29 June 1998 Ethnobotanical Uses
How It Works
Conservational Considerations
Conclusion
Echinacea, commonly known as the purple coneflower, is a genus of perennial herb, native to the United States. The Plant has been used for centuries by the Native Americans and has several ethnobotanical uses. Echinacea grows wild in several States including Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin. 1 There are nine separate species in this genus, but three have become very popular in the realm of medicinal botany. These species are E. angustifolia, E. purpurea, and E. pallida. Echinacea received its name from the Greek word “echinos” meaning sea urchin or hedgehog due to the characteristic, prickly seed heads they produce. 2,3 The three species listed above vary slightly in appearance and medicinal use. E. purpurea displays larger ovate leaves while E. augustifolia has more oblong, almost lance-shaped foliage. E. pallida is slightly taller than the other two with longer, narrower ray flowers.3 Ethnobotanical Uses
Back to TopEchinacea has been heralded as a panacea, a cure-all for whatever ails you. The Native Americans have used and continue to use Echinacea for curing rabies, snakebites, abscesses, dermal inflammations, toothaches, tonsillitis, bellyaches, bowel cramps, eye infections, colds and sore throats, sore mouth and gums, colic, boils, smallpox, rheumatism, arthritis, mumps, measles and cancers. Echinacea root extract also contains topical anesthetic properties. Shaman from the Omaha tribe applied freshly macerated root to the forearms and hands so that they could prove their healing power by reaching into boiling pots of water to pull out pieces of simmered meat. 3 How It Works
Back to TopEchinacea produces several biologically active chemicals which appear to have general immuno-stimmulatory affects. These chemicals include terpenes, polyacetylenes, alkanes, amides, and phenolics. 4 In addition to these compounds, Echinacea also produces numerous polysaccharides, polar caffeic acid derivatives and lipophilic alkylamides. The alkylamides are the substance that produces the anesthetic affect felt on your tongue after chewing on Echinacea root. The alkylamides also display some insecticidal properties.5 Although most of the claims made on Echinacea’s broad healing power are not clinically proven, more that 350 scientific studies have been performed in Europe, primarily in Germany to figure out how Echinacea works and how it should be used. 1 Almost all of the studies performed point to Echinacea’s outstanding immuno-stimulatory affects. In 1992, a study of Echinacea’s ability to ward off and suppress cold and flu-like symptoms in humans was performed. In a double blind, placebo-controlled study, 108 patients received a dose of 2 - 4 mL of fresh Echinacea juice extract. These patients were compared to the 54 patients who had received a placebo and it was found that the patients receiving the juice extract “had a decreased frequency of infections, a longer interval between infections, a reduction in the average duration of colds, and less severe symptoms. 6 How does it work. Well, the complete mechanism of Echinacea’s immuno-stimmulatory affects are as of yet, still unknown. However, in 1971, a few Italian scientists discovered a polysaccharide that appeared unique to Echinacea. The polysaccharide was thus affectionately named Echinacin B. Further studies have showed that Echinacin B temporarily increases hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid is found in the connective tissues that hold cells together. As more hyaluronic acid becomes available, connective tissue forming cells called fibroblasts increase in numbers. This in turn, benefits the body’s natural wound healing properties and adds to the integrity of the skin. 3 Many bacteria travel through the skin by producing the enzyme hyaluronidase which helps break down the connective tissue between cells. 2 Another polysaccharide responsible for the activity against hyaluronidase is 4-O-methyl-glucuronoarabinoxylan. Its structure was finally determined in 1986, 15 years after its discovery in 1971. 8 It has also been suggested that “Echinacea stimulates the immune system by binding to carbohydrate receptors on the cell surfaces of T-lymphocytes which in turn induces their nonspecific transformation, production of interferon, and the secretion of other lymnphokines. These lymphocytes trigger the activation of phagocytic macrophages and natural killer cells which are responsible for the destruction of bacteria and tumor cells respectively. T-lymphocyte transformation also results in the increase of cytotoxic killing by these cells which search out and destroy virus infected cells. The anti-viral activity of Echinacea preparation appears to be directly related to the release of interferon by T-cells and other undifferentiated parenchymal cells (i.e. fibroblasts). The interferons bind to cell surfaces and stimulate the synthesis of intracellular proteins that block the transcription of viral RNA, and in effect prevent viral infection.”7 It has been recently discovered that fucogalactoxyloglucan, another polysaccharide, enhances phagocytosis in vitro and in vivo and that another substance known as arabinogalactan “specifically stimulates macrophages to excrete the tumor necrosis factor.”9 Conservational Considerations
