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PubMedDate not supplied

Efficacy and mode of action of an immunomodulator herbal preparation containing Echinacea, wild indigo, and white cedar.

Using the example of an allopathic herbal combined preparation containing Echinacea root, wild indigo root, and white cedar leaf tips (Echinaceae radix + Baptisiae tinctoriae radix + Thujae occidentalis herba = Esberitox N), the efficacy and mode of action of a phytoimmunomodulator, or immune system enhancer, is described. Efficacy of the immunomodulator has been demonstrated in studies of acute viral respiratory tract infections and infections requiring antibiotic therapy. In a recent study compliant to GCP, the therapeutic superiority of the herbal immunomodulator over placebo was confirmed as statistically significant and clinically relevant. The present overview describes a model of the antigen-independent mode of action of phytoimmunomodulation ("immunobalancing").

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed2004

Chromosome Karyotypes of Echinacea angustifolia var. angustifolia and E. purpurea.

Chromosome karyotypes of the most commonly cultivated and medicinally used Echinacea taxa, E. angustifolia DC. var. angustifolia and E. purpurea (L.) Moench., were analyzed. The chromosomes of both taxa are medium in length, ranging from 4.12 to 5.83 μm in E. angustifolia var. angustifolia and 3.99 to 6.08 μm in E. purpurea. No abrupt length changes in the chromosomes were noted. The karyotypes of the two species are generally similar, but a distinguishable feature exists in one pair of chromosomes. The centromere of chromosome pair 10 is subterminally located in E. purpurea, but terminally located in E. angustifolia var. angustifolia, which can be readily recognized in mitotic metaphase cell plates. This finding may provide useful information for Echinacea evolutionary, genetic, and breeding studies.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1990

[The effect of Echinacea purpurea Moench on phagocytosis in granulocytes measured by chemiluminescence].

Chemiluminescence was used as an indicator for phagocytic activity of granulocytes induced by zymosan in whole blood. Luminol was used to amplify the luminescence measured. Methods and conditions of the trial were varied and the dependence on the methods applied became evident. The effects of echinacea-extract (Echinacin) and phorbolester (PMA) in various concentrations on phagocytic activity of whole blood heparinized with 10 I.E./ml heparin as well as on phagocytic activity of erytrocytolized blood were investigated. The reaction of the granulocytes--phagocytis and therefore chemilumenescence--under the influence of echinacea extract depends on the doses and methods applied. Therefore standardized methods and investigations of various immunoparameters as well as clinical investigations are necessary to prove the immunostimulative effect of socalled immunotherapeutics. This has not been undertaken up to now. Dose and method dependent single results cannot be a convincing justification for specific therapeutic medication.

Granulocytes↗
PubMed2004

Comparative controlled study of Andrographis paniculata fixed combination, Kan Jang and an Echinacea preparation as adjuvant, in the treatment of uncomplicated respiratory disease in children.

A three-arm study comparing the efficacy of Kan Jang, a fixed herbal combination containing standardized Andrographis paniculata (N.) SHA-10 extract, with Immunal, a preparation containing Echinacea purpurea (L.) extract, in uncomplicated common colds was carried out in 130 children aged between 4 and 11 years over a period of 10 days. The study was designed as an adjuvant treatment of Kan Jang and Immunal with a standard treatment. The patients were assigned to one of the three groups. In control group C; 39 patients received only standard treatment. Kan Jang and Immunal were used as an adjuvant to this therapy in the other two groups. Adjuvant group A; 53 patients treated with Kan Jang tablets concomitant to standard treatment, and adjuvant control group B; 41 patients treated with concomitant Immunal. It was found that the adjuvant treatment with Kan Jang, was significantly more effective than Immunal, when started at an early stage of uncomplicated common colds. The symptoms of the disease were less severe in the Kan Jang group. The effect of Kan Jang was particularly pronounced in two objective parameters, amount of nasal secretion g/day and nasal congestion. Kan Jang also accelerated the recovery time, whereas Immunal did not show the same efficacy. The use of standard medication was significantly less in the Kan Jang adjuvant group than in either the Immunal or standard treatment group. Kan Jang treatment was well tolerated and no side effects or adverse reactions were reported.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed2006

Thidiazuron-induced regeneration of Echinacea purpurea L.: micropropagation in solid and liquid culture systems.

