherol (α-Toc) showed excellent HαS-stabilizing activity at low concentrations. Among phenolic acids, we noted that the HαS-stabilizing activity increased with the number of hydroxy groups per molecule. For example, gallic acid and its derivatives exhibited excellent sanshool-stabilizing activity. Quercetin was found to be a superior HαS stabilizer compared with hesperetin and naringenin. However, the effective concentration was much higher for phenolic compounds than for α-Toc. These substances are believed to play a role in preventing the decomposition of sanshools in the pericarp of sansho. These sanshool stabilizers should be useful in the development of new beverages, foods, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals that take advantage of the taste and flavor of sansho.
... For example, a study found no significant difference in the rate of infection or time to first infection among participants taking Echinacea compared to those on a placebo [22]. This inconsistency may be attributed to variations in Echinacea formulations, dosages, and study designs, which complicate the interpretation of clinical outcomes [23]. Furthermore, the possible health benefits of AM have been investigated, especially in relation to URTIs and colds. ...
Article
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Upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) are a prevalent health issue, causing considerable morbidity. Despite the availability of conventional treatments, there is an increasing interest in natural products due to their potential antiviral and immunomodulatory benefits. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of an ELA blend (E—Echinacea purpurea, L—Lonicera cerulea, A—Aronia melanocarpa) in preventing and alleviating the symptoms of URTIs. Additionally, the study examines the blend’s antiviral and immunomodulatory effects both in vitro and through a clinical trial. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involved 61 participants prone to URTIs, with a 60-day treatment and follow-up period. A placebo group later received the ELA blend for 60 days. The ELA blend significantly reduced the incidence of URTIs during the observation period (2 vs. 8; p = 0.044) and, in particular, throat-related symptoms (8 vs. 16; p = 0.038). Analyses of PBMCs showed that baseline production of the cytokines IFN-γ (p = 0.020), IL-1β (p = 0.004), IL-2(p < 0.001), IL-6 (p < 0.001), and TNF-α (p < 0.001) increased after ELA blend treatment. Moreover, the ELA blend modulated cytokine production in response to PHA-L stimulation, decreasing IFN-γ (p = 0.008) and IL-2 (p = 0.012) while increasing IL-1β (p = 0.005). Following R848 stimulation, the ELA blend enhanced the production of INF-α (p = 0.012) and IL-2 (p = 0.025), and decreased IL-1β (p < 0.001), IL-6 (p < 0.001), and TNF-α (p = 0.049). The blend suppressed VSV replication and significantly increased cytokine levels, with IFN-γ increasing by 98 pg/mL (p = 0.002), IL-1β rising by 233.0 pg/mL (p = 0.004), and TNF-α showing an increase of 2905 pg/mL (p = 0.002). These findings highlight the ELA blend’s potential to alleviate URTI symptoms, modulate inflammatory and antiviral immune responses, and inhibit viral replication. Further investigations should aim to validate these findings through large-scale studies, and explore the ELA blend’s long-term safety and efficacy in diverse populations. Additionally, research should investigate optimal dosing strategies and explore potential synergistic effects with conventional treatments to maximize clinical outcomes. Trial registration: retrospectively registered under NCT06020001.
... species, leading to differences in the biological activities of their extracts [54]. Accurate identification of Echinacea species (Echinacea purpurea, Echinacea angustifolia, and Echinacea pallida) based on morphological traits is complicated by phenological variability within the species and overlapping visual characteristics [35,[54][55][56][57][58] (Figure 2). According to the British Pharmacopoeia monographs and other morphological featuresbased studies, the roots of E. purpurea, E. angustifolia, and E. pallida exhibit similar macroscopic characteristics [55,56]. ...
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Introduction Existing methods for morphological, organoleptic, and chemical authentication may not adequately ensure the accurate identification of plant species or guarantee safety. Herbal raw material authentication remains a major challenge in herbal medicine. Over the past decade, DNA barcoding, combined with an orthogonal approach integrating various testing methods for quality assurance, has emerged as a new trend in plant authentication. Objective The review evaluates DNA barcoding and common alternative testing in plant‐related sectors to enhance quality assurance and accurate authentication. Method Studies were selected based on their relevance to the identification, quality assurance, and safety of herbal products. Inclusion criteria were peer‐reviewed articles, systematic reviews, and relevant case studies from the last two decades focused on DNA barcoding, identification methods, and their applications. Exclusion criteria involved studies lacking empirical data, those not peer‐reviewed, or those unrelated to the main focus. This ensured the inclusion of high‐quality, pertinent sources while excluding less relevant studies. Results An orthogonal approach refers to the use of multiple, independent methods that provide complementary information for more accurate plant identification and quality assurance. This reduces false positives or negatives by confirming results through different techniques, combining DNA barcoding with morphological analysis or chemical profiling. It enhances confidence in results, particularly in cases of potential adulteration or misidentification of plant materials. Conclusion This study highlights the persistent challenges in assuring the quality, purity, and safety of plant materials. Additionally, it stresses the importance of incorporating DNA‐based authentication alongside traditional methods, to enhance plant material identification.
... SCFAs, including acetate, propionate and butyrate, have an anti-inflammatory effect both in the intestine and in the skin. 27 Additionally, the antioxidant effect of vitamins C and E as well as E. purpurea have been reported to have immunomodulatory activities with anti-infective, antiinflammatory and antioxidative properties, 28,29 which may be beneficial in stressful situations, such as gastrointestinal disorders, potentially leading to anal sac disease. ...
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Background Anal sac impaction is common in dogs. Manual expression may be effective, yet recurrence can be problematic. To facilitate physiological emptying of the sacs, it is important to maintain bulky stool consistency. Objectives The study evaluated if supplementation with a complementary feed product formulated as a chew containing Bacillus velezensis C‐3102 and fibre sources, reduced anal sac impaction recurrence. Animals Thirty‐five client‐owned dogs with anal sac impaction were enrolled. Materials and Methods Prospective, randomised, negative controlled field clinical trial with 22 dogs receiving the chew orally for 90 consecutive days and 13 dogs with no treatment. Dogs were evaluated on Day (D) 30, 60, 90 and 120 for the presence of clinical signs of anal sac impaction and the need to empty the sacs. Any animal that required manual expression of the sacs was classified as a failure and was withdrawn from the study. Results The cumulative percentage of failures in the untreated group increased steadily from the first follow‐up visit on D30 (15%) to the last visit on D120 (61.5%). However, in the group receiving the chew the cumulative percentage of failures increased at a much slower rate and stabilised at 19% from the D90 visit (last administration day) until the end of the study on D120, with statistically significant differences (p = 0.025). Animals receiving the chew also showed reduction in clinical signs. Conclusion and Clinical Relevance The probiotic and fibre chew was a safe and effective management option for recurrent anal sac impaction in dogs.
... Furthermore, Echinacea contains various compounds such as alkylamides, flavonoids, and polysaccharides. These bioactive substances possess inhibitory activities against influenza and various viruses (Barnes et al., 2005;Sharma et al., 2009;Fusco et al., 2010;Elufioye et al., 2020;Morimoto et al., 2023). Interestingly, although both EPE and CA demonstrated antiviral activities against all three viruses, CA had a lower overall activity than EPE, suggesting that the potent antiviral activity observed in EPE can be attributed to the synergistic interactions among various bioactive compounds present in EPE, which collectively exert a more pronounced effect than CA alone. ...
