Echinacea agustifolia - Echinacea

Description

Echinacea is a herbaceous plant that grows from a thick, black pungent root. The stem is slender but sometimes stout, up to 1 m tall, with bristly hairs. The leaves have three permanent veins, varying from broad lanceolate to lanceolinear, becoming very slender at the petiole. The flower disk starts off concave but becomes ovoid with the receptacle taking on a sharply conical shape. The rays-flowers are narrow, from 2.5 - 5 cm in size, coloured rose to purple and rarely white.

Part used

usually the rhizome and root, sometimes aerial part.

Constituents

(because of confusion in the literature due to misidentification of Echinacea spp. with Pathenium integrifolium only references used after 1986 are being used in this section)(1-4)

Echinacea angustifolia roots: polysaccharides (Inulin and fructose); phenylpropenoids (echinacoside, chicoric acid, cynarine and caffaric acid); alkamides ( complex of isobutylamide, the numbing taste); alkaloid (tussilagine 0.006%) and oils (0.1%, palmitic and linolenic acids).

E. pallida roots: phenylpropenoids (echinacoside and chlorogenic acid); alkamides (trace amounts); polyacetylenes; oils (0.2 - 2.0% ketoalkenynes).

E. purpurea root: polypropenoids (chichoric acid 0.6 - 2.1%); alkamides (complex of isobutylamides); alkaloid (tussilagine and isotussilagine); polysaccharide (fructose based) and oils (0.03 - 0.2%, caryphyllene, humulene, palmitic, linolenic acids and germacrene D.

E. purpurea areal: polypropenoids (chichoric acid ); alkamides ( complex of isobutylamides); flavonoids (rutoside, quercitin, quercetin-7-glucoside and kaempferol-3-rutinoside and essential oils.

It should be noted that the polysaccharides are not soluble in alcohol (Etol), polypropenoid soluble in medium strength Etol and Alkamides only in very strong Etol. The constituents desired in the final product will help determine if the product should be a powder (capsule or tablet), tea, or tincture.

Mode of Action

Echinacea (mucopolysaccharide component, echinacin) has a cortisone-like activity which inhibits hyaluronidase enzyme that is associated with inflammation and swelling. This is accomplished by maintaining the structure and integrity of collagen matrix in connective tissue and ground substance. Echinacea also increases the cell growth of fibroblasts, activates macrophages, regenerates new tissue and eliminates infectious organisms.(5-8)

One of the major components, inulin, activates the alternate complement pathway thus promoting chemotaxis of neutrophils, monocytes and eosinophils, solubization of viruses, and bacteriolysis. Other polysaccharides have also shown significant immunostimulatory effect: stimulating T-lymphocytes, the production of interferon and secretion of lymphokines.(9-11)

The term most used these days for the action of Echinacea on the immune system is immuno-modulation, as it seem to stimulate in some conditions, sedate in others and moderate in still other conditions. There has been much speculation over the immune stimulation effect. Some feel that it could cause, or at least be contraindicated, in autoimmune disease such as MS, AIDS and Chronic fatigue syndrome. Extensive studies have been done on this, with no clinical or pharmaceutical evidence that the various form of Echinacea are contraindicated in these conditions.(12,13)

Another area of debate is Echinacea`s long term use: many feel that Echinacea will loose its effectiveness after being used for five to ten days. This concept started from the miss translation of a few German graphs, one from an oral double blind study with E. purpurea versus placebo. In this graph, it clearly shows that phagocyte action increased up by 120% over five days, slowly going down to only 20% above placebo after 11 days. At first glance this might appear to indicate it loses effectiveness, but at a closer look, one will find that the subjects where only using Echinacea extract for five days. In fact the study shows it still has action up to six days after it use is stopped.(14) There have been several studies that have shown that there is no problem with long term use. One study showed no adverse effect for Echinacea used for 12 weeks.(15) Another study showed that immune function was better after 10 weeks of continue use than at 2 weeks, which was also significantly better than before therapy started.(16)

