Cyclooxygenase -1/2 inhibition echinacea

Muller-Jakic, B. et al., In vitro inhibition of cyclooxygenase and 5-lipoxygenase by alka-mides from Echinacea and Achillea species, Planta Med, 60, 37, 1994. 

Certain echinacea constituents have demonstrated anti-inflammatory properties in vitro. Inhibition of cyclooxygenase, 5-lipoxygenase, and hyaluronidase may be involved. In animals, application of Epurpurea prior to application of a topical irritant reduced both paw and ear edema. Despite these laboratory findings, randomized, controlled clinical trials involving echinacea for wound healing have not been performed in humans. 

In an in vitro study involving alkamides from Echinacea angustifolia and several Achillea species, 20 compounds tested were relatively potent inhibitors of cyclooxygenase, while a few also inhibited 5-lipoxygenase (Muller-Jakic et al. 1994). The two enzymes are involved in the metabolism of arachidonic acid, the major pathway to inflammation. Considering the structural similarities to arachidonic acid, the authors propose the alkamides act as analogues, competitively inhibiting the enzymes. 

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