Echinacea Is the power in the potion or is the potion powerless?

EchinaceaIs the power in the potion or is the potion powerless?

Learner Outcomes • Students will be able to discuss the history and uses of Echinacea • Students will be able to list the claims about Echinacea • Students will be able to support or deny claims about Echinacea based on scientific evidence • Students will be able to identify products containing Echinacea

What is it? • A native plant to the central plains of Eastern North America • It’s name comes from the Greek word echino, meaning hedgehog • There are three species: E. purpurea, E. angustifolia, and E. pallida • It grows on road banks, prairies, fields, and in dry, open woods

Echinacea History • It’s use originated by the Plains Indians. • They used it to treat insect bites, snake bites, toothaches, sore throat, wounds, mumps, smallpox, and measles. • It became popular in Europe and America during the 1930’s as a folk medicine.

Claims & Common Uses Claims • That it improves the immune system to help prevent and fight infections Common Uses • To treat and prevent colds, flu, or other infections • To stimulate the immune system in order to help fight infections

Constituents of Echinacea • Essential oil • Polysaccharides • Polyacetylenes • Betain • Glycoside • Sesquiterpenes • Carypohylene • Copper • Iron • Tannins • Protein • Fatty acids • Vitamins A, C, and E.

Components of the Plant That are Thought to be Beneficial • Large polysaccharides (inulin) may increase the production of T-cells and increase other natural killer cell activity • Fat Soluable alkylamides and caffeic acid glycoside (echinacoside)

Theoretical Basis • Echinacea boosts the immune system by increasing the levels of interferon, which may increase phagocytosis, cellular respiratory activity, and lymphocyte activation from the release of tumor necrosis factor, interleukin-1, and interferon beta-2.2.

Interferons(INF’s) • Class of natural proteins produces by the cells of the immune systems of most animals in response to chanllenges by foreign agents such as viruses, bacteria, parasites, and tumor cells. Interferons belong to the large class of glycoproteins known as cytokines.

Interferon Effects • They generally have several effects: antiviral and antioncogenic properties, macrophage and natural killer lymphocyte activation, and enhancement of major histocompatibility complexglycoprotein classes I and II.

Macrophages • Greek: for “big eaters” • Are white blood cells, more specifically phagocytes, acting in the nonspecific defense as well as the specific defense system. Their role is to phagocytize (engulf and then digest) cellular debris and pathogens either as stationary of mobile cell.

Major Histocompatibility Complex • It is the most gene-dense region of the mammalian genome and plays an important role in the immune system, autoimmunity, and reproductive success.

Examples of Glycoprotiens • Molecules such as antibodies (immunoglobulins), which interact directly with antigens • Molecules of the major histocompatibility complex(or MHC), which are expressed on the surface of cells and interact with T-cells as part of the adaptive immune response.

Warnings & Side Effects • Should not be taken with auto-immune disorders such as: TB, leicosis, connective tissue disorders, collagenosis, lupus, and AIDS. • Side effects are rare but include allergic reactions such as rashes and asthma. • They usually occur in people allergic to related plants in the daisy family.

What does Consumer Lab have to say? • 5 products tested by consumer lab failed tests • One had significant lead contamination • Four products mislead consumers about the phenol content (Phenols are the plant chemicals used to judge the quality of Echinacea) • 1 product claimed to have 3-4% total polyphenols and actually had .7% • Other products contained less than 5%, 50%, and 75% of their claimed amount of phenols.

Products and Forms • The above ground parts and roots are made into teas, juices, extracts, or topical forms • Products include capsules, teas, and tinctures.

What Science Says? Article: Echinacea purpurea therapy for the treatment of the common cold. • Randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was held. • Involved 124 participants split into 2 groups. • One group received 100 mg of Echinacea purpurea and the other group received a placebo. • Both groups received doses 3 times a day until their cold was gone or until the end of 14 days. (1)

Article: Treatment of the common cold with unrefined Echinacea • 10 day randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled community-based trial was conducted. • Trial evaluated encapsulated whole-plant Echinacea as a treatment for colds. • 150 people participated and were split into two groups. • One group received a placebo and the other group was given encapsulated Echinacea. • Both groups took 4 capsules 3 times a day. • The use of a 9-point scale survey was administered daily to determine the severity of the cold. (2)

Results • In both articles reviewed there were no findings that suggested Echinacea to be beneficial. • The articles did not support claims made about Echinacea. • In addition to these finding a scientific review evaluating nine other placebo-controlled studies found that Echinacea has little or no effect on treating colds. (3) • All websites that provided information about Echinacea (NOT PRODUCTS) stated that it is not beneficial.

Conclusion • Echinacea is not found to be beneficial at this time. • Do not waste your money on Echinacea products.

Scientific References • Adinoff, A. Echinacea purpurea therapy for the treatment of the common cold: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Pediatrics. 2005; 116: 574-575. • Barrett, P., B., Brown, L., R., Locken, K., & Maberry, R. Treatment of the common cold with unrefined Echinacea: A randomized, double-blind, placeb-controlled trial. Annals of Internal Medicine. 2002; 137: 939-947. • Kiligler, B. Echinacea. American Family Physician. 2003; 67: 77-81. • Knight, V. Echinacea treatment for the common cold. Clinical Infectious Disease.

Useful Websites • National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. nccam.nih.gov • Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Echinacea • Herbal Information Center. www.primary.net/~gic/herb/echin.htm • Consumer Lab. www.consumerlab.com/results/echinacea.asp

Echinacea Is the power in the potion or is the potion powerless?