The goals of this study were to investigate thidiazuron (TDZ)-induced morphogenesis of Echinacea purpurea L. and to assess the possibility of developing a liquid-based protocol for rapid micropropagation. Callus development and root organogenesis were observed on leaf explants cultured on media containing 2,4-dicholorophenoxyacetic acid or dicamba, but no plantlets were regenerated. Addition of TDZ to the culture medium as the sole growth regulator resulted in the production of regenerable callus cultures. The highest rate of regeneration was observed for explants cultured on medium with TDZ at 2.5 microM or higher. Tissue derived from 1.0 microM TDZ treatments was used to initiate liquid cultures. All liquid treatments produced a similar number of regenerants but significantly more healthy plants were obtained from cultures grown in the presence of 0.1 and 1.0 microM TDZ. This TDZ-based micropropagation system is the first liquid, large-scale propagation protocol developed for the mass production of E. purpurea plants.

2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid↗
PubMed2003

Dietary supplementation with Echinacea and development of immunity to challenge infection with coccidia.

An experiment was conducted to examine the effects of dietary supplementation with 0.1% and 0.5% ground root preparations of Echinacea purpurea (EP; common name: purple cone flower) on the development of immunity following live vaccination and subsequent challenge with multiple coccidia species in an experimental model using a commercial live vaccine preparation. Effects of immunization and EP supplementation on weight gains before challenge, and weight gains, lesion scores and plasma levels of carotenoids and NO2-+NO3- following challenge were determined. In this experiment, combined live vaccination and feed supplementation with 0.1% or 0.5% EP during the first 2 weeks of life provided significant weight gain advantage compared to live vaccination alone. This advantage persisted through 2 weeks of EP withdrawal and subsequent challenge infection. EP supplementation also significantly lowered total lesion scores but did not significantly modify the effects of vaccination and challenge on plasma carotenoids or NO2-+NO3-.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Determination of the structure and degree of polymerisation of fructans from Echinacea purpurea roots.

Highly water soluble fructans have been isolated from Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench. roots by hot water extraction and precipitation at three different ethanol concentrations (80% v/v, 60% v/v and 40% v/v). The structure of the fructans has been characterised by three analytical methods: GC of silylated oxime derivatives and partially methylated alditol acetates, respectively, as well as 13C NMR analysis. The mean degree of polymerisation (mean DP) of each fructan has been determined by the glucose/fructose ratio. E. purpurea fructans represent linear inulin-type fructans with almost exclusively beta-(2-->1)-linked fructosyl units, terminal glucose and terminal fructose. Small proportions of beta-(2-->1,2-->6)-linked branch point residues were detected. The mean DP of the fructan fractions depends on the ethanol concentration used for precipitation: the lower the ethanol concentration the higher the mean DP. Corresponding results were found with all of the three analytical methods: 80% ethanol-insoluble fructan from E. purpurea shows an average mean DP of 35, 60% ethanol-insoluble fructan of 44 and 40% ethanol-insoluble fructan of 55. The applied methods provide sufficient sensitivity to determine not only the composition and structure but also the mean degree of polymerisation of fructans.

Echinacea↗
PubMed2005

Preparative separation of cichoric acid from Echinacea purpurea by pH-zone-refining counter-current chromatography.

pH-zone-refining counter-current chromatography was successfully applied to the separation of cichoric acid from Echinacea Purpurea (L.) Moench. A 3.0 g quantity of sample was separated using the following two-phase solvent system: MtBE-CH3CN-water (4:1:5, v/v), 10 mM trifluoroacetic acid in organic stationary phase and 10 mM ammonia in aqueous mobile phase. The obtained fractions were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography and negative ion electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. Double separations were performed with the same solvent system yielding 563 mg cichoric acid at 95.6% purity.

Caffeic Acids↗
PubMed2006

High-performance liquid chromatography analysis of polyacetylenes and polyenes in Echinacea pallida by using a monolithic reversed-phase silica column.

