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Echinacea

Echinacea (Black Sampson, Purple Coneflower, Rudbeckia, Missouri Snakeroot, Red Sunflower) has been the subject of hundreds of clinical and scientific studies which have primarily used an extract of the root and aerial portions of the botanical. Echinacea preparations are used internally as urological medicaments, influenza remedies, antiphlogistics and stimulants. Externally they used for treating wounds. Echinacea extracts, particularly Echinacea Angustofolia, are known to stimulate the production of granulocytes, macrophages, leukocytes and lymphocytes. They are also known to inhibit both viral and bacterial activity. Due to the fact that Echinacea was deemed able to increase the resistance to infections, during the first years of the last century its use for the treatment of local and generalised infections became widespread. Echinacea, in particular Echinacea angustifolia, is nowadays highly recommended for the treatment of influenza syndromes and in particular for the treatment of cold, for healing wounds and for the treatment of mycosis. Echinacea contains numerous active phytochemicals, including such as caffeic acid derivatives (e.g., cichoric acid), alkamides (e.g., dodecatetraenoic acid isobutylamides), and glycoproteins/polysaccharides. Although cichoric acid is a particularly beneficial immunostimulant, it is advantageous to consume the full range of the phytochemicals present in Echinacea in order to gain the synergistically beneficial effect. The elimination of any one class of constituents could reduce this beneficial effect. Echinacea extract may be obtained from the following echinacea species: Echinacea angustifolia, Echinacea purpurea, Echinacea pallida. Echinacea purpurea has been known for more than a century as a medicinal herb. Purified polysaccharide fractions from Echinacea were reported to activate macrophages, to mediate action of the phagocyte system and to protect against systemic infections. Echinacea's immunomodulatory activity has been attributed to various actives, including alkylamides, phenolics, polysaccharides, alkaloids, glycoproteins, and flavonoids. Echinacea angustifolia contains alkaloids (Isotussilagine, tussilagine), amides (echinacein, isobutylamides), carbohydrates (echinacin, polysaccharides (heteroxylan and arabinogalactan), inulin, fructose, glucose, pentose), glycosides (echinacoside), terpenoids (Germacrane), Cichoric acid, betaine, methyl-para-hydroxycinnamate, vanillin, phytosterols, and volatile oils. The rich content of polysaccharides and phytosterols in Echinacea are what make it a strong immune system stimulant. The sesquiterpene esters also have immuno-stimulatory effects. Echinacin has also been found to possess anti-fungal and antibiotic properties. This component of Echinacea also has cortisone-like actions which can help promote the healing of wounds and helps to control the inflammatory reactions.

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