Download Echinacea

Echinacea
Is the power in the potion or is the
potion powerless?
Learner Outcomes
1. Students will be able to discuss the
history and uses of Echinacea
2. Students will be able to list the claims
about Echinacea
3. Students will be able to support or deny
claims about Echinacea based on
scientific evidence
4. 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
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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 complex
glycoprotein 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 Tcells 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, placebocontrolled 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.
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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.
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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