In this study, a RP-HPLC method for the analysis of polyacetylenes and polyenes in Echinacea pallida roots and phytopharmaceuticals was developed. The reference compounds used for quantification were isolated from the plant material and their structures were determined on the basis of the analysis of UV, IR, NMR and MS data. The complete structure elucidation of three compounds, namely 8-hydroxy-tetradec-(9E)-ene-11,13-diyn-2-one (1), tetradec-(8Z)-ene-11,13-diyn-2-one (6) and pentadec-(8Z)-en-2-one (9) is described. In the analysis of the n-hexane extracts of E. pallida roots, the comparison between conventional and monolithic columns showed that the elution order in both cases is identical and the selectivity is equivalent. However, the retention times achieved by the monolithic column are shorter, resulting in a faster separation (20 min). Therefore, the analyses were carried out on a Chromolith Performance RP-18e (100 mm x 4.6 mm i.d.), with a gradient mobile phase composed by H(2)O and ACN at the flow rate of 2 mL/min. The column was thermostatted at 20 degrees C. The photodiode array detector monitored the eluent at 210 nm. The validation procedure confirmed that this technique affords reliable analysis of these components and is appropriate for the quality control of complex matrices, such as E. pallida roots and phytopharmaceuticals.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗
PubMed2004

In vivo assessment of botanical supplementation on human cytochrome P450 phenotypes: Citrus aurantium, Echinacea purpurea, milk thistle, and saw palmetto.

OBJECTIVES: Phytochemical-mediated modulation of cytochrome P450 (CYP) activity may underlie many herb-drug interactions. Single-time point phenotypic metabolic ratios were used to determine whether long-term supplementation of Citrus aurantium , Echinacea purpurea , milk thistle (Silybum marianum), or saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) extracts affected CYP1A2, CYP2D6, CYP2E1, or CYP3A4 activity. METHODS: Twelve healthy volunteers (6 women, 6 men) were randomly assigned to receive C aurantium , E purpurea , milk thistle, or saw palmetto for 28 days. For each subject, a 30-day washout period was interposed between each supplementation phase. Probe drug cocktails of midazolam and caffeine, followed 24 hours later by chlorzoxazone and debrisoquin (INN, debrisoquine), were administered before (baseline) and at the end of supplementation. Presupplementation and postsupplementation phenotypic trait measurements were determined for CYP3A4, CYP1A2, CYP2E1, and CYP2D6 by use of 1-hydroxymidazolam/midazolam serum ratios (1-hour sample), paraxanthine/caffeine serum ratios (6-hour sample), 6-hydroxychlorzoxazone/chlorzoxazone serum ratios (2-hour sample), and debrisoquin urinary recovery ratios (8-hour collection), respectively. The content of purported "active" phytochemicals was determined for each supplement. RESULTS: Comparisons of presupplementation and postsupplementation phenotypic ratios suggested that these particular supplements had no significant effect on CYP1A2, CYP2D6, CYP2E1, or CYP3A4 activity. Phytochemical profiles indicated that C aurantium was devoid of the CYP3A4 inhibitor 6',7'-dihydroxybergamottin. Quantities of fatty acids, flavonolignans, and cichoric acid were consistent with label claims for saw palmetto, milk thistle, and E purpurea , respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Botanical supplements containing C aurantium , milk thistle, or saw palmetto extracts appear to pose a minimal risk for CYP-mediated herb-drug interactions in humans. Although the effects of E purpurea on CYP activity were minor, further study into the interaction potential of this botanical is merited.

Adrenergic Agents↗
PubMed2004

Effect of chemical and physical factors to improve the germination rate of Echinacea angustifolia seeds.

Seeds of Echinacea angustifolia are known for their deep dormancy. In this paper, we studied the responses of E. angustifolia seeds to some chemical and physical factors, such as scarification, chilling (5 degrees C) period, light and applied BA (6-benzylaminopurine), GA3 (gibberellic acid) and sound stimulation. When the seed coat layers were removed, the germination rate grew up from 6 to 20% (incubated in light) and the mean time germination (MTG) was reduced from 18 to 6.6 days. On the basis of layers-removed, chilling and continuous light gave significantly higher germination rate (up to 70%). Compare the data of seeds chilled by 0, 6, 12, 18 and 24 days, the maximum germination rate (up to 70%) achieved at 18-days chilling treatment. Further increases in the chilling period could slightly improve germination. Exogenous application of 0.1, 0.2, 0.3 mg/L GA3 or BA in the previous pretreatment increased germination to 78, 90 and 84% or 76, 86 and 84%, respectively. Obviously, the best concentration of GA or BA is 0.3 mg/L. And the GA3 or BA treatment shortened the MTG to about 4 days. The influence of sound stimulation was also tested in the experiment. The result showed that one 100 dB and 1000 Hz sound wave (sine-wave) was beneficial to the germination of E. angustifolia seeds.

Desiccation↗
PubMed2006

Genetic transformation of Echinacea purpurea with Agrobacterium rhizogenes and bioactive ingredient analysis in transformed cultures.

A method of the transformed hairy roots cultures of Echinacea purpurea was established by infecting different types of explants with three type strains of Agrobacterium rhizogenes (A4, R1601 and R1000) in this paper. We obtained that the transformed percentage of E. purpurea leaves with A4, R1601 and R1000 were 80%, 60%, 40%, respectively and that of E. purpurea leafstalks were 10%, 30%, 45%, respectively. The contents of polysaccharides and phenolic compounds were measured in transformed hairy roots and non-transformed roots after 2 months in culture. For transformed hairy roots, the contents of polysaccharides and phenolic compounds were 236.0 and 18.9 mg g(-1) DW, respectively. While the contents of polysaccharides and phenolic compounds in non-transformed roots were 161.5 and 33.3 mg g(-1) DW, respectively.

Echinacea↗
PubMed2005

In vitro and in vivo immune stimulating effects of a new standardized Echinacea angustifolia root extract (Polinacea).

Polinacea is a new standardized hydroethanolic extract obtained from Echinacea angustifolia roots containing echinacoside (>4%), the high molecular weight polysaccharide IDN 5405 (>5%) and a isobutylamide fraction (<0.1%). For in vitro tests, a bacterial lipopolysaccharide-free (LPS-free) Polinacea has been prepared in order to avoid non-specific responses of immunocompetent cells. LPS-free Polinacea enhanced the immune functions as highlighted by the proliferation rate and gamma-interferon production in murine T-lymphocyte cell cultures stimulated by anti-CD3. LPS-free Polinacea did not have a direct role on macrophage response as measured in the nitric oxide production test using the J774 macrophage cells line. In vivo, Polinacea showed an immune stimulating activity by reducing the Candida albicans induced mortality both in normal and in cyclosporin A-treated mice.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Effect on prolactin secretion of Echinacea purpurea, hypericum perforatum and Eleutherococcus senticosus.

It has been recently reported that prolactin (PRL) plays an important role in immune system regulation. In this study we investigated the activity of three natural drugs with immunomodulatory activity: Echinacea purpurea (EP), Hypericum perforatum (HP) and Eleutherococcus senticosus (ES) on PRL production. Male rats were orally treated with two different doses (30 and 100 mg/kg) of extract of these drugs for 3 or 15 days. A 3-day treatment was not able to modify PRL serum levels, whereas a 15-day treatment with EP and HP at the higher dose significantly inhibits PRL production. A treatment with ES was always ineffective. A possible mechanism for this effect could be that both HP and EP extracts display a direct dopaminergic activity, although an involvement of the GABA-ergic system cannot be excluded.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Binding studies of an arabinogalactan-protein from Echinacea purpurea to leucocytes.

Flow cytometric investigations show binding of an isolated arabinogalactan-protein (AGP) from pressed juice of the aerial parts of Echinacea purpurea to the cell surface of human leucocytes. AGP demonstrates binding to lymphocytes, monocytes and granulocytes of different donors (n=8). Competition assays with two antibodies, directed against CD4 and CD8, revealed no interaction of AGP with these receptors, leading to the conclusion that binding of AGP to leucocytes is mediated via other structures.

Echinacea↗
PubMed2005

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, clinical dose-response trial of an extract of Baptisia, Echinacea and Thuja for the treatment of patients with common cold.

