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Introduction
Published in Namrita Lall, Medicinal Plants for Cosmetics, Health and Diseases, 2022
Talita Turvey, Samantha R. Loggenberg, Namrita Lall
The Echinacea genus consists of herbaceous flowering plants consisting of ten coneflower species which are mainly found in eastern and central North America (Figure 1.1A). Plants of this species have been incorporated into customary treatments against upper respiratory tract infections and minor inflammatory conditions, and are said to improve immunity, high blood pressure, anxiety and skin conditions (Percival, 2000). Echinacea spp. has displayed anti-inflammatory and potential anti-cancer bioactivity (Rad et al., 2018). Although human-focused clinical testing is limited, consumption of Echinacea botanicals has been considered safe for short-term use (Rad et al., 2018; Percival, 2000).
Efficacy, Safety, and Toxicological Aspects of Nutraceuticals
Published in Sheeba Varghese Gupta, Yashwant V. Pathak, Advances in Nutraceutical Applications in Cancer, 2019
Jayvadan K. Patel, Anita Patel
Zinc is an vital trace constituent in humans and supplementation (2 mg/kg/day for 60 days) in children and adolescents with acute leukemia and was effective in relieving chemotherapy-associated side effects (weight loss, malnutrition, nausea, and vomiting) (Consolo et al. 2013). This study demonstrated the safety and physiological benefit of zinc supplementation but did not evaluate the supplementation effects on chemotherapy efficacy (Angka and Spagnuolo 2015). Through this screening researchers have also demonstrated that echinacea, among the most purchased nutraceuticals, hindered the efficacy of acute myeloid leukemia chemotherapy. Echinacea has been shown to increase the cellular concentration of CYP3A, a potent drug metabolizer, which could decrease the plasma concentrations of anticancer drugs that are CYP3A substrates such as cytarabine (Colburn et al. 2004; Penzak et al. 2010). Therefore, given echinacea’s ability to reduce chemotherapy efficacy, cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy should avoid echinacea until further studies can confirm its safety (Angka and Spagnuolo 2015).
Health Care in Prisons *
Published in Andrew Stevens, James Raftery, Jonathan Mant, Sue Simpson, Health Care Needs Assessment, 2018
Tom Marshall, Sue Simpson, Andrew Stevens
Antibiotics are ineffective in treating the common cold.114 However, there is evidence that suggests that some Echinacea preparations may be effective in the prevention and treatment of the common cold.115 There also appears to be a modest benefit in reducing duration of cold symptoms from ingestion of relatively high doses of vitamin C although long-term daily supplementation with vitamin C in large doses does not appear to prevent colds.116 The evidence for the effectiveness of zinc for treating the common cold is inconclusive.117 Intranasal ipatropium bromide spray, and to a lesser extent topical oxymetalozine and some antihistamines, are probably effective for nasal symptoms only.118
Non-interventional observational study broadens positive benefit-risk assessment of an immunomodulating herbal remedy in the common cold
Published in Current Medical Research and Opinion, 2019
Hans-Heinrich Henneicke-von Zepelin, Petra Nicken, Belal Naser, Jennifer-Christin Kuchernig, Nicole Brien, Annette Holtdirk, Jörg Schnitker, Klaus-Ulrich Nolte
There is a lively discussion about whether there is solid evidence that echinacea products effectively treat or prevent the common cold; some groups argue that the evidence is poor10,11,31. This general assessment suffers from the diversity of echinacea preparations tested in clinical trials. However, the product investigated here is not made from echinacea alone, but from a mixture of echinacea, baptisia and thuja. Each of these herbal substances contributes to the overall effect32. Immunological effects of the contained substances were verified in individual test systems33. Activation of macrophages, induction of IgM-titer elevation and enhancement of cytokine production are promoted by this composition of different herbal species and help trigger the infection defense32. Because enhancement of the non-specific immune response leads to a faster recovery, the immunomodulating herbal remedy is able to improve a patient’s discomfort in a short period of time, probably leading to less absenteeism from work or school, or a faster improvement of impaired performance at work or school.
Echinacea biotechnology: advances, commercialization and future considerations
Published in Pharmaceutical Biology, 2018
Jessica L. Parsons, Stewart I. Cameron, Cory S. Harris, Myron L. Smith
Biotechnology centred on species of Echinacea Moench (Asteraceae) has grown substantially in recent decades, owing to the popularity of Echinacea as a natural health product (NHP). Originating in North America and part of the traditional pharmacopeia of Indigenous Peoples (Moerman 1998), Echinacea is now cultivated around the world and has an annual global market value estimated at approximately $1.3 billion (Blumenthal et al. 2003). Despite alternative taxonomies based on molecular, morphometric and phytochemical variation (Binns et al. 2002a), the traditional taxonomy of McGregor (1968) is still widely used and, recently supported by chloroplast genome data (Zhang et al. 2017), recognizes nine species within the genus. Commercial Echinacea preparations contain one or as many as three different species: E. purpurea (L.) Moench, E. angustifolia DC., and less frequently, E. pallida (Nutt.) Nutt., with E. purpurea making up about 80% of commercial production. Other recognized taxa, E. laevigata (C. L. Boynton and Beadle) S. F. Blake, E. atrorubens Nutt., E. paradoxa Norton, E. sanguinea Nutt., E. simulata McGregor and E. tennesseensis (Beadle) J. K. Small, are far less abundant and rarely utilized compared to the commercial species (McKeown 1999). Whereas the commercial species have received extensive research attention, these other Echinacea taxa have received almost none.
A standardized extract of Echinacea purpurea containing higher chicoric acid content enhances immune function in murine macrophages and cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppression mice
Published in Pharmaceutical Biology, 2023
Heggar Venkataramana Sudeep, Kuluvar Gouthamchandra, Illuri Ramanaiah, Amritha Raj, Puttaswamy Naveen, Kodimule Shyamprasad
Preparations from Echinacea have been widely implicated in several physiological benefits such as anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, antiviral and antioxidant properties (Sharma et al. 2006; Ramasahayam et al. 2011). Chicoric acid, a major active principle in E. purpurea extract is documented as a chemical marker to ascertain the quality of preparations from the plant (Zhang et al. 2011). The present study reports for the first time the immunomodulatory functions of a standardized extract from E. purpurea arial parts containing higher content (not less than 4%) of chicoric acid. In the preliminary screening, the extract showed noticeable radical scavenging activity possibly due to the presence of chicoric acid and other polyphenols (Ramezannezhad et al. 2019).