ECHINACEA

Echinacea purpurea root.

Vitaklenz: 100mg

Vitaklenz for Kidz: not present

Hailing from North America, this herb was apparently used for hundreds of years for such diverse conditions as syphilis, dysentery, toothache, throat infections and snakebite; archaeological evidence of use only dates back to the 18th century. 1 2 By the 19th Century Echinacea had become the most widely used plant drug in the USA. 3 It was used in various forms as an aphrodisiac, to relieve headache and stomach pains, improve appetite and ease nausea and fevers. Echinacea root was chewed to treat colds & sore throats. 4 It is listed as an antibacterial, candidacide & trichomonicide in James Duke’s Handbook of Medicinal Herbs. 5

Historically echinacea has been taken for septicemia, migraines, streptococcus infections, syphilis, typhoid, malaria and diphtheria. Often Echinacea is included with in combination with other herbs to treat or prevent colds and other upper respiratory infections. 6 7 Although there are several species of the echinacea plant, only 3 are used for medicinal purposes (Echinacea angustifolia, Echinacea pallida, and Echinacea purpurea). 8 The success of echinacea for respiratory infections is well documented. 9 10 11 12 This comes as no surprise, as echinacea is an immune stimulant. 6 11 13 14 Echinacea increases the number of white blood cells and spleen cells, elevations in body temperature and reproduction of T-helper cells. 10

A double-blind, placebo-controlled study indicated that 450 mg/day of Echinacea purpurea root extract significantly relieved the severity and duration of flu symptoms. 4 Echinacea is used as an antiviral, an immune stimulant, and to relieve urinary tract infections and yeast-related disorders. Extracts from Echinacea purpurea add to the body’s resistance to bacterial and viral infection and have shown indirect antiviral activity. 7 13 15

Despite debate over the effectiveness of echinacea to treat and prevent common colds, meta-analyses have confirmed its effectiveness in the prevention of symptoms for rhino-induced colds and reduces the risk of recurrent respiratory tract infections and complications. 16 17 18 The broad anti-viral actions of Echinacea purpurea extracts have also demonstrated clinical success against SARS-CoV-2, with a specific inhibitory action noted against spike protein. 19 20 The anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, antioxidant and organoprotective effects of E. purpurea, along with its integration of antiviral and antibacterial activities, show promise in controlling symptoms, disease worsening, secondary infections, complications, progression and resultant death in COVID-19. 21

Aqueous extract of E. purpurea was able to reduce tachyzoites and brain cysts in mice infected with T. gondii. 22 Various extracts of echinacea have shown the ability to inhibit growth and inflammatory activity of Leishmania and Trypanosoma protozoan parasites. 23

Investigations have confirmed the cytotoxic effect of E. purpurea to bacteria associated with dental caries, significantly decreasing dental plaque and the incidence of gingivitis as compared to chlorhexidine. Studies have shown the superiority of extracts prepared from whole herb Echinacea as an antibacterial agent. 24 This is critical front-line care in ICUs where intubation promotes plaques and oral infections caused by nosocomial pathogens. One study has shown a significant increase in phagocytic activity when echinacea mouthwash was used, noting that echinacea was more effective in disinfecting and reducing microorganism of the oropharyngeal region than chlorhexidine. 25

E. purpurea has shown promise in the prevention of adverse effects from the exposure to ionising radiation on human blood cells in vivo. Its remarkable radioprotective capacities are achieved through free radical scavenging performed by polyphenols, which stimulate apoptosis and enhance monocyte-macrophage activity without inducing inflammation. 26

Echinacea has antifungal properties, and there is evidence that several echinacea compounds interfere with fungal cell wall processes by, amongst other processes, upregulating cell wall components such as chitin. Attacking the cell walls of fungi is among the most desirable targets in the development of anti-fungals. 27

A total of 26 controlled clinical trials in Germany were conducted on immunomodulatory activity of echinacea prior to 1994. After reviewing the 34 test treatment groups, 22 were considered to have given results indicating echinacea’s positive effects on the immune system, particularly with regard to upper respiratory infections. 15 Both in vivo & in vitro immunostimulant activity in mice has been documented for echinacea. 28

Lab studies in mice have shown that arabino-galactins from Echinacea purpurea provide protection against certain test microorganisms. Results showed a 100% preventative effect against lethal C albicans infections and “very good preventative effect” against lethal Listeria & Leishmania infections. 29

Due to its interference with anti-convulsant drugs, echinacea has been contraindicated for use with epilepsy medication. Nevertheless, the alkylamides from E. purpurea hydroalcoholic root extract have been demonstrated to be anticonvulsive and antiepileptogenesis in a study on male wistar rats. 30

Echinacea is considered safe when taken orally for up to 8 consecutive weeks of daily use. Despite the safety of E. angustifolia, E. purpurea and E. pallida being clinically safe for use during pregnancy and lactation, 31 due to the insufficient evidence echinacea should still not be recommended while pregnant or breastfeeding.

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References:

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Vimalanathan S, Shehata M, Sadasivam K, Delbue S, Dolci M, Pariani E, D'Alessandro S, Pleschka S. Broad Antiviral Effects of Echinacea purpurea against SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern and Potential Mechanism of Action. Microorganisms. 2022 Oct 29;10(11):2145. doi: 10.3390/microorganisms10112145. PMID: 36363737; PMCID: PMC9694187.
Nagoor Meeran MF, Javed H, Sharma C, Goyal SN, Kumar S, Jha NK, Ojha S. Can Echinacea be a potential candidate to target immunity, inflammation, and infection - The trinity of coronavirus disease 2019. Heliyon. 2021 Feb;7(2):e05990. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e05990. Epub 2021 Feb 8. PMID: 33585706; PMCID: PMC7870107.
Gasparotto Junior A, Cosmo ML, Reis Mde P, Dos Santos PS, Gonçalves DD, Gasparotto FM, Navarro IT, Lourenço EL. Effects of extracts from Echinacea purpurea (L) MOENCH on mice infected with different strains of Toxoplasma gondii. Parasitol Res. 2016 Oct;115(10):3999-4005. doi: 10.1007/s00436-016-5167-2. Epub 2016 Jun 9. PMID: 27277433.
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Yazdanian M, Rostamzadeh P, Alam M, Abbasi K, Tahmasebi E, Tebyaniyan H, Ranjbar R, Seifalian A, Moghaddam MM, Kahnamoei MB. Evaluation of antimicrobial and cytotoxic effects of Echinacea and Arctium extracts and Zataria essential oil. AMB Express. 2022 Jun 15;12(1):75. doi: 10.1186/s13568-022-01417-7. PMID: 35705727; PMCID: PMC9200929.
Safarabadi M, Ghaznavi-Rad E, Pakniyat A, Rezaie K, Jadidi A. Comparing the Effect of Echinacea and Chlorhexidine Mouthwash on the Microbial Flora of Intubated Patients Admitted to the Intensive Care Unit. Iran J Nurs Midwifery Res. 2017 Nov-Dec;22(6):481-485. doi: 10.4103/ijnmr.IJNMR_92_16. PMID: 29184589; PMCID: PMC5684798.
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Gholami M, Amri J, Pazhoohan S, Sadegh M. Anticonvulsive and anti-epileptogenesis effects of Echinacea purpurea root extract, an involvement of CB2 receptor. J Complement Integr Med. 2021 Aug 31;19(4):879-886. doi: 10.1515/jcim-2020-0219. PMID: 34461009.
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