Echinacea

Native Americans have been using Echinacea medicinally since 1800's as a natural remedy for infections and inflammation. Echinacea has been used widely for prevention of the common cold, and to stimulate immune response to fight against virus-related diseases such as herpes, influenza, canker sores, etc. Echinacea also appears to have value in the defense of tumor cells. Although there are several types of echinacea, each having a slightly different appearance, only 3 of them have been used in American folk medicine: Echinacea purpurea, Echinacea angustifolia and Echinacea pallida. The plants grow in central North America from Texas to southern Canada. They produce single, long-stalked, attractive, terminal flower heads up to 15 cm in diameter and can withstand high temperatures and humidities.

Echinacea was well used by Native Americans for centuries, from whom the knowledge was adopted and the herb widely used by the Eclectic physicians in the late 1800s and early 1900s. In 1909 it was stated to be of no medicinal value by the American Medical Association and its use greatly declined. However studies carried out from the 1930s onward, many in Germany, supported the use of echinacea and it quickly regained popularity, to become one of the most popular herbs in use in the present day.

Echinacea is known to increase resistance to infection. Its historical uses include fevers, infections and snakebites - hence the name 'snakeroot'. Grieve notes its effectiveness for boils, erysipelas, septicaemia, cancer, syphilis, diphtheria and putrid fevers.¹  The specific indications for echinacea listed in the BHP are boils, carbuncles and abscesses, with other indications listed such as furunculosis, septicaemia, nasopharyngeal catarrh, pyorrhoea and tonsillitis.²  The German Kommission E monograph notes echinacea's usefulness "to support and promote the natural powers of resistance of the body, especially in infectious conditions ... as an alterative ... and as a diaphoretic and antiseptic".³

There are two active ingredients in echinacea that are responsible for its therapeutic properties: echinacosides, found in the roots and flowers, and polysaccharide heteroxylan, found in the leaves. Clinical studies show that echinacea extracts improve white blood cell count and create other immune responses. It is also an effective herbal antibiotic. A study done with over 200 children found that the group who took echinacea, along with two other herbs, had fewer colds and, when they did get sick, had fewer days of fever. Similar results were observed in studies with upper respiratory tract infections and viral infections.

There has been concern regarding the use of echinacea for those with a tendency to allergic reactions, especially against Asteraceae. However risk is minimal with root preparations. Also, as proteins, such as those in pollen which may cause an allergic reaction, are denatured by alcohol, it is unlikely that allergic reactions could be caused by the use of alcoholic extracts or tablets based on dried alcoholic extracts.

Another concern which has been voiced regarding echinacea is that it increases cytokines, which provoke the inflammatory response in asthmatics. However this reaction was found in a study based on constituents in vitro. A clinical study based on oral echinacea showed no detectable effect on cytokine production by lymphocytes. As the use of echinacea acts to reduce the frequency of respiratory viral infections which are known to aggravate asthma, many herbalists hold the view that echinacea is beneficial for asthma.

Another concern was raised by the Commission E monograph, regarding the use of echinacea in progressive systemic disorders. It stated that, "In principle [echinacea is] not to be used in progressive conditions such as tuberculosis, leukosis, collagenosis, MS, AIDS, HIV infection, and other autoimmune disorders"1. However this claim is not supported by any solid evidence such as clinical trials or other reliable evidence. Many herbalists hold the view that echinacea is of value in such disorders due to the beneficial effect it has on the immune system.

None reported.

Echinacea Research

Hu C, Kitts DD J Agric Food Chem 2000 May;48(5):1466-72

Researcher at the department of Food, Nutrition and Health, Faculty of Agricultural Science at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada, examined the antioxidant activity of Echincaea root extract.  Methanol extracts of freeze-dried Echinacea (E. angustifolia, E. pallida, and E. purpurea) roots were examined for free radical scavenging capacities and antioxidant activities.  Root extracts of E. angustifolia, E. pallida, and E. purpurea were capable of scavenging hydroxyl radical.  Meanwhile, antioxidant activities of all three varieties of Echinacea were found to delay the formation of conjugated diene hydroperoxide induced by the thermal decomposition of 2, 2'-azobis(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride and extend the lag phase of peroxidation of soybean liposomes.   Echinacea root extracts suppressed the oxidation of human low-density lipoprotein, as evaluated by reduced agarose electrophoretic mobility following oxidative modification by Cu(2+). The mechanisms of antioxidant activity of extracts derived from Echinacea roots included free radical scavenging and transition metal chelating.

Currier NL, Miller SC, "Natural killer cells from aging mice treated with extracts from Echinacea purpurea are quantitatively and functionally rejuvenated", Exp Gerontol 2000 Aug 1;35(5):627-639.

Echinacea purpurea was tested on natural killer (NK) cells of aging mice to assess its immuno-stimulating effect. Assessment was made of the numbers and production of NK cells in the spleen and bone marrow of aging, normal mice, after in vivo dietary administration of E. purpurea for 14 days, or after injection of thyroxin, a stimulant of NK cell function, for 10 days. Methods of assessment were immunoperoxidase labeling techniques coupled with hematologic tetrachrome staining, and double immunofluorscence staining using propidium iodide. Results showed that E. purpurea contains phytochemicals capable of stimulating de novo production of NK cells, as well as augmenting their cytolytic function, in animals of advanced age.

Sun LZ, Currier NL, Miller SC, "The American coneflower: a prophylactic role involving nonspecific immunity", J Altern Complement Med 1999 Oct;5(5):437-46.

In this study echinacea root was provided daily in the diet of normal mice for either 1 or 2 weeks so as to establish its possible mechanism of action. Assessment was made of quantitative dynamic changes with time on both mature and precursor cells of all the hemopoietic and immune-cell lineages in the spleen and bone marrow. The results showed that natural killer cells and monocytes were significantly increased in both the bone marrow and the spleen one week after beginning treatment with echinacea, while the sizes of all other hemopoietic and immune cell populations remained at control levels.

Lindenmuth GF, Lindenmuth EB, "The efficacy of echinacea compound herbal tea preparation on the severity and duration of upper respiratory and flu symptoms: a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled study", J Altern Complement Med 2000 Aug;6(4):327-34.

Over a study period of 90 days an echinacea compound herbal tea preparation (Echinacea Plus) or placebo were given randomly to 95 people at early symptoms of cold or flu in a double-blind study. Two weeks after beginning the programme each person completed a questionnaire to assess the efficacy, number of days the symptoms lasted, and number of days for change. Results showed significant effectiveness of echinacea in all three areas. No negative effects were reported.

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