Echinacea purpurea (Purple Echinacea) : medicinal properties in alcoholic extraction

Echinacea purpurea (Purple Echinacea) — family Astéracées.

Recognised external sources linked to this monograph: French Pharmacopoeia.

This database documents alcoholic (ethanol) extractions of active substances. Our monograph currently lists 14 indications in alcoholic extraction for this species. The monograph draws on 125 scientific references recorded for the species.

Therapeutic indications in alcoholic extraction:

Note: scientific reference excerpts are kept in their original language (most often English), without translation, to respect the source text of publications.

1. Viremia : Plant part used: Aerial parts.
   According to Merali S (2003): Antifungal & anti-inflammatory activity of the genus Echinacea. According to Author (2012): Recent studies have revealed that certain standardized preparations contain potent & selective antiviral & antimicrobial activities.
2. Cancer : Plant part used: Flower.
   According to Tsai YL (2012): The aims of this study were to provide a preliminary validation of the effects of 50% aqueous ethanol extract of E purpurea flowers & its major compound, Chicoric acid, on human colon cancer cells Caco-2 & HCT-116. It is also a popular product used in anticancer therapy. According to Mac-Cann DA (2007): In the first set of experiments, PBMCs were stimulated in vitro with tinctures alone & assayed for proliferation & production of interleukin-10 (IL-10), IL-12, & tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha).
3. Immunodeficiency : Plant part used: Aerial parts.
   According to Khaksary -Mahabady M (2006): There are many reports that the teratogenic effects of phenytoin, especially cleft palate can be decreased by stimulation of maternal immune system. It is concluded that Echinacea can stimulate immune system more than levamisole & has better prophylactic effect on incidence of phenytoin-induced cleft palate, but it is not significant. According to Randolph RK (2003): Regulation of human immune gene expression as influenced by a commercial blended Echinacea product: preliminary studies.

Further indications (including other extraction modes where applicable), dosages, precautions for use and full scientific references are available in the complete monograph.

Photo credit : Photo by Tempkraeuter without modification (CC BY-SA 3.0). License : CC BY-SA 3.0.