Article
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Among the most frequent causes of respiratory infections in humans are influenza A virus H1N1 (H1N1), influenza B virus (IVB), and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Echinacea is a perennial wildflower belonging to the Asteraceae family. Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench is a species belonging to the Echinacea genus. Its characteristic compound, chicoric acid (CA), is known for its physiological activities, including antiviral effects and immune enhancement. Activities of E. purpurea 60% ethanol extract (EPE) and CA in inhibiting infections caused by H1N1, IVB, and RSV subtype A (RSV-A) were evaluated through plaque inhibition tests, quantification of viral gene expression, and analysis of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images. Additionally, inhibitory activities of EPE and CA for hemagglutination and neuraminidase (NA) of H1N1 and IVB were determined. In the plaque reduction assays, both EPE and CA reduced infectivity against H1N1, IVB, and RSV-A. Furthermore, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed that EPE and CA reduced gene expression levels for H1N1, IVB, and RSV-A, whereas TEM image analysis confirmed their inhibitory effects on host cell infection by these viruses. Hemagglutination assays exhibited the ability of EPE and CA to hinder H1N1 and IVB attachment to host cell receptors. Furthermore, EPE and CA displayed inhibition activity against the NA of H1N1 and IVB. These findings suggest that EPE and CA can suppress the infection and propagation of H1N1, IVB, and RSV-A, demonstrating their potential as preventive and therapeutic agents for viral respiratory infections or as ingredients for health functional foods.
... Echinacea purpurea is traditionally used as pain reliever. Recent pharmacological studies confirmed its analgesic properties, which are related to the presence of alkamides, caffeic acid derivatives and polysaccharides (Barnes et al., 2005;Micheli et al., 2023). Among the botanical drugs with potential neuroprotective and antiinflammatory properties, much attention has been focused on extracts obtained from the Zingiberaceae family. ...
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Background: Prolonged exposure to stress is a risk factor for the onset of several disorders. Modern life is burdened by a pervasive prevalence of stress, which represents a major societal challenge requiring new therapeutic strategies. In this context, botanical drug-based therapies can have a paramount importance. Methods: Here we studied the preventive effects of a repeated treatment (p.o. daily, 3 weeks) with a combination of Centella asiatica (200 mg/kg), Echinacea purpurea (20 mg/kg) and Zingiber officinale (150 mg/kg) standardized extracts, on the chronic social defeat stress (CSDS) deleterious outcomes. After 10 days of CSDS exposure, male mice’ performances were evaluated in paradigms relevant for social (social interaction test), emotional (tail suspension test), cognitive (novel object recognition) domains as well as for pain perception (cold plate and von Frey tests) and motor skills (rotarod). Mice were then sacrificed, the spinal cords, hippocampi and frontal cortices dissected and processed for RT-PCR analysis. Results: Extracts mix treatment prevented stress-induced social aversion, memory impairment, mechanical and thermal allodynia and reduced behavioural despair independently of stress exposure. The treatment stimulated hippocampal and cortical BDNF and TrkB mRNA levels and counteracted stress-induced alterations in pro- (TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6) and anti-inflammatory (IL4, IL10) cytokines expression in the same areas. It also modulated expression of pain related genes (GFAP and Slc1a3) in the spinal cord. Conclusion: The treatment with the extracts mix obtained from C. asiatica, E. purpurea and Z. officinale may represent a promising strategy to promote resilience and prevent the deleterious effects induced by extended exposure to psychosocial stress.
... Certain herbs, for instance, those containing aristolochic acid, are known to pose risks for renal failure and urinary tract cancer [9]. Echinacea purpurea and Hypericum perforatum have been used in the treatment of upper respiratory infections and depressive disorder, respectively, due to their immunomodulatory properties and ability to regulate neurotransmitters [10,11]. However, they also could induce kidney dysfunction when taken in high doses or for extended periods [12,13]. ...
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The growing popularity of herbal medicine raises concerns about potential nephrotoxicity risks, while limited evidence hinders a comprehensive impact assessment. This study aims to investigate the overall risk features of herbal medicine on kidney injury. We conducted a retrospective analysis on renal function changes, including blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine, and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), through data from six randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in South Korea. A total of 407 participants (142 males, 265 females) received either one of four different herbal medicines (240 participants) or a placebo (167 participants). When comparing changes in eGFR regarding the mean, 90th-percentile value, and 20% reduction after treatment, there was no significant difference between the herbal-treated and placebo groups. This study provided a helpful reference for examining the safety issues of herbal remedies, especially regarding kidney function.
... Echinacea purpurea has a worldwide reputation for its immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory properties, capable of modulating various immune system pathways. There are different classes of secondary metabolites of the plant showing immunostimulatory activity, such as alkamides, caffeic acid derivatives, polysaccharides, and glycoproteins (Barnes et al. 2005). E. purpurea has been widely used as an immunomodulator for the products used. ...
Article
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Phagocytosis is one of the body's immune mechanisms in the elimination of antigens, including bacteria. Its mechanism is affected by many factors, such as the inducers. The present study aims to elaborate on the effect of ethyl acetate fraction of Momordica charantia L fruits on the activity and capacity of rat peritoneal macrophages on a non-A Staphylococcus aureus, including the white blood cell percentage. A series of M. charantia ethyl acetate extract concentrations of 25 mg/kg BW, 50 mg/kg BW, and 100 mg/kg BW were used to identify the phagocytosis activity and capacity, as well as the percentage of white blood cells (WBC). The result showed that the concentration of 50 mg/kg BW had the highest phagocytic activity and capacity compared to other concentrations (P < 0.05), while for the WBC percentage, there were no significant differences among the concentrations (P > 0.05). The conclusion of the present study is M. charantia ethyl acetate extract has the potential to be used as a natural immunostimulant.
... Derivatives of caffeic acid particularly cichoric acid have a wide range of biological properties, inclusive of collagen protection, anti-hyaluronidase activity, antiviral activity, phagocyte activity promotion, and high antioxidant capacity (Barnes et al. 2005;Bauer and Wagner 1991;Pellati et al. 2004). Furthermore, E. purpurea possesses antifungal, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer activities (Paudel et al. 2023;Kabir et al. 2022;Hudson 2012;Gurley et al. 2012). ...
Article
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Environmental and occupational exposure to hexavalent chromium (CrVI) is mostly renowned as a possible hepatotoxic in mammals. Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench, a phenolic-rich plant, is recurrently used for its therapeutic properties. Therefore, this investigation was done to explore whether E. purpurea (EP) root extract would have any potential health benefits against an acute dose of CrVI-induced oxidative damage and hepatotoxicity. Results revealed that GC–MS analysis of EP root extract has 26 identified components with a significant amount of total phenolic and flavonoid contents. Twenty-four Male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: control, EP (50 mg/kg BW/day for 21 days), CrVI (15 mg/kg BW as a single intraperitoneal dosage), and EP + CrVI, respectively. Rats treated with CrVI displayed a remarkable rise in oxidative stress markers (TBARS, H2O2, PCC), bilirubin, and lactate dehydrogenase activity, and a marked decrease in enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants, transaminases, and alkaline phosphatase activities, and serum protein level. Also, CrVI administration induced apoptosis and inflammation in addition to histological and ultrastructural abnormalities in the liver tissue. The examined parameters were improved significantly in rats pretreated with EP and then intoxicated with CrVI. Conclusively, EP had a potent antioxidant activity and could be used in the modulation of CrVI-induced hepatotoxicity.
... However, we have not detected other minor compounds, like other hydroxycinnamic acids such as echinacoside and cynarin, or flavonols such as kaempferol derivatives, which have also been identified in Echinacea species [34,37,42]. As detailed above, the presence or absence of these constituents could depend on multiple factors, including the extraction process used in the preparation [37,43,44]. In the present study, we performed an HPLC analysis employing an extraction method previously reported for various phenolics in plant extracts [45,46]. ...
