Research Article

A proprietary extract from the echinacea plant (Echinacea purpurea) enhances systemic immune response during a common cold

  1. Vinti Goel1,
  2. Ray Lovlin1,
  3. Chuck Chang2,
  4. Jan V. Slama2,
  5. Richard Barton3,
  6. Roland Gahler2,
  7. R. Bauer4,
  8. L. Goonewardene1,
  9. Tapan K. Basu1,*

Article first published online: 21 SEP 2005

DOI: 10.1002/ptr.1733

Issue

Phytotherapy Research

Phytotherapy Research

Volume 19, Issue 8, pages 689–694, August 2005

Additional Information

How to Cite

Goel, V., Lovlin, R., Chang, C., Slama, J. V., Barton, R., Gahler, R., Bauer, R., Goonewardene, L. and Basu, T. K. (2005), A proprietary extract from the echinacea plant (Echinacea purpurea) enhances systemic immune response during a common cold. Phytotherapy Research, 19: 689–694. doi: 10.1002/ptr.1733

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada

  2. 2

    Factors R&D Technologies Ltd, Burnaby, BC, Canada

  3. 3

    Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, BC, Canada

  4. 4

    Institute of Pharmacognosy, Universitaetsplatz 4, A-8010 Graz, Austria

*Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada T6G 2P5.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 21 SEP 2005
  2. Article first published online: 21 SEP 2005
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 13 NOV 2004
  4. Manuscript Received: 8 JAN 2004

Funded by

  • Factors R & D Technologies, Burnaby, BC, Canada

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Keywords:

  • Echinacea;
  • common cold;
  • white blood cell differential count;
  • neutrophil respiratory burst;
  • systemic immune response

Abstract

In a previous paper, it was reported that Echinilin™ (Factors R & D Technologies, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada) a formulation prepared from freshly harvested Echinacea purpurea plants and standardized on the basis of three known active components (alkamides, cichoric acid and polysaccharides) is effective for the treatment of a naturally acquired common cold. However, the mechanism by which this effect is achieved remains unknown. In the present study, Echinilin™ or placebo were administered to volunteers at the onset of their cold for a period of 7 days, with eight doses (5 mL/dose) on day 1 and three doses on subsequent days. Fasting blood samples were obtained before and during their colds. The decrease in total daily symptomatic score was more evident in the echinacea group than in the placebo group. These effects of echinacea were associated with a significant and sustained increase in the number of circulating total white blood cells, monocytes, neutrophils and NK cells. In the later part of the cold, the echinacea treatment suppressed the cold-related increase in superoxide production by the neutrophils. These results suggest that Echinilin™, by enhancing the non-specific immune response and eliciting free radical scavenging properties, may have led to a faster resolution of the cold symptoms. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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