The aim of this study was to verify the efficacy and safety of an herbal medication containing an extract of a mixture of Baptisiae tinctoriae radix, Echinaceae pallidae/purpureae radix and Thujae, occidentalis herba (SB-TOX) in the treatment of upper respiratory tract infections (URIs), and to test whether SB-TOX's clinical efficacy is dose dependent. A total of 91 adults (mean age 42.1 +/- 13.0 years) were randomised to receive 19.2 mg of SB-TOX (n=31), 9.6 mg SB-TOX (n=29) or placebo (n=31) three times daily for 3-12 days. Since a "running nose" is the main symptom of a common cold, the total number of facial tissues used throughout the clinical duration of their cold was the primary efficacy parameter. In the intention-to-treat analysis, this total number of tissues decreased with increasing extract dose. The slope across groups according to the Jonckheere test was significant (p = 0.0259). In the high-dose group, the standardised effect size delta/SD was 0.46 compared with placebo. Time to relevant improvement in cold symptoms (measured as the time until less than 30 tissues per day were used) was 1.1 days (95% CI 0.52; 1.67), 0.76 days (95% CI 0.28; 1.24) and 0.52 days (95% CI 0.22; 0.82) in the placebo, low-dose and high-dose groups, respectively (p(LogRank) = 0.0175). No adverse events were reported. This study demonstrates the efficacy and safety of SB-TOX in the treatment of URIs, and that its efficacy is dose dependent.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Effect of oral administration of freshly pressed juice of Echinacea purpurea on the number of various subpopulations of B- and T-lymphocytes in healthy volunteers: results of a double-blind, placebo-controlled cross-over study.

BACKGROUND: In a recent double-blind placebo-controlled crossover-study the "immune stimulatory" effects (activation of macrophages leading to enhanced phagocytosis and production of several cytokines) of Echinacea purpurea preparations (EPP) which were observed in vitro experiments and following parenteral administration could not be confirmed following oral application of the drug in healthy volunteers. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether or not oral EPP has any effect on important lymphocyte-subpopulations. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Forty healthy male volunteers (age range 20-40 years) participated in the study. They received either a commercially available pressed juice of E. purpurea herbs or placebo juice using a double-blind placebo-controlled cross-over design with two treatment periods of 14 days. The total number of lymphocytes and 12 subgroups of lymphocytes were determined by using Flow-cytometry. RESULTS: After 1 week of treatment with verum the mean value of the total number of lymphocytes decreased slightly (-6%, p = 0.033) compared to the initial value. Treatment for 1 and 2 weeks with EPP had only minor effects on two of the 12 subtypes of lymphocytes. No significant changes were observed in the verum period for the following types of cells: T- and B-lymphocytes, CD4 + - and CD8 + -T-lymphocytes including the subgroups of "naive" and "memory" CD4 + - and CD8 + -T-lymphocytes as well as the natural killer cells. Using a modified version of the Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney-U-test, which is claimed to be optimal for the evaluation of the results of studies with a cross-over design, a significant difference was found for the number of CD8 + -T-lymphocytes and natural killer cells corresponding to either a decrease during treatment with verum or an increase in the number of these cells in the placebo period. CONCLUSION: Oral administration of EPP for 1 and 2 weeks has only minor effects on two out of 12 lymphocyte subpopulations determined in the study. The small differences observed in the number of CD8 + -T lymphocytes and natural killer cells are only of questionable physiological relevance.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed2005

High molecular weight constituents from roots of Echinacea pallida: an arabinogalactan-protein and an arabinan.

This investigation shows structural features of two macromolecules from roots of Echinacea pallida (Nutt.) Nutt: an arabinogalactan-protein (AGP) and an arabinan. The arabinogalactan-protein was precipitated with beta-glucosyl Yariv reagent from a high molecular weight fraction. Investigations of the neutral sugar composition revealed Gal (52.1% w/w) and Ara (38.2% w/w) in a ratio of 1.4:1, accompanied by Glc (6.9% w/w) and Rha (2.8% w/w). The content of uronic acids was 6.2%. Mild acid hydrolysis detects Ara and Glc being located at the periphery of the molecule. Linkage analyses and NMR spectroscopy revealed a backbone of the polysaccharide mainly consisting of 3-linked and 3,6-linked Galp-residues. Side chains are composed of 3,6-linked or 6-linked Galp terminating in 5-linked Araf, terminal Araf, Glcp and GlcAp. The protein part (3.9% w/w) of the AGP is rich in Hyp, Ser, Ala, Thr, Glu, Asp and Gly. The amount of Hyp was determined by a colorimetric method and found to be (0.65% (w/w) of the AGP, which is in good agreement with the result obtained by amino acid hydrolysis (0.67% w/w). The arabinan was isolated from the supernatant of the Yariv precipitation on the basis of solubility in EtOH (80%). It mainly consists of Ara (85.8%). Linkage analyses and NMR spectroscopy indicate a highly branched molecule, consisting of 3,5-linked, 5-linked and terminal Araf-residues in equal amounts.

Echinacea↗