What Is Medicine Use of Echinacea?

China has an abundance of traditional Chinese veterinary medicine resources and a solid research foundation, including research on traditional Chinese veterinary medicines such as astragalus and ginseng that improve immune function. In practical farming, the use of traditional Chinese veterinary medicine to improve the immune function of livestock and poultry is the primary choice for preventing and controlling immunosuppressive diseases and improving the immune effect of vaccines, ensuring the healthy, rapid and stable development of China's farming industry.

1 Biological characteristics of Echinacea

Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench. is a perennial herb in the family Asteraceae, native to the central and eastern United States and southern Canada [1]. It is widely valued for its strong immune-enhancing and anti-inflammatory effects [2-3]. It has been introduced and cultivated in many European countries as well as in New Zealand and Australia in Oceania [4-5]. It is now one of the most in-demand plant medicines on the international market. According to the American Whole Food magazine, it ranked first in the US herbal medicine market for three consecutive years from 1995 to 1997. There are eight species and several varieties in the genus [1, 6-7]. Echinacea purpurea, Echinacea angustifolia DC. and Echinacea pallida Nutt. are the three species that have been developed for medicinal use. In recent years, there have been reports of the introduction of these species into China [8-9]. There is a large amount of research literature on Echinacea, focusing mainly on pharmacology [10-11], phytochemistry [12-13], and cultivation [14]. Echinacea is widely used in the West and is a world-famous “immune” herb. It has outstanding anti-infective and immune-promoting effects, and can enhance the body's resistance to bacterial and viral infections by stimulating the body's immune system.

2 Main active ingredients of Echinacea

The main medicinal parts of Echinacea are the underground parts (roots, rhizomes), stems or aboveground parts. They mainly contain various components such as polysaccharides, caffeic acid derivatives, essential oils, polyacetylene, alkylamides and flavonoids [15]. They are good immunomodulators and stimulants that can treat colds, flu, inflammation, rheumatism and sore throats. It is one of the very few herbal medicines in the world that has been found to have the dual effects of boosting immunity and anti-inflammation, with a wide range of therapeutic applications and stable efficacy [15-17]. Echinacea extracts (Echinacea purpurea, Echinacea root, Echinacea angustifolia root, etc.) and preparations have been among the top sellers for many years, and have attracted a great deal of attention in Europe and the United States. Currently, there are about 300 types of echinacea or its compound preparations used in clinical settings abroad, and echinacea preparations are becoming increasingly popular worldwide. Since its introduction to China, Echinacea has gradually been recognized as having similar effects to Astragalus, a traditional antiviral and immune-enhancing Chinese herb, and is widely used in antiviral Chinese herbal medicines.

In recent years, it has been successfully introduced in Beijing, Shanghai, Nanjing, Hunan, Anhui and other places in China, and related research has also been carried out. After the successful introduction of Echinacea in South China, South China Agricultural University conducted systematic and in-depth research on its agricultural traits and biology, providing scientific data and better resources for in-depth research and application of the medicinal parts of Echinacea grown in the south.

Echinacea purpurea is native to the Americas and is a traditional Indian medicine that has been used for hundreds of years to treat trauma, snake bites, headaches and colds [18]. Bauer (1989) [19] analyzed the caffeic acid in echinacea and found that the active ingredients are mainly concentrated in the roots. Both the above-ground parts and the roots of echinacea contain caffeic acid derivatives in their ethanol extracts. Echinacea roots contain 0.6% to 2.1% of caffeic acid derivatives, mainly including cichoric acid, caftaric acid, caffeic acid and chlorogenic acid. Among these, cichoric acid is the main caffeic acid derivative concentrated in the roots. Studies have shown that Echinacea purpurea root contains 0.01% to 0.04% amino alcohols, mainly a mixture of 2,4-diene, dodecane-2E, 4E, 8Z-10E/Z-tetraenoic acid isobutamide isomers, and the content of this mixture was measured to be 0.004% to 0.0395% using HPLC [10, 19-21].

Studies have shown that isobutyramidine is very high in the roots of Echinacea purpurea, and usually causes local reactions such as tingling or numbness of the tongue. It can inhibit the metabolism of arachidonic acid into inflammatory prostaglandins, thereby exerting an anti-inflammatory effect [22]. The content of alkylamides changes with the growth cycle of Echinacea purpurea. Usually, the content in the aboveground parts gradually decreases as the plant grows, while the root content gradually increases with plant growth [23]; the alkyl amides contained in the roots have different structures, while the alkyl amides contained in the aboveground parts are compounds with similar structures [24]; studies have shown that Echinacea root contains 9 alkyl substances, and Mohammd et al. [25] (2002) used GC-MS to analyze the methanol extract of Echinacea root and detected 11 fat-soluble components. In addition, the roots of Echinacea purpurea also contain polyacetylene derivatives, polysaccharides (fructans), glycoproteins (of which 64% to 84% of the dominant sugar is arabinose, 1.9% to 5.3% galactose, and 6% glucosamine), and more than 0.2% essential oils (such as caryophyllene, humulene, eugenol epoxide) [6, 19, 26-29].

Compared with Echinacea angustifolia and Echinacea purpurea, Echinacea purpurea root also contains the characteristic component verbascoside (also known as acteoside), but does not contain the caffeic acid derivative echinacoside ( Echinacoside is found in higher concentrations in the roots of Echinacea angustifolia and Echinacea pallida [30-31]. Echinacea angustifolia mainly contains cynarin, while the characteristic compound of Echinacea pallida is echinacoside.

3. Composition and physiological differences between the roots and aerial parts of Echinacea

The main components of the aerial parts of Echinacea purpurea include caftaric acid, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, chicoric acid, as well as cynarin, echinacoside and alkenes [32-33], but the content of alkylamide compounds is low.

Compared with the above-ground parts of Echinacea purpurea, the roots do not contain echinacoside. The main components are (1R,3R)-bis-caffeoyl-lactone (1R,3R-di-caffeoyl-tartaric acid) and caffeic acid (mono-caffeoyl-tartaric acid). These active ingredients play an important role in promoting phagocytosis, and (1R,3R)-di-caffeoyl-lactone is also the main active ingredient in the above-ground parts of Echinacea purpurea [29]. Cichoric acid is abundant in fresh Echinacea flowers and roots, at 1.2%–3.1% and 0.6%–2.1%, respectively, and is less abundant in leaves and stems.

The medicinal parts of Echinacea purpurea are mainly the roots and rhizomes, where the main active ingredients are concentrated. Li Peng et al. [34] (2007) compared the structure of the medicinal parts of Echinacea purpurea and its relationship with the accumulation of polyphenolic compounds. The results showed that the structure of the roots and rhizomes of Echinacea purpurea is similar to that of general perennial herbaceous plants. the parenchymatous cells are the storage sites for the polyphenols in the medicinal parts of Echinacea purpurea. The polyphenols are mainly distributed in the cortex and phloem of the root, where there are special secretory canals.

The active ingredients of Echinacea purpurea are mainly concentrated in the root, which has good immune activity. It is currently the most widely used immune regulator and immune stimulant in the world. Studies have shown that the ethanol extract of Echinacea purpurea root has a certain promoting effect on the phagocytic function of granulocytes. At a mass concentration of 1.0×10-4 mg/mL, the phagocytic function of granulocytes is 33% higher than that of the control group, and it exhibits various immune regulatory effects in vitro.

Cichoric acid is the main active ingredient in the roots of Echinacea purpurea, and its content in different parts of Echinacea purpurea ranges from 0.6% to 3.1%, with the content in the roots of Echinacea purpurea ranging from 0.6% to 2.1%. Studies have shown that cichoric acid has the activity of stimulating phagocytosis, inhibiting hyaluronidase, and protecting collagen from the effects of free radicals that can lead to degradation [35]. Recent studies have also shown that chicoric acid has the effect of inhibiting HIV-1 and HIV-1 integrase.

Wolfram et al. [36] (1999) used Echinacea to feed horses and found that it can effectively stimulate the immune activity of horses by increasing the bactericidal ability of neutrophils and the number of peripheral lymphocytes. Feeding chickens with Echinacea as a feed additive can significantly increase their body weight and reduce coccidial infection. After oral administration of Echinacea to mice, Sadigh et al. found that γ-globulin, WBC, neