Purple coneflower

A perennial plant centred around a solid branched stem with a slightly coarse texture (hairs). Depending on its biotype, it can measure between 60 and 150 cm – Leaves with petioles or almost sessile, depending on whether they are attached to the base of the stem or higher up on the plant – Flower, with a long peduncle, in the shape of a little “sun hat”, with a domed, cone-shaped dark red or orange centre that is hard and spikey, like a little hedgehog, given the origin of its name (echinus).

Latin name

Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench

Origin

North America.

Used part

The whole plant.

Active components

Polysaccharides, phenolic compounds (caftaric acid, cichoric acid) and alkylamides: these substances have proven antiseptic and anti-inflammatory immunomodulating action.

Usage

Traditionally, Echinacea angustifolia was used by the native people of North America: the root was applied to treat snake bites, coughs and headaches or generally as an analgaesic. The likelihood is that the wrong plant was brought to Europe at the start of the 20th century, namely Echinacea purpurea, and was used to prevent and treat chills. Scientific studies of the different types of Echinacea (on the parts of the plant, the types of extracts and concentrations used) have been compared. The results were indistinct and unclear. The result was that researchers have lost confidence in the efficacy of “echinacea”. Nonetheless, clinical studies have shown that Echinacea purpurea can be used effectively to support the immune system. _1-7 It can be taken proactively to prevent upper respiratory tract infections _8-10 and to soothe the mouth and throat. _11-24

Bibliographical references

Macrophage Activation and Induction of Macrophage Cytotoxicity byPurified Polysaccharide Fractions from the Plant Echinacea purpurea
Infection and Immunity, Dec. 1984, p. 845-849 Vol. 46, No. 3
M. Stimpel, A. Proksch, H. Wagner, and M.-l. Lohmann Matthes
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6389368
In vitro effects of echinacea and ginseng on naturalkiller and antibody-dependent cell cytotoxicity in healthy subjectsand chronic fatigue syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndromepatients.
See DM, Broumand N, Sahl L, Tilles JG.
Immunopharmacology. 1997 Jan;35(3):229-35.
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9043936
Natural killer cells from aging mice treated with extractsfrom Echinacea purpurea are quantitatively and functionallyrejuvenated.
Currier NL, Miller SC.
Exp Gerontol. 2000 Aug;35(5):627-39.
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10978684
Immunopharmacological activity of Echinacea preparationsfollowing simulated digestion on murine macrophages and humanperipheral blood mononuclear cells.
Rininger JA, Kickner S, Chigurupati P, McLean A, Franck Z.
J Leukoc Biol. 2000 Oct;68(4):503-10.
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11037971
Alkylamides of Echinacea purpurea stimulate alveolarmacrophage function in normal rats.
Goel V, Chang C, Slama JV, Barton R, Bauer R, Gahler R, BasuTK.
Int Immunopharmacol. 2002 Feb;2(2-3):381-7.
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11811940
Echinacea stimulates macrophage function in the lung andspleen of normal rats.
Goel V, Chang C, Slama J, Barton R, Bauer R, Gahler R, BasuT.
J Nutr Biochem. 2002 Aug;13(8):487.
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12165361
Enhancement of innate and adaptive immune functions bymultiple Echinacea species.
Zhai Z, Liu Y, Wu L, Senchina DS, Wurtele ES, Murphy PA,Kohut ML, Cunnick JE.
J Med Food. 2007 Sep;10(3):423-34.
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17887935
Enhancement of natural killer cells and increased survivalof aging mice fed daily Echinacea root extract from youth.
Brousseau M, Miller SC.
Biogerontology. 2005;6(3):157-63.
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16041619
Evaluation of echinacea for the prevention and treatmentof the common cold: a meta-analysis.
Shah SA, Sander S, White CM, Rinaldi M, Coleman CI.
Lancet Infect Dis. 2007 Jul;7(7):473-80.
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17597571

10. Echinacea in the prevention of induced rhinovirus colds:a meta-analysis.
Schoop R, Klein P, Suter A, Johnston SL.
Clin Ther. 2006 Feb;28(2):174-83.
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16678640
Community Herbal Monograph on Echinacea purpurea (l.)Moench, herba recens
Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products
Doc. Ref. EMEA/HMPC/104945/2006
European Medicines Agency:http://www.ema.europa.eu/docs/en_GB/document_library/Herbal_-_Community_herbal_monograph/2009/12/WC500018263.pdf
Planta Med. 1994 Feb;60(1):37-40.
In vitro inhibition of cyclooxygenase and 5-lipoxygenase byalkamides from Echinacea and Achillea species.
Müller-Jakic B, Breu W, Pröbstle A, Redl K, Greger H, BauerR.
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8134414
Echinaforce and other Echinacea fresh plant preparationsin the treatment of the common cold. A randomized, placebocontrolled, double-blind clinical trial.
Brinkeborn RM, Shah DV, Degenring FH.
Phytomedicine. 1999 Mar;6(1):1-6.
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10228604
The efficacy of echinacea compound herbal tea preparationon the severity and duration of upper respiratory and flu symptoms:a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled study.
Lindenmuth GF, Lindenmuth EB.
J Altern Complement Med. 2000 Aug;6(4):327-34.
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10976979
Bioactivity of alkamides isolated from Echinacea purpurea(L.) Moench.
Clifford LJ, Nair MG, Rana J, Dewitt DL.
Phytomedicine. 2002 Apr;9(3):249-53.
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12046867
In-vivo and in-vitro anti-inflammatory effect ofEchinacea purpurea and Hypericum perforatum.
Raso GM, Pacilio M, Di Carlo G, Esposito E, Pinto L, Meli R.
J Pharm Pharmacol. 2002 Oct;54(10):1379-83.
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12396300
Antifungal and Anti-inflammatory Activity of the GenusEchinacea
Merali S.; Binns S.; Paulin-Levasseur M.; Ficker C.; SmithM.; Baum B.; Brovelli E.; Arnason J.T.
Pharmaceutical Biology Volume 41, Number 6, September 2003 ,pp. 412-420(9)
Ingenta Connect:http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/tandf/phbi/2003/00000041/00000006/art00003
A proprietary extract from the Echinacea plant (Echinaceapurpurea) enhances systemic immune response during a common cold.
Goel V, Lovlin R, Chang C, Slama JV, Barton R, Gahler R,Bauer R, Goonewardene L, Basu TK.
Phytother Res. 2005 Aug;19(8):689-94.
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16177972
Macrophage activating effects of new alkamides from theroots of Echinacea species.
Chen Y, Fu T, Tao T, Yang J, Chang Y, Wang M, Kim L, Qu L,Cassady J, Scalzo R, Wang X.
J Nat Prod. 2005 May;68(5):773-6.
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15921428

20. Alcohol extracts of Echinacea inhibit production ofnitric oxide and tumor necrosis factor-alpha by macrophages invitro.
Zhai Z, Haney D, Wu L, Solco A, Murphy PA, Wurtele ES, KohutML, Cunnick JE.
Food Agric Immunol. 2007 Sep;18(3-4):221-236.
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18458735
Echinacea species and alkamides inhibit prostaglandinE(2) production in RAW264.7 mouse macrophage cells.
LaLone CA, Hammer KD, Wu L, Bae J, Leyva N, Liu Y, Solco AK,Kraus GA, Murphy PA, Wurtele ES, Kim OK, Seo KI, Widrlechner MP,Birt DF.
J Agric Food Chem. 2007 Sep 5;55(18):7314-22.
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17696440
Echinacea alkylamides modulate induced immune responsesin T-cells.
Matthias A, Banbury L, Bone KM, Leach DN, Lehmann RP.
Fitoterapia. 2008 Jan;79(1):53-8. Epub 2007 Aug 11.
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17855021
Echinacea alkylamides modulate TNF-alpha gene expressionvia cannabinoid receptor CB2 and multiple signal transductionpathways.
Gertsch J, Schoop R, Kuenzle U, Suter A.
FEBS Lett. 2004 Nov 19;577(3):563-9.
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15556647
Efficacy of Echinacea purpurea in patients with a commoncold. A placebo-controlled, randomised, double-blind clinicaltrial.
Schulten B, Bulitta M, Ballering-Brühl B, Köster U, SchäferM.
Arzneimittelforschung. 2001;51(7):563-8.
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11505787