Echinacea (most likely a lipid-soluble and/or polar fractions ) has also been shown to increase properdin that stimulates alternate complement pathways, thus mediating antibiotic and antineoplastic activity. These same components have shown significant inhibition of the growth of Walker carcinosarcoma and lymphocytic leukemia.(17) In far advanced colorectal cancer, echinacin along with chemotherapy, increased the survival time of patients taking it over other not taking it.(18,19)

The antiviral and anti-tumor effect of Echinacea is mostly like due to an interferon beta-2 and interleukin-1 activity. The antiviral effect has been shown effective against viruses such as influenza, herpes and vesicular stomatitis virus. Blocking of the receptor site of the virus on the surface of the cell membranes is the mechanism. Inhibition of hyaluronidase or related to T-cell excitation and the transcription of viral RNA is also suspected.(20,21) Antibacterial properties are relatively mild but have be proven effective against Staphylococcus aureus, Corynebacterium diphtheria, and Proteus vulgaris.(22)

The polysaccharides in Echinacea has shown significant anti-fungal action from systemic infection such as Candida albicans and Listeria monocytogenes.(23)

Therapeutic Action

Alterative, diaphoretic, sialagogue, immune system stimulant.

Energetics

Holmes lists Echinacea as having pungent, salty and a cool, dry property, with secondary qualities of stimulating, calming, restoring, and dissolving. Echinacea enters the Lung and Colon meridians, influences the blood, lymph, plasma, skin, stomach, and urogenital organs. The organism is air, warmth and fluid.(24) Tierra describes Echinacea as bitter, pungent and cool, entering the Lung, Stomach and Liver meridians.(25) Wood suggest its signature is for inflammation both septic and irritated. Specific for swollen glands and veins in arms or legs. He suggest it to be a ``farmers remedy`` useful for people that have ‘over worked` and where exhausted, especially if they had skin condition such as boils or deep dirty looking skin. Topically for sting, and bites (insect and snake).(26)

Folklore

This herb has been extensively used in North America by Western herbalists since the time of the Electics. They recognized it as an alterative and used it for its blood cleansing quality. This attribute was initially discovered by the Indians who used it for snake bites. Over this period of time it has been used for infections, boils, syphilis and as a general antiseptic.(27)

Well over a dozen Native American tribes, primarily in the Great Plains area, are known to have used Echinacea spp. for medicinal purposes. No clear pattern emerges of the type of usage but analgesic, antispasmodic and antidote uses are noted.(28)

Dosage(29)

Powder - 15 - 30 grains - three to six times daily
Tincture - 10 - 60 drops
Fluid extract - 1/2 - 1 tsp (2.5 - 5 ml) - three to six times daily.

Since various constituent are soluble in different mentrums, variation in preparation can often determine therapeutic effect. I use powder herb (capsule and tablet) for a immune prophylactic and other chronic conditions (long term) and as a tincture for short periods of time to boost the immune system at the first stage of a cold flue. (See discussion above under constituents) To get around solubility problems of the constituents, some practitioners make a decoction first, then add concentrated alcohol to the hot decoction (carefully), thus getting more of the active ingredient into the resulting extract. Some phytochemists feel that doing the opposite, making a tincture first and then a decoction of the resulting marc to be better.

Toxicity and Contraindications

Most authorities feel there is no toxicity, others have listed several. Even though there is no clear clinical evidence, some authorities, such as Commission E and PDR for Herbal Medicine, say Echinacea purpurea is contraindicated in auto-immune disease (see discussion above, under mode of action). Others believe some people are allergic to it and that because of this, it is contraindicated in asthma. Since there are 10`s of millions of doses to these plants used monthly, if any significant contraindications where present, more case would be observed.

Many feel that it should not be used extensively during pregnancy due to the blood cleaning quality of these plants.