Back to TopDue to Echinacea’s increasing popularity, demand for the herb has created several conservational considerations. In 1994 in the State of Missouri, a law was passed to help protect the few remaining natural stands of Echinacea flower. Harvesting E. purpurea on state park land, highways, state forest land, and wildlife areas was made illegal with a $1,000 fine and a year in jail. Over 280 Echinacea containing products are now commercially available. 10 While this is positive for a wild plant, this dormancy causes large problems when attempts to grow Echinacea take place in a green house. E. augustifoliaappears to be the hardest seed to germinate. To help overcome this several techniques have been developed. Echinacea seeds, particularly those of the species E. augustifolia, require stratification in order to germinate at a higher yield. Germination is enhanced when the seeds are placed in a moist media such as sand or peat and kept at 0C for 1 month. 11 It is then suggested that the seedlings are then transplanted into a raised bed set at 46 cm apart in a soil pH of 5.9-7.0. 12 Conclusion
Back to TopEchinacea is an amazing specimen of the herbal family. Not only is this wildflower beautiful but it possesses a unique and unsurpassed ability to stimulate our immune systems. So the next time you feel a cough or cold creeping in on you, run to your medicine cabinet and grab your Echinacea extract. Oh, by the way, Michael T. Murray, N.D. recommends that doses should be taken three times a day at the doses below: References- Dried root (or as tea): 1-2 g - Freeze-dried plant: 325 - 650 mg - Juice of aerial portion of E. Purpurea stabilized in 22% ethanol (preferably standardized to contain a minimum of 2.4% beta-1,2-fructofuranosides): 2-3 mL13 1. Locklear, James H. (1995). “Elixir of Echinacea.” American Horticulturist. June 1995, pp. 17 - 20.
2. Murray, Michael T., N.D. (1995). “Echinacea: Pharmacology and clinical applications.” The American Journal of Natural Medicine. January/February 1995, pp. 18 - 24.
3. Kindscher, Kelly. (1989). “Ethnobotany of Purple Coneflower (Echinacea angustifolia, Asteracea) and Other Echinacea Species.” Economic Botany. 1989, pp. 498-507.
4. Reese, R. N. And Viles, A. L. (1995). “Allelopathic Potential of Echinacea angustifolia D. C.” Environmental and Experimental Botany. 1996, pp. 39-43.
5. Burgess, Elaine J., Parmenter, Graeme A., Perry, Nigel B. and Van Klink, John W. (1997). “Alkamide Levels in Echinacea purpurea: A Rapid Analytical Method Revealing Differences among Roots, Thizomes, Stems Leaves and Flowers.” Planta Medica. 1997, pp. 58-62.
6. Foster, Steven. (1997). “Plants and Your Health. Echinacea: Nothing to Sneeze At.” The American Gardener. January/February. 1997, pp. 24-25.
7. Morning, S. E. (1984). “Echinacea, a natural immune stimulant and treatment for viral infection.” Botica Analytica. 1984, pp. 123-126.
8. Proksch, Angelika and Wagner, Hildebert. (1986). “Structural analysis of a 4-O-methyl-glucuronoarabinoxylan with immuno-stimulating activity from Echinacea purpurea.” Phytochemistry. 1987, pp. 1989-1993.
9. Schafer, Wolfram, Stuppner, Hermann, Wagner, Hildebert and Zenk, Meinhart. (1987). “Immunologically active polysaccharides of Echinacea purpurea cell cultures.” Phytochemistry. 1988, pp 119-126.
10. Cobb, Greg, Samfield, Dina Margaret, and Zajicek, Jayne M. (1991). “Rate and Uniformity of Herbaceous Perennial Seed Germination and Emergence as Affected by Priming.” Journal of the American Society of Horticultural Science. 1991, pp. 10-13.
11. Bratcher, Carima B., Cole, Janet C., and Dole, John M. (1993) “Stratification Improves Seed Germination of Five Native Wildflower Species.” HortScience. 1993, pp. 899-901.
12. Albrecht, Mary Lewnes and Smith-Jochum, Christine. (1988). "Transplanting or Seeding in Raised Beds Aids Field Establishment of Some Echinacea Species.” HortScience. December 1988, pp. 1004-1005.
13. Hobbs, Christopher, L.Ac. (1990). “Echinacea; The Immune Herb.” Interweave Press, Colorado.
