Antiviral echinacea

Echinacea extracts appear to stimulate the number and activity of immune cells (i.e., increasing physiological levels of tumor necrosis factor and other cytokines) and to increase leukocyte mobility and phagocytosis. The extracts also have antiviral and antiinflammatory properties and inhibit bacterial hyaluronidase. 

Some in vitro studies have reported weak antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, and antioxidant activity with echinacea constituents. The applicability of these findings to clinical trials is discussed below. 

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. 

Echinacea is believed to have antiseptic, antiviral, and peripheral vasodilator properties. Traditionally, it has been used for furunculosis, septicemia, nasopharyngeal catarrh, pyorrhea, tonsillitis, and specifically for boils, carbuncles, and abscesses. Scientists are currently researching its immunostimulant action. 

The CAP have been reported to inhibit HIV type 1 (HIV-1) integrase and HIV-1 replications at concentrations as low as 10 p,M (McDougall et al., 1998 King et al., 1999 Reinke et al., 2002). Cichoric acid inhibited 50% of the integrase activity and blocked HIV-1 infections by 50% at concentrations of 0.3 and 4 p,M, respectively (Robinson et al., 1996a,b). Hexane extracts of Echinacea roots were found to have antiviral activity against the Herpes simplex virus type 1 at a 0.12 mg/ml concentration (Binns et al., 2002d). 

Binns, S., Hudson, J., Merali, S., and Arnason, J. 2002d. Antiviral activity of characterized extracts from Echinacea spp. (Heliantheae Asteraceae) against Herpes simplex virus (HSV-I). Planta Med. 68, 780-783. 

Echinacea species (coneflower, black Sampson hedgehog, Indian head, snakeroot, red sunflower, scurvy root) have become increasingly popular, particularly for the prophylaxis and treatment and prevention of cold and flu symptoms. However, the claimed efficacy of Echinacea in the common cold has not been confirmed in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (20) or a systematic review (21). Echinacea is claimed to have antiseptic and antiviral properties and is under investigation for its immunostimulant action. The active ingredients are glycosides (echinacoside), polysaccharides, alkamides, and flavonoids. 

Other genera from the Anthemideae tribe also showed a broad spectrum of antiviral activity. Extracts of eight taxa from the genus Echinacea were found to have antiviral activity against HSV-1 in vitro [54], The most potent inhibitors of HSV-1 were Echinacea pallida Bins, Baum Arnason var. sanguinea (Nutt.) Gandhi Thomas 70% ethanol inflorescence extract and Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench hexane root extract. 

Eight different varieties of Echinacea were found to have antiviral activity against Herpes simplex virus (HSV) Type I in vitro. The two most potent inhibitors found were ethanol extracts of E. pallida var. sanguinea and n-hexane extracts of E. purpurea (13). 

Some substances in Echinacea appear to have antiviral activity. Thus, the herb is sometimes taken to treat or prevent the common cold, a use for which it has received official approval in Germany. 

The preparations are featured with combining probiotics and prebiotics (mannans and glucans on cell walls of yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae), and phytobiotics of the medicinal plants - Echinacea purpurea and holy thistle. Echinacea has immunomodulatory properties. Echinacea preparations exhibit antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal properties. When intaking the Echinacea preparations at metabolic disorders, at the impact of different chemical compounds of toxic nature, contained in the feed (heavy metals, pesticides, insecticides, fungicides), a stimulation of the immune system has been observed. 

The in vivo anti-viral activity has partially been demonstrated (Fusco et al. 2010). The in vivo experiment of polysaccharide extract fiom Echinacea purpurea, a widely consumed botanical product, indicated that mice infected with WSN influenza A and treated with E. purpurea polysaccharide extract had less weight loss than untreated mice but similar pulmonary viral titers. Echinacea-treated mice had lower systemic and pulmonary KC and IL-10 levels and lower systemic IFN-y levels following influenza infection. These suggest that E. purpurea alters the clinical course of influenza infection in mice through modulation of cytokines and not direct antiviral activity. 

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