Echinacea anti-inflammatory activity

Tubaro, A., Tragni, E., Del Negro, P., Galli, C., and Loggia, R. 1987. Anti-inflammatory activity of a polysaccharidic fraction of Echinacea angustifolia. J. Pharm. Pharmacol. 39, 567-569. 

Two in vitro studies have demonstrated anti-inflammatory activity by various Echinacea preparations. Speroni et al. showed anti-inflammatory activity attributed to echinacosides in E. pallida in rats. Another in vitro study used E. purpurea in mice that had induced paw edema. Only the higher dose used in the study downregulated COX-2 expression. The authors suggested that the anti-inflammatory properties of Echinacea are related to this inhibition (24). 

Tragni E, Galli CL, Tubaro A, Del Negro P, Della Loggia R. Anti-inflammatory activity of Echinacea angustifolia fractions separated on the basis of molecular weight. Pharmacol Res Comm 1988 20(Suppl 5) 87-90. 

Echinacea (Echinacea purpurea) Uses immune system stimulant prevention/Rx of colds, flu as supportive th apy for colds chronic infxns of the resp tract lower urinary tract Action Stimulates phagocytosis cytokine production T resp cellular activity topically exerts anesthetic, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory effects Efficacy Not established may X severity duration of URI Available forms Caps w/ powdered herb equivalent to 300-500 mg, PO, tid pressed juice 6-9 mL, PO, once/d tine 2-4 mL, PO, tid (1 5 dilution) tea 2 tsp (4 g) of powdered herb in 1 cup of boiling water Noles/SE Fever, taste p -version, urticaria, angioedema Contra w/ autoimmune Dz, collagen Dz, progressive systemic Dz (TB, MS, collagen-vascular disorders), HIV, leukemia, may interfere w/ immunosuppressive therapy Interactions t Risk of disulfiram-like reaction W/ disulfiram, metronidazole T risk of exacerbation of HIV or AIDS W/ chinacea amprenavir, other protease inhibitors X effects OF azathioprine, basiliximab, corticosteroids, cyclosporine, daclizumab, econazole vag cream, muromonab-CD3, mycophenolate, prednisone, tacrolimus EMS Possible immunosuppression... 

Benefits Echinacea is held to be one of the most effective detoxifying herbs in Western medicine for a range of ailments, and is now used in ayurvedic medicine. The polyynes and cichoric acid components are reported to have antibacterial and virostatic effects. Echinacea also demonstrates an anti-inflammatory effect due to the alkamides component. As an immune stimulant, it significantly raises immunoglobulin M levels. Antiviral activities against both the Herpes simplex virus Type I and the influenza-A virus have been observed. 

Speroni, E., Govoni, P., Guizzardi, S., Renzulli, C., and Guerra, M. 2002. Anti-inflammatory and cicatrizing activity of Echinacea pallida Nutt, rot extract. J. Ethnopharmacol. 79, 265-272. 

Echinacea has been used topically for wound-healing. The exact mechanism is unknown but is likely caused by antihyaluronidase activity of echinacoside. A study investigating this activity found that E. pallida, which is known to contain echinacoside, had more anti-inflammatory and woundhealing activity in rats after topical application. The effects were much greater with E. pallida compared with E. purpurea and control (22). 

Pharmacology In vitro studies have shown that echinacea has cytokine activation (increased interleukins and tumor necrosis factor) and anti-inflammatory properties. At the clinical level, two reasonably well-controlled studies have documented a reduction in duration of cold S3fmptoms with the use of freshly pressed juice of the aerial parts of E purpurea. 

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