Article
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Echinacea purpurea L. (EP) preparations are globally popular herbal supplements known for their medicinal benefits, including anti-inflammatory activities, partly related to their phenolic composition. However, regarding their use for the management of inflammation-related intestinal diseases, the knowledge about the fate of orally ingested constituents throughout the human gastrointestinal tract and the exposition of in vitro digested extracts in relevant inflammatory models are unknown. This study investigated for the first time the impact of in vitro gastrointestinal digestion (INFOGEST) on the phenolic composition and anti-inflammatory properties of EP extracts from flowers (EF), leaves (EL), and roots (ER) on IL-1�-treated human colon-derived CCD-18Co cells. Among the seven hydroxycinnamic acids identified using HPLC-UV-MS/MS, chicoric and caftaric acids showed the highest concentrations in EL, followed by EF and ER, and all extracts exerted significant reductions in IL-6, IL-8, and PGE2 levels. After digestion, despite reducing the bioaccessibility of their phenolics, the anti-inflammatory effects were preserved for digested EL and, to a lesser extent, for EF, but not for digested ER. The lower phenolic content in digested EF and ER could explain these findings. Overall, this study emphasizes the potential of EP in alleviating intestinal inflammatory conditions and related disorders.
... Herbal medicine has a long history in Native American societies all over North America [20]. Numerous native plants, including echinacea (used to bolster the immune system) [30] and chaparral (used for its alleged anticancer properties) [31], have historically been used to treat a variety of health conditions, including cancer. ...
Article
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This study examines the inhibitory effects of chloroform extract (samples A, B, C, D and E) from Ficus benjamina leaves as a cancer treatment by comparing them to the anticancer medicine, Bortezomib (BTZ), and evaluating their effects on lung cancer cell lines. Sample A is the crude chloroform extract from Ficus benjamina leaf; samples B to E are different fractions derived through flash chromatography of the crude chloroform extract. Positive control was Bortezomib and negative control was Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). The test samples were used at two concentrations of 10 µg/ML and 50 µg/ML. BTZ was tested at 1 µM and DMSO at 1 %. According to the findings, sample C showed significant (p<0.05) inhibition of cancer cell lines at 50 µg/ML. The extract's inhibitory activity, however, was shown to be less than that of BTZ. Increased concentrations of the extract showed increased inhibitory activity, supporting the finding that the inhibitory effect of the extract is concentration dependent. At a concentration of 10 µg/ML, extracts A, C, D, and E significantly inhibited lung cancer cell lines as compared to extract B that did not. At both concentrations of 10 µg/ML and µ50 g/ML, the inhibition displayed by bortezomib was noticeably higher than that of all the samples of the chloroform extract of Ficus benjamina leaves. At a concentration of 50 µg/ML, extract C showed a much greater percentage of inhibition against the lung cancer cell lines. Overall, the study shows that Ficus benjamina leaves may be used as an anticancer drug. Sample C showed selective cytotoxicity against the cancer cells while sparing healthy human embryonic kidney (HEK) cells. The extract also exhibits a better therapeutic index than Bortezomib, indicating the possibility of a targeted cancer medication with fewer side effects. To clarify the underlying mechanisms and determine clinical feasibility, more study is required. These results highlight the promise of Ficus benjamina leaf extract in the treatment of cancer, but they also highlight the need for further research to fully comprehend its potential.
... (all Asteraceae) are widely used and sold herbal medicinal products for treating upper respiratory infections and common colds. 100,[122][123][124] They are known for immunostimulatory, antiinflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial, antiviral, and larvicidal activity, and they are also used for treating toothache, bowel pain, snake bites, skin disorders, seizures, chronic arthritis, and cancer. Echinacea species contain different classes of pharmacologically active secondary metabolites such as caffeic acid derivatives, polysaccharides, alkamides, and glycoproteins. ...
Article
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Natural products, such as herbal medicinal products, food supplements, and functional food, are widely used to support well-being and for promoting health. In general, the effects of using these products are desired and beneficial, but unexpected adverse effects might also occur, especially when natural products are used with medication. Consumers do not often even know that they are exposed to bioactive compounds that might interact with the body and have effects on their well-being. One of the objectives of the World Health Organization is to promote herb–drug interaction monitoring, and it is important to know how marketed preparations and compounds from common foods interact when they are absorbed. In this review, we describe how a Caco-2 cell absorption model has been used to study how natural products, such as flaxseed, rapeseed, purple loosestrife, pine, echinacea, certain berries and herbs, anthranoid laxatives, and traditional medicinal plants, affect the absorption of co-administered drugs. We discuss the types of interactions and adverse effects that might occur and their possible reasons. Overall, we conclude that the Caco-2 cell absorption model is a useful tool for studying the absorption of natural products with drugs; and that to enable the safe use of natural products with medicines, concomitant use should be studied.
... The efficacy of E. purpurea preparations has been investigated in several clinical trials, but the results varied greatly depending on the plant parts used, the extract type, the variability of active components, and the sample size. Previous studies identified several bioactive compounds from ethanolic and water extracts of E. purpurea, including caffeic acid derivatives (caffeic acid, caftaric acid, cichoric acid, echinacoside, chlorogenic acid, and cynarin), alkylamides, flavonoids (rutin, quercetin, nicotiflorin, and luteolin), polysaccharides, and polyacetylenes [37][38][39][40][41][42][43]. These compounds have been extensively studied and are thought to be responsible for the bioactivity of E. purpurea extracts. ...
Article
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Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench is a medicinal plant commonly used for the treatment of upper respiratory tract infections, the common cold, sore throat, migraine, colic, stomach cramps, and toothaches and the promotion of wound healing. Based on the known pharmacological properties of essential oils (EOs), we hypothesized that E. purpurea EOs may contribute to these medicinal properties. In this work, EOs from the flowers of E. purpurea were steam-distilled and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), GC with flame-ionization detection (GC-FID), and chiral GC-MS. The EOs were also evaluated for in vitro antimicrobial and innate immunomodulatory activity. About 87 compounds were identified in five samples of the steam-distilled E. purpurea EO. The major components of the E. purpurea EO were germacrene D (42.0 ± 4.61%), α-phellandrene (10.09 ± 1.59%), β-caryophyllene (5.75 ± 1.72%), γ-curcumene (5.03 ± 1.96%), α-pinene (4.44 ± 1.78%), δ-cadinene (3.31 ± 0.61%), and β-pinene (2.43 ± 0.98%). Eleven chiral compounds were identified in the E. E. purpurea EO antimicrobial activity showed that they inhibited the growth of several bacterial species, although the EO did not seem to be effective for Staphylococcus aureus. The E. purpurea EO and its major components induced intracellular calcium mobilization in human neutrophils. Additionally, pretreatment of human neutrophils with the E. purpurea EO or (+)-δ-cadinene suppressed agonist-induced neutrophil calcium mobilization and chemotaxis. Moreover, pharmacophore mapping studies predicted two potential MAPK targets for (+)-δ-cadinene. Our results are consistent with previous reports on the innate immunomodulatory activities of β-caryophyllene, α-phellandrene, and germacrene D. Thus, this study identified δ-cadinene as a novel neutrophil agonist and suggests that δ-cadinene may contribute to the reported immunomodulatory activity of E. purpurea.
... E. purpurea has pleiotropic biomedical applications such as antiviral, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, and wound-healing roles [10e12]. To fight pathogen invasions, E. purpurea's immune response boosts the activity of various immune cells [13]. Medical trials have shown that E. purpurea can be utilized to fight cancer or offer a replacement therapy for people with cancer [14]. ...
... Isobutylamides, useful components present in Echinacea, are also N-alkylamides and have been reported to be highly unstable substances. Echinacea is a popular herbal medicine in Western countries that has been used to treat colds and influenza [19,20]. However, its usefulness has been questioned in clinical trials [21]. ...
Article
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The pungent component of sansho (Japanese pepper, Zanthoxylum pipritum) is sanshool, which is easily oxidized and decomposed. We have previously reported several sanshool stabilizers, such as α-tocopherol (α-Toc). Sansho pericarp powder treated with middle-chain triglycerides (MCTs) can be used to obtain extracts containing hydroxy-α-sanshool (HαS). Although HαS is stabilized when α-Toc is added to the MCT extracts, the loss of HαS is accelerated when it is mixed with a powder such as lactose. The separation of α-Toc from sanshools was thought to inevitably lead to their oxidation. Therefore, using sansho pericarp MCT extracts with or without α-Toc, oil/water (o/w) emulsions were prepared by adding a surfactant, glycerin, and water to these extracts. In both emulsions, HαS was stable in accelerated tests at 50 °C. However, when lactose powder was added to the emulsions and an accelerated test was performed, HαS in the emulsion containing α-Toc was stable, but HαS in the emulsion without α-Toc was unstable. These results highlight the importance of maintaining the close proximity of HαS and α-Toc in the emulsion. The stabilization of sanshools using emulsion technology can facilitate the production of various processed beverages, foods, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals containing Japanese pepper.
... Along with its medicinal uses, E. purpurea reportedly exhibits antioxidant, antimicrobial and antiviral activity (Thygesen et al. 2007;Stojicevic et al. 2009;Binns et al. 2002). Two groups of specialised metabolites that are considered to be in part responsible for the pharmacological activity of E. purpurea are the alkamides and caffeic acid derivatives (caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, cichoric acid, echinacoside and caftaric acid), though the arial parts of the plant are not considered to be a source of alkamides (Barnes et al. 2005., Wills et al. 1999. Polysaccharides may also play an important role in the immunostimulatory activity of E. purpurea (Wagner et al. 1988). ...
Article
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Pharmacopoeias are important resources for the quality control of medicinal plants and their products. Considering that approximately 80% of the world population to different extents relies on medicinal plants for the prevention and treatment of medical ailments the safety and suitability of medicinal plants is extremely important. Unfortunately, for many medicinal plants the active component or group of components responsible for their pharmacological activity are unknown. In such cases, the standardization of the medicinal plant material is performed using reference compounds that are either contained in the plant, but are known to not mediate the plants biological activity or are not contained in the plant at all, but find use as auxiliary reagents, for example, to help identify the necessary chromatographic zones/peaks. Additionally, many medicinal plants do not have qualitative or quantitative analysis procedures in place or use methods with low selectivity (spectrophotometry, colour reactions). In these cases, it is impossible to confidently and adequately standardize the medicinal plant material. Two other issues that complicate medicinal plant standardization include the variability of its chemical composition depending on multiple biotic and abiotic factors and the lack of sufficient data on the chemical composition of some plants. In this review, we analyzed medicinal plants common to the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), European, United State and Japanese Pharmacopoeias. We have analysed and systematized literature data devoted to the relation between the chemical composition and pharmacological activity of the plants presented in this review. Based on the analysed data, we have suggested more rational and adequate methods for the quality assessment and quantitative standardization of medicinal plants.
Article
Introduction. For the efficient cultivation of medicinal crops, including echinacea, in industrial production conditions, it is necessary to develop and improve adaptive agricultural technologies aimed at obtaining high yields of high-quality medicinal raw materials. The goal of the research is to study the effect of different brands and doses of the Biogor microbiological fertilizer of the KM series on the growth, development of plants, and the yield of air-dry matter of purple echinacea in the soil and climatic conditions of the Belgorod region. The Methods. Field studies were carried out on the experimental field of the Belgorod branch of the Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution VILAR in 2022-20223. The field experiment was set up in accordance with the methodology for conducting field experiments with medicinal and essential oil crops (VILAR, 2023). The experimental design included a control and 11 experimental variants using two brands of the Biogor microbiological fertilizer - Development and Finish at doses of 1.0 and 2.0 l/ha, both separately and in different combinations. The Results. The research showed that the highest yield of air-dry mass of purple coneflower was ensured by double application of the Biogor Development microbiological fertilizer at a dose of 2.0 l/ha in the 3-4 leaf phase and 1.0 l/ha in the 6-8 leaf phase in combination with the treatment of crops with Biogor Finish at doses of 1.0 and 2.0 l/ha in the budding phase before the first mowing. On average, over two years of research, the yield of purple coneflower grass by the sum of two cuttings in these experimental variants was 3.30 and 3.23 t/ha, respectively, which was 1.52 and 1.45 t/ha more than the control. Conclusions. Thus, the studied brands and doses of the Biogor microbiological fertilizer of the KM series in the conditions of the Belgorod region contributed to the activation of growth processes in purple coneflower plants and an increase in its top yield.
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Echinacea purpurea and Onopordum acanthium, which belong to the Asteraceae family, are widely used plants in traditional medicine. Their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antibacterial, and antitumor effects are well known. However, there are no data on the effects of their combination. The aim of the present study was to combine E. purpurea with O. acanthium to study the in vivo immunomodulatory effect of two combinations and to compare it with that of single plants. Their total polyphenolic and flavonoid content and the amounts of individual compounds characteristic of both species were determined. The influence of the obtained extracts on the serum concentrations of cytokines IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-10 in experimental animals with lipopolysaccharide-induced systemic inflammatory response was investigated. This research found that a combination of E. purpurea/O. acanthium in the ratio 1:1 reduced the proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α (244.82 pg/mL) and IFN-γ (1327.92 pg/mL) compared to the LPS-control, respectively, (574.17 pg/mL) and (3354.00 pg/mL), and the combination E. purpurea/O. acanthium in the ratio of 3:1 significantly increased the levels of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 (1313.95 pg/mL) compared to the LPS-control (760.09 pg/mL). In conclusion, our results could be a basis for future biomedical research on creating phytopreparations with an immunomodulatory effect.
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Echinacea angustifolia is a perennial plant that has been traditionally used to treat various microbial diseases. This study evaluated the in vitro antiviral properties of an ethanolic extract of E. angustifolia against bovine alphaherpesvirus 1 (BoHV-1). BoHV-1 infection is associated with respiratory, reproductive and neurological disease in cattle, resulting in major economic losses. When cells were treated with E. angustifolia extract at a non-cytotoxic concentration at different times (3, 6 or 24 hours) before BoHV-1 inoculation, no viral detection was possible after 72h, while in untreated cells the virus reached a titer of 105.5TCID50 /25µl (median). Incubating the extract with BoHV-1 24 hours before cell inoculation did not result in loss of viral infectivity. Cells infected with 103 TCID50 of BoHV-1 and not treated with E. angustifolia showed an average of 45.8% viability after 48 hours of infection, while 91.1% remained viable when treated 6 hours after or 84.1% 24 hours after infection, demonstrating a significant reduction in the cytopathic effect. In addition, E. angustifolia significantly reduced the relative mRNA expression of the antiviral cytokines IFNα and IFNβ in the treated cells, suggesting that the antiviral activity is not due to immunomodulation. The obtained data indicated that the ethanolic extract of E. angustifolia may directly interfere with virus attachment, entry, and/or egress from infected cells. Taken together, the presented data emphasized the promising antiviral activity of E. angustifolia against BoHV-1.
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Botanical natural medicinal products and dietary supplements are utilized globally for their positive impacts on health and wellness. However, the effectiveness and safety of botanical products can be compromised by unintentional or intentional adulteration. The presence of adulterated botanical ingredients in the global market has been documented in the published literature but a key question, namely what the extent of adulteration is, remains to be answered. This review aims to estimate the prevalence of adulteration in preparations made from black cohosh rhizome, echinacea root or herb, elder berry, ginkgo leaf, and turmeric root/rhizome. According to the information provided in the 78 publications retrieved for this paper, 818 of 2995 samples were reported to be adulterated and/or mislabeled. Ginkgo leaf samples (n = 533) had the highest adulteration rate with 56.7%, followed by black cohosh rhizome (n = 322) samples with 42.2%, echinacea root/herb (n = 200) with 28.5%, elder berry (n = 695) with 17.1%, and turmeric root/rhizome (n = 1247) with 16.5%. Products sold as licensed or registered herbal medicines were found to have a lower risk of adulteration compared to products sold as dietary/food supplements. The data show that the adulteration rate substantially differs from one ingredient to the other. Due to the significant limitations of the available data upon which the estimated extent of adulteration is based, and the rapidly changing botanical dietary supplement market, conclusions from the five herbs examined in this publication cannot be applied to other botanicals traded in the global market. However, the data clearly show that a substantial portion of the botanical dietary supplements do not contain what is claimed on their labels.
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Since 2019, COVID-19 has been raging around the world. Respiratory viral infectious diseases such as influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection are also prevalent, with influenza having the ability to cause seasonal pandemics. While vaccines and antiviral drugs are available to prevent and treat disease, herbal extracts would be another option. This study investigated the inhibitory effects of extracts of Echinacea purpurea (EP) and Ganoderma lucidum (G. lucidum) and the advanced G. lucidum drink (AG) on influenza A/B viruses. To determine whether EP and G. lucidum extracts enhance cell immunity and thus prevent virus infection or act to directly suppress viruses, cell survival and hemagglutination (HA) assays were used in this study. Cells were treated with samples at different concentrations (each sample concentration was tested from the highest non-cytotoxic concentration) and incubated with influenza A/B for 24 h, with the results showing that both G. lucidum and EP extracts and mixtures exhibited the ability to enhance cell survival against viruses. In the HA assay, AG and EP extract showed good inhibitory effect on influenza A/B viruses. All of the samples demonstrated an improvement of the mitochondrial membrane potential and improved resistance to influenza A/B virus infection. EP and G. lucidum extracts at noncytotoxic concentrations increased cell viability, but only AG and EP extract directly decreased influenza virus titers. In conclusion, results indicate the ability of EP and G. lucidum extract to prevent viruses from entering cells by improving cell viability and mitochondrial dysfunction and EP extract showed direct inhibition on viruses and prevented viral infection at post-infection strategy.
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Phytochemicals have a long and successful history in drug discovery. With recent advancements in analytical techniques and methodologies, discovering bioactive leads from natural compounds has become easier. Computational techniques like molecular docking, QSAR modelling and machine learning, and network pharmacology are among the most promising new tools that allow researchers to make predictions concerning natural products' potential targets, thereby guiding experimental validation efforts. Additionally, approaches like LC-MS or LC-NMR speed up compound identification by streamlining analytical processes. Integrating structural and computational biology aids in lead identification, thus providing invaluable information to understand how phytochemicals interact with potential targets in the body. Emerging computational approach is machine learning involving QSAR modelling and deep neural networks that interrelate phytochemical properties with diverse physiological activities such as antimicrobial or anticancer effects.
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Medicinal plants contain numerous bioactive secondary metabolites (SMs) that can be used for the treatment and prevention of diseases. SM concentration is a crucial standard for evaluating the quality of medicinal plants. SM accumulation is affected by multiple factors, including genetic background, climate, soil physical and chemical properties, and environmental changes. In recent years, increasing studies have indicated that rhizospheric and endophytic microorganisms, play an essential role in regulating the accumulation of SMs in medicinal plants. While some microorganisms establish symbiotic relationships with medicinal plants to promote plant growth. Other microorganisms can directly synthesize SMs or promote plant SM biosynthesis through multiple strategies, such as activating plant immune signaling pathways and secreting plant hormones into host cells to manipulate hormone-mediated pathways. In contrast, SMs may improve plant resistance to environmental stresses, thereby affecting the composition of rhizospheric and endophytic microorganisms. In this review, we summarized the recent progress in understanding the role of microorganisms in regulating SM accumulation in medicinal plants. Further studies should focus on the application of utilizing microorganisms to enhance the accumulation of bioactive SMs in medicinal plants.
Article
Background Immunomodulation is the modification of immune responses to control disease progression. While the synthetic immunomodulators have proven efficacy, they are coupled with toxicity and other adverse effects, and hence, the efforts were to identify natural phytochemicals with immunomodulatory potential. Objective The objective of this study is to understand the immunomodulatory properties of various phytochemicals and investigate them in Echinacea species extracts using an in silico approach. Methodology Several scientific database repositories were searched using different keywords: “Phytochemicals,” “Alkaloids,” “Polyphenols,” “Flavonoids,” “Lectins,” “Glycosides,” “Tannins,” “Terpenoids,” “Sterols,” “Immunomodulators,” and “Human Immune System” without any language restriction. Additionally, the study specifically investigated the immunomodulatory properties of Echinacea species extracts using gene expression analysis of GSE12259 from NCBI-GEO through the Bioconductor package GEOquery and limma. Results A total of 182 studies were comprehensively analyzed to understand immunomodulatory phytochemicals. The in silico analysis highlighted key biological processes (positive regulation of cytokine production, response to tumor necrosis factor) and molecular functions (cytokine receptor binding, receptor-ligand activity, and cytokine activity) among Echinacea species extracts contributing to immune responses. Further, it also indicated the association of various metabolic pathways, i.e., pathways in cancer, cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, NF-kappa B, PI3K-Akt, TNF, MAPK, and NOD-like receptor signaling pathways, with immune responses. The study revealed various hub targets, including CCL20, CCL4, GCH1, SLC7A11, SOD2, EPB41L3, TNFAIP6, GCLM, EGR1, and FOS. Conclusion The present study presents a cumulative picture of phytochemicals with therapeutic benefits. Additionally, the study also reported a few novel genes and pathways in Echinacea extracts by re-analyzing GSE 12259, indicating its anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, and immunomodulatory properties.
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Objectives: The pandemic of Coronavirus disease and severity of the infection and high mortality have almost unprecedented challenges in the health systems of most countries around the world. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of hydroalcholic extract polyherbal formulation as entitled Imfluna on symptoms of COVID-19 infected patients. The polyherbal remedy for Imfluna had a significant effect on pulmonary involvement and reduced pulmonary involvement, the severity of shortness of breath, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), sodium (Na) in the post-test phase. Also, the average CBC count and percentage of blood oxygen saturation increased in both experimental and control groups. In addition to, the mean CBC count and percentage of blood oxygen saturation of the control group increased significantly. Methods: In this randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial a total of 60 voluntary confirmed COVID-19 patients were randomly assigned to placebo and Imfluna groups. Patients in each groups, in addition to receiving standard medications, took two 500 mg Imfluna capsules or placebo every 8 hours for 2 weeks. The patient's vital signs, pulmonary involvement, severity of shortness of breath, average blood CBC count, Percentage of blood oxygen saturation, liver and kidney function tests and study Na were evaluated. Results: The results showed that patients in the Imfluna-treated group had significantly greater improvement in pulmonary involvement, severity of shortness of breath, average blood CBC count, Percentage of blood oxygen saturation compared with the placebo group. Conclusion: Patients with COVID-19 who were treated with a Imfluna for 2 weeks had better comfort and fewer symptoms associated with the disease with no drug side effects.
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Echinacea, an herbal remedy with a rich history rooted in traditional medicine, has captured the attention of researchers, health enthusiasts, and individuals seeking natural approaches to wellness. This review aims to delve into the captivating nature of Echinacea by examining its historical significance, scientific evidence supporting its effectiveness, diverse perspectives and personal anecdotes, recommended usage guidelines, precautions, and potential side effects. Through an overview of research studies, it becomes evident that Echinacea possesses a range of potential benefits. These include its antiviral and immunomodulatory properties, anti-inflammatory effects, wound healing capabilities, and potential in preventing and treating upper respiratory tract infections. Furthermore, studies suggest its potential anti-cancer effects and protection against oxidative stress. The review highlights the different forms of Echinacea products available, including tinctures, capsules and tablets, topical creams and gels, teas, and herbal extracts, with dosage recommendations and usage guidelines provided for each form. Precautions and potential side effects are also discussed to ensure informed decision-making and safe usage. In addition to scientific evidence, the captivating nature of Echinacea is enhanced by the inclusion of positive testimonials and personal anecdotes, demonstrating the impact it has had on individuals' lives. These stories offer a human touch, providing a glimpse into the personal experiences and perspectives of those who have benefited from Echinacea. Ultimately, this review encourages readers to explore Echinacea for themselves, approaching it with an open mind and combining scientific evidence with personal experiences. It acknowledges the potential of Echinacea to contribute to one's health and well-being while emphasizing the importance of an individualized approach to wellness. In conclusion, Echinacea's captivating nature lies in its historical significance, scientific evidence, diverse perspectives, and potential benefits. As readers delve into the world of Echinacea, they are invited to embrace curiosity, open-mindedness, and the beauty of nature's healing treasures, fostering a holistic approach to well-being.
Book
The authoritative and comprehensive modern textbook on western herbal medicine - now in its second edition This long-awaited second edition of Principles and Practice of Phytotherapy covers all major aspects of herbal medicine from fundamental concepts, traditional use and scientific research through to safety, effective dosage and clinical applications. Written by herbal practitioners with active experience in clinical practice, education, manufacturing and research, the textbook is both practical and evidence based. The focus, always, is on the importance of tailoring the treatment to the individual case. New insights are given into the herbal management of approxiately 100 modern ailments, including some of the most challenging medical conditions, such as asthma, inflammatory bowel disease and other complex autoimmune and inflammatory conditions, and there is vibrant discussion around the contribution of phytotherapy in general to modern health issues, including health ageing. Fully referenced throughout, with more than 10, 000 citations, the book is a core resource for students and practitioners of phytotherapy and naturopathy and will be of value to all healthcare professionals - pharmacists, doctors, nurses - with an interest in herbal therapeutics.
Article
We measured the levels of the cytokines IL‐1‐α, IL‐1‐β, IL‐2, IL‐6, TNF‐α, and IFN‐γ in culture supernatants of stimulated whole blood cells derived from 23 tumor patients undergoing a 4‐week oral treatment with a spagyric extract from Echinacea angustifolia, Eupatorium perfoliatum, and Thuja occidentalis (Echinacea complex). All patients had had curative surgery for a localized solid malignant tumor. Blood was taken before treatment and after 2 and 4 weeks of therapy. Twelve untreated tumor patients at the same clinical stage, also after curative surgery, served as a control group. In the blood cell cultures of all patients, a rather wide range of cytokine levels was found. After therapy with Echinacea complex, no significant alteration in the production of the cytokines could be seen in comparison to the controls, and also the leukocyte populations remained constant. We conclude that at this application and dosage, the therapy with Echinacea complex has no detectable effect on tumor patients' lymphocytes activity as measured by their cytokine production. © 1996 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Article
An analytical method based on gas chromatography-mass spectral (GC-MS) analysis was developed as a fast screening tool in order to verify the authenticity of extracts of roots from different species of Echinacea, namely E. angustifolia, E. pallida and E. purpurea. Various extraction methods, i.e. soxhlet extraction, supercritical fluid extraction and maceration with three different solvents, were applied and the extracts were analysed by GC-MS. The chromatograms were evaluated by multivariate data analysis, i.e. cluster analysis, principal component analysis and discriminant analysis, in order to reveal if a classification into the three main species of Echinacea was possible using the information obtained, GC-MS analysis of the extracts of Echinacea, together with multivariate data analysis, displayed substantial classification power since a good separation of the three different species was achieved. This analytical approach was not only suitable for classification but was also sufficiently robust such that no distortion of root samples by ageing occurred.
Chapter
In recent years, Echinacea preparations have developed into the best selling herbal immunostimulants. Most of the products are derived from either the aerial or the underground parts of Echinacea purpurea, and from the roots of E. angustifolia or E. pallida. The common products in Europe mainly represent expressed juice preparations or alcoholic tinctures. The different species and preparations can be clearly distinguished phytochemically by their typical constituents. The most relevant compounds for standardization are caffeic acid derivatives (cichoric acid, echinacoside), alkamides, polyacetylenes, and glycoproteins/polysaccharides. Pharmacological studies have shown that cichoric acid, alkamides, and glycoproteins/polysaccharides possess immunomodulatory activity. Therefore they might be considered as active principles and best suited for standardization purposes. Clinical effects have been demonstrated for the expressed juice of the aerial parts of Echinacea purpurea in the adjuvant therapy of relapsing infections of the respiratory and urinary tracts, as well as for alcoholic tinctures of E. pallida and E. purpurea roots as adjuvants in the therapy of common cold and flu.
Article
The effects of daily oral pretreatment for 28 days with the pressed juice of Echinacea purpurea (Echinacin EC31®) or magnesium supplements on the changes in immunological variables in response to a triathlon sprint (mean duration ± SD: 69.5 ± 10.1 min) were investigated in a randomised, placebo-controlled, parallel group study. Forty-two male triathletes (mean age 27.5 years), undergoing regular training, all with a VO(2max) > 52 ml/kg/min, were randomised to one of three treatments. Fluorescence activated flow cytometry analysis of blood cell populations, serum and urine levels of interleukin 6 (IL-6) and soluble interleukin 2 receptor (sIL-2R) together with routine sports laboratory, clinical chemical and haematological variables were determined at baseline (day 0), after treatment (day 28) and 1 h and 20 h after the competition (days 29 and 30). Pretreatment with Echinacin produced slight changes in total peripheral (CD3+) T-lymphocytes, NK (CD3-CD56+) cells and CD8+ lymphocyte counts which remained within the range of baseline variation. In comparison to the placebo group, Echinacin markedly decreased sIL-2R in urine before the competition and enhanced the exercise-induced decrease in serum sIL-2R. It further enhanced the exercise-induced increases in urine IL-6 and serum cortisol. None of the Echinacin-treated athletes developed upper respiratory infections, which were reported by 3/13 and 4/13 subjects treated with magnesium and placebo, respectively. Echinacin appears to reduce sIL-2R release, facilitate IL-6 release in response to exercise and in the present study reduced the documented incidence of respiratory infections, possibly as a result of monocyte/macrophage stimulation.
Article
From freshly pressed juice of aerial parts of Echinacea purpurea and the resultant prepared remedy Echinacin®, various polysaccharides (MG<10 kDa), also inulin-type fructans (MG 6 kDa) and an acidic, highly branched polysaccharide of the arabinogalactan-type (MG 70 kDa) could be detected. The postulated significance of this arabinogalactan for immunomodulation is discussed.
Article
In Northamerican folk medicine Echinacea purpurea L. Moench (purple coneflower) was used as a medicinal plant. Nowadays various formulations containing stabilized or dried pressed juice from Echinacea purpurea as an active ingredient are often administered to treat common colds. These preparations are very well tolerated and safe. Allergic reactions, mainly reversible skin reactions, may occur especially in persons showing hypersensibility after contact with plants from the Compositae family. Pharmacological data let assume purple coneflower pressed juice preparations stimulate the innate immune system and increase the resistance to common colds. In this context the stimulation of the oxidative burst as well as the modulation on monokine secretion by the pressed juice of purple coneflower are reviewed. Also relevant clinical studies are presented concerning the treatment of infections respectively of common cold.
Article
Background Echinacea purpurea stimulates the immune response and is promoted to reduce symptom severity and the duration of upper respiratory tract infections. We sought to determine the efficacy of a standardized preparation of E purpurea in reducing symptom severity and duration of the common cold.Methods A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled design was used. Patients received either 100 mg of E purpurea (freeze-dried pressed juice from the aerial portion of the plant) or a lactose placebo 3 times daily until cold symptoms were relieved or until the end of 14 days, whichever came first. Symptoms (sneezing, nasal discharge, nasal congestion, headache, sore or scratchy throat, hoarseness, muscle aches, and cough) were scored subjectively by the patient and recorded daily in a diary. Kaplan-Meier curves were used to estimate the survival function of time to resolution in each group. The Wilcoxon rank sum test was used to compare time to resolution between the 2 groups.Results One hundred twenty-eight patients were enrolled within 24 hours of cold symptom onset. Group demographic distribution was comparable for sex, age, time from symptom onset to enrollment in the study, average number of colds per year, and smoking history. No statistically significant difference was observed between treatment groups for either total symptom scores (P range, .29-.90) or mean individual symptom scores (P range, .09-.93). The time to resolution of symptoms was not statistically different (P = .73).Conclusions Some studies have concluded that Echinacea effectively reduces the symptoms and duration of the common cold. We were unable to replicate such findings. Further studies using different preparations and dosages of E purpurea are necessary to validate previous claims.
Article
Two patients with acute disseminated encephalomyelitis after repeated injection of extracts from several different plants are described. There was no evidence of prior infection or vaccination. Both patients recovered rapidly after treatment with methylprednisolone. Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis should be considered a rare complication of parenteral therapy with herbal extracts.
Article
Background Echinacea products are among the most popular phytomedicines on the North American market. Since at least half of all pregnancies are unplanned, many women inadvertently use echinacea in their first trimester. Presently, there is a paucity of information regarding the gestational safety of this herb. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the safety of echinacea in pregnancy when used for upper respiratory tract ailments. Patients and Methods The study group consisted of women who were prospectively followed up after contacting the Motherisk Program regarding the gestational use of echinacea. This cohort was disease-matched to women exposed to nonteratogenic agents by maternal age, alcohol, and cigarette use. Rates of major and minor malformations between the groups were compared. Results A total of 206 women were enrolled in the study group after using echinacea products during pregnancy; 112 women used the herb in the first trimester. There were a total of 195 live births, including 3 sets of twins, 13 spontaneous abortions, and 1 therapeutic abortion. Six major malformations were reported, including 1 chromosomal abnormality, and 4 of these malformations occurred with echinacea exposure in the first trimester. In the control group, there were 206 women with 198 live births, 7 spontaneous abortions, and 1 therapeutic abortion. Seven major malformations were reported. There were no statistical differences between the study and control groups for any of the end points analyzed. Conclusions This first prospective study suggests that gestational use of echinacea during organogenesis is not associated with an increased risk for major malformations.
Article
HPLC methods are described for the determination of cichoric acid and alkamides (dodecatetraenoic acid isobutylamides) with an aim towards standardization of Echinacea purpurea preparations prepared from expressed juice. Analysis of commercial samples reveals the present quality status of a selection of these preparations. Regarding alkamides, the content ranges from 0.1 to 1.8 mg/ml. The content of cichoric acid varies more dramatically (0.0–0.4%) likely due to inconsistent inhibition of the enzymatic degradation of cichoric acid.
Article
The effects of drying temperature and final moisture contents on the levels of cichoric acid, echinacoside, chlorogenic acid and polysaccharides in roots of Echinacea purpurea, Echinacea angustifolia, and Echinacea pallida were studied. Increases in drying temperature increased the level of cichoric acid in Echinacea purpurea, and Echinacea pallida. Increases in root moisture increased the level of echinacoside in Echinacea angustifolia, and Echinacea pallida, and increased the level of chlorogenic acid in Echinacea angustifolia. Polysaccharide contents were significantly affected by moisture levels only in Echinacea angustifolia, and Echinacea pallida.
Article
An analytical method based on gas chromatography-mass spectral (GC-MS) analysis was developed as a fast screening tool in order to verify the authenticity of extracts of roots from different species of Echinacea, namely E. angustifolia, E. pallida and E. purpurea. Various extraction methods, i.e. soxhlet extraction, supercritical fluid extraction and maceration with three different solvents, were applied and the extracts were analysed by GC-MS. The chromatograms were evaluated by multivariate data analysis, i.e. cluster analysis, principal component analysis and discriminant analysis, in order to reveal if a classification into the three main species of Echinacea was possible using the information obtained. GC-MS analysis of the extracts of Echinacea, together with multivariate data analysis, displayed substantial classification power since a good separation of the three different species was achieved. This analytical approach was not only suitable for classification but was also sufficiently robust such that no distortion of root samples by ageing occurred. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Article
Pharmaceutical Comparability of Different Therapeutically Used Echinacea RemediesCichoric acid and Dodeca 2E,4E,8Z,10E&sol;Z-tetraenoic acid isobutylamide (alkamides 8,9) are described as immunomodulating active components of Echinacea . We quantified both substances in 25 Echinacea -containing remedies customary in trade. Concerning both active components, we found highly concentrated remedies as well as remedies without any detectable cichoric acid or alkamides. The concentration of both active components varied extremely depending on the type of remedy (homeopathic mother tincture, pressed juice, tablets, spagyric tincture), on the Echinacea -species ( Echinacea angustifolia, Echinacea pallida, Echinacea purpurea ) and on the part of the plant (root, herb, whole plant). Moreover, we found large differences between comparable drugs of different manufacturers and between different charges of the same remedy. We recommend that preclinical and clinical studies with Echinacea -containing drugs should always include the quantification of the potentially active components. We are convinced, that in the long term this will help to clarify how the different active components contribute to the immunomodulating effect of Echinacea.
Article
Alkamides are suspected to contribute to the activity of Echinacea preparations. In preliminary experiments a quantification method for dodeca-2E,4E,8Z,10E/Z-tetraenoic acid isobutylamides in human blood has been developed by which it was possible to detect dodeca-2E,4E,8Z,10E/Z-tetraenoic acid isobutylamides in human blood after oral application of Echinacea purpurea mother tincture. 1 This work is part of the Ph.D. thesis of B. Dietz
Article
We performed a systematic review of controlled clinical trials to check the evidence for the immunomodulatory efficacy of preparations containing extracts of Echinacea. Trials were searched by on-line searches in Medline and Embase, a search in the private database Phytodok, contacts with researchers and drug companies, and by checking references in available articles. All available historically and prospectively controlled trials investigating the prophylactic or therapeutic immunomodulatory activity of preparations of Echinacea alone or in combination with other plant extracts or homeopathic dilutions in humans were included. Study characteristics, results, and conclusions of primary authors were analyzed using standardized evaluation forms and methodological quality assessment using a predefined score system. A total of 26 controlled clinical trials (18 randomized, 11 double-blind) were identified; 6 of these involved testing three different mono-extracts, and 20 involved testing three different preparations also containing other ingredients. Nineteen trials studied the efficacy of the prophylactic or curative treatment of infections; 4 trials the reduction of side-effects of antineoplastic therapies and 3 trials the modulation of various laboratory immune parameters. The primary authors claimed that 30 of the 34 treatment strategies showed a superior efficacy to those of the control groups. The methodological quality of most studies was low and only 8 trials scored more than half of the maximum possible score points. Existing controlled clinical trials indicate that preparations containing extracts of Echinacea can be efficacious immunomodulators. However, the evidence is still insufficient for clear therapeutic recommendations as to which preparation to use and which dose to employ for a specific indication. Further methodologically sound, randomized clinical trials should be conducted.
Article
A review is presented of the data on the safety of the squeezed sap of Echinacea purpurea used as an oral immunostimulant. All articles in which the presence or absence of adverse events of the extract of the flowering coneflower or its constituents was reported were considered, provided that the dose and route of administration as well as the patient population were defined. Case reports and reports of practical experience with the extract of E. purpurea were not considered in detail. All reported adverse events and unexpected findings were considered, together with the possible relation to treatment. While parenteral administration of the squeezed sap of E. purpurea (Echinacin(®)) may be associated with symptoms of immunostimulation (shivering, fever, muscle weakness), these are not generally observed on oral administration. Adverse events on oral administration for up to 12 weeks are infrequent and consist mainly of unpleasant taste. In healthy adults, Echinacin(®) has little or no effect on lymphocyte responses, but has been reported to cause transient lymphopenia in some patients with infections of various etiologies. This effect is probably due to redistribution of activated T cells. It is concluded that the squeezed sap of E. purpurea, widely used in self-medication, is well-tolerated on long-term oral administration.
Article
Echinacea angustifolia roots were dried at 23, 30, 40, 50, and 60°C to determine the effect of drying on chemical constituency. During drying, the concentrations of the alkamides, cis or trans undeca-2-en 8, 10-diyonic acid isobutylamide and cis or trans dodeca-2E, 4E, 8Z, 10-tetraenoic acid isobutylamide, did not decrease at any of the drying temperatures as compared with roots dried at room temperature. In contrast, almost 28 percent and 45 percent of the original echinacoside content was lost, as compared with air-dried controls, if the roots were dried at 30°C and at 60°C, respectively.
Article
A morphometric analysis was conducted of Echinacea Moench (Asteraceae) to measure variation between native populations for taxonomic purposes. Data were collected from living and herbarium specimens. From a matrix of 321 specimens by 74 characters, a pair-wise distance matrix was computed using Gower's coefficient. Cluster strategies were explored from the distance matrix. MODECLUS clustering separated the data into two clusters, and a flexible agglomerative clustering method separated the data into the same two clusters, which were broken into four sub-clusters. Canonical discriminant analysis gave significant support for the two- and the four-cluster solutions. Canonical discriminant analysis also showed support for eight smaller clusters identified using McGregor's 1968 classification. We recognize two subgenera and four species: Echinacea subg. Echinacea contains only E. purpurea; Echinacea subg. Pallida contains E. atrorubens, E. laevigata, and E. pallida. The revised varieties are as follows: E. atrorubens var. atrorubens, E. atrorubens var. neglecta, E. atrorubens var. paradoxa, E. pallida var. angustifolia, E. pallida var. pallida, E. pallida var. sanguinea, E. pallida var. simulata, and E. pallida var. tennesseensis. A cladistic analysis was done on the four species. In the most parsimonious solution, E. purpurea was basally divergent to a clade of the other three species (70% bootstrap value), and all four were distinguishable by at least one apomorphy. A key to Echinacea taxa is provided, which should be valuable given the pharmaceutical and horticultural importance of Echinacea. Communicating Editor: Paul Wilson
Article
The major flavonoid of the aerial parts of Echinacea angustifolia was found to be patuletin-3- O -rutinoside (1), rather than rutin (2), as reported previously. The related amount of patuletin-3- O -rutinoside is 5-8-times higher than that of rutin in the tested samples. Patuletin-3- O -rutinoside also existed in the aerial parts of E. purpurea and E. pallida, and the first complete NMR assignment of patuletin-3- O -rutinoside was made by using 2D NMR techniques. This is the first report of the occurrence of patuletin-3- O -rutinoside in Echinacea species.
Article
The antifungal activity and 5-lipoxygenase-inhibiting activity of extracts of five wild and three commercially used taxa of the genus Echinacea were investigated. The near-UV mediated antifungal bioassays included clinically isolated Cryptococcus neoformans, two Candida albicans isolates (D10 and CN1A) with amphotericin B resistance, as well as established and emerging filamentous fungal pathogens (Trichophyton tonsurans, T. mentagrophytes, Microsporum gypseum and Pseudallescheria boydii). Root extracts of the eight Echinacea taxa showed antifungal activity against most of the pathogenic fungi. The inhibition of the 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) enzyme of the arachadonic acid pathway was determined by HPLC detection of a direct metabolic product (LTB 4) of 5-LOX derived from stimulated rat basophilic cells. Root extracts of the three commercial species of Echinacea (E. purpurea, E. pallida var. angustifolia, E. pallida var. pallida) inhibited the 5-LOX enzyme. E. pallida var. angustifolia was the most potent of the three. The results show that Echinacea spp: have significant antifungal and antiinflammatory activity.
Article
The fibroblast populated collagen lattice was used to study the influence of extracts from roots or herbal parts of Echinacea purpurea on the collagen contracting ability of C3H10T1/2 mouse fibroblasts. Collagen gel contraction was inhibited by herb and root extracts which were added at the time of preparation of the gel. Inhibition was dependent on the amount of extract, the initial cell density and the collagen concentration used for preparation of the gel. When cell density was increased or collagen concentration decreased, the resulting increase in contraction counteracts the inhibitory effect of root extracts strongly, and that of herb extracts to a much lesser extent. The addition of extracts 1 h after preparation of the gel could hardly prevent contraction. Echinacea extracts inhibited the cell morphological changes which are characteristic for fibroblasts contracting a collagen gel. The inhibition of morphological changes parallels the inhibition of collagen gel contraction in many respects. The significance of these observations is discussed in relation to the process of wound healing.
Article
A new method is described combining solid-phase extraction (SPE) and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) for the isolation, purification as well as qualitative and quantitative determination of free phenolic acids in six Echinacea species. Plant extracts were purified and phenolic acids isolated on octadecyl and quaternary amine Bakerbond SPE columns; final eluates were analysed by RP-HPLC. Significant differences in the composition and amount of phenolic acids within Echinacea genus have been shown. The method can be used for quick screening analysis of the content of phenolic acids in plant material.
Article
Among the different species belonging to the Echinacea family, largely used in traditional medicine, Echinacea pallida, Echinacea purpurea and Echinacea angustifolia were investigated. These different species, due to their difficult identification, were commonly confused in the past and probably used indifferently for the same therapeutic purposes. In fact, the three species have in common, some pharmacological activities, based on the presence of active compounds that act additively and synergistically. Nevertheless, the composition of each species has slight variation in the amount of each active component. In particular, echinacoside, a caffeoyl derivative, is present in E. pallida and only in traces in E. angustifolia. It seems to have protective effects on skin connective tissue and to enhance wound healing. The anti-inflammatory and wound healing activities of echinacoside, compared with the ones of the total root extract of E. pallida and E. angustifolia, were examined in rats, after topical application. The tissues of the treated animals were evaluated after 24, 48 and 72 h treatment and excised for histological observation at the end of the experiment. Results confirm the good anti-inflammatory and wound healing properties of E. pallida and of its constituent echinacoside, with respect to E. purpurea and control. This activity probably resides in the antihyaluronidase activity of echinacoside.
Article
From the medium of Echinacea purpurea cell cultures three homogeneous polysaccharides, two neutral fucogalactoxyloglucans with mean Mr of 10 000 and 25 000 and an acidic arabinogalactan with a mean Mr of 75 000, have been isolated by DEAE-Sepharose CL-6B, DEAE-Trisacryl M and Sephacryl S400 column chromatography. Their structures were elucidated mainly by methylation analysis, partial acidic and enzymatic hydrolysis and 13C NMR spectroscopy. The fucogalactoxyloglucan of mean Mr25 000 enhances phagocytosis in vitro and in vivo. The arabinogalactan specifically stimulates macrophages to excrete the tumour necrosis factor (TNF).
Article
Sixty-two commercial dried root and aerial samples of Echinacea purpurea grown in eastern Australia were analysed for the medicinally active constituents, the alkylamides and cichori