Official Recognition and Medical References

UK - General Sales List BPH, monographs 1990, p. 81
Commission E - E. purpurea herb only, p. 123
PDR for Herbal Medicine, p. 816-823

References

1. Snow, J.M.; Echinacea Spp; The protocol journal of Botanical Medicien Vol 2 (2) p. 18-24
2. Lawrence Review; Echinacea; Natural Product; Dec. 1996
3. Awang DVC; Herbal Medicine Echinacea; Canadian Pharm J; Nov 1991 p. 512-516
4. Bauer, R., Wagner; Echinacea speicies as potential immunostimulatiry drugs; Economic and Medicinal Plant research; Vol. 5, NY Academic Press 1991 p. 253-321.
5. Koch, E., and Haaze, H., Arzneimittel Forschung 2, 464, 1952.
6. Koch, E., Uebel, Arzneimittel Forsch. 1, 16, 1953.
7. Busing, K.H., Hyaluronidase-hemmung durch echinacin, Arzneimittel Forsch. 2: p. 467-9, 1952.
8. Kuhn, O., Arzneimittel Forsch. 1, 194, 1953.
9. Mose, J., Effect of echinacin on phagocytosis and natural killer cells., Med. Welt 34:1463-7, 1983.
10. Wagner, V., Proksch, A., et al., Immunostimulating polysaccharides (heteroglycans) of higher plants / preliminary communication, Arzneimittel Forsch. 34:659 -60, 1984.
11. Vomel, V., Influence of a non-specific immune stimulant on phagocytosis of erythrocytes and ink by reticuloendothelial system of isolated perfused rat liver of different ages, Arzneim. Forsch. 34:691-5, 1984.
12.Bone, K.; Echinacea: Usesful for Auto-immune disease?The Euopean J. of Herbal Med, Vol 3 (3) Winter 97-98, p. 13-17
13. Medi Herb, Internation Phytomedicine Conference report part 2; Echinacea Safety Defended; Dec. 1996, p. 1
14. Jurcic, K., et al Zeitschrift fur Phtyother; 1989;10;p. 67
15. Parnham, M.J.; Phytomedicine 3, 1996, p. 95
16. Coeugniet, E.G.; Kuhnast R. Therp. 36, 1986, p. 3352
17. Voaden, D.J., Jacobson, M., Journal of Medicinal Chemistry 15(6), 619-23, 1972.
18. Lersch, C., et al; Nonspecific immunostimulation with low doses of cyclosphamide (LDCY), thymostimulin and Echinacea purpurea extract (echinacin) in patients with far advanced colorectal cancer; Cancer Invest 10(5), 1992, p. 343
19. Leung, A.Y. and S. Foster, Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients: Used in Food, Drugs, and Cosmetics, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, 1996, p. 216 - 220
20. Wacker, A., Hilbig, W., Virus-inhition by echinacea purpurea, Planta Medica 33:89-102, 1978.
21. Hopp, E., and Burn, H., Ground substance in the nose in health and infection, Annal. Otto. Rhino. Laryngol. 65:480-9, 1956.
22. Cizmarik, J., Matle, I., Examination of the chemical composition of propolis I: Isolation and identification of the 3,4 dihydroxycinnamic acid (caffeic acid) from propolis, Experentia 26:713, 1970.
23. Strinmuller C, Roesler J, et al; Polysaccharides isolated from plant tissue of Echinacea purpurea enhance the resistance of immunosuppressed mice against systemic infection with Candida albican and Listeria monocytogenes; Int J. Immunopharm. Vol 15(5), 1993, P605-614
24. Holmes, P., The Energetics of Western Herbs (2 vols.), Artemis Press, Boulder CO, 1989, p. 681-683.
25. Tierra, M., Planetary Herbology, Lotus Press, Santa Fe, NM, 1988, p. 190-191.
26. Wood, M., The Book of Herbal Wisdom: Using Plants as Medicines, North Atlantic Books, Berkeley, 1997, p. 243-250.
27. Grieve, M., A Modern Herbal, Jonathan Cape, London, 1931, p. 265.
28. Moerman, D.E., Medicinal Plants of Native America, University of Michigan Museum of Anthropology, Technical Reports, Number 19, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 1986, Vol.1, p. 156.
29. Santillo, H., Natural Healing with Herbs, Hohm Press, Prescott Valley, AZ, 1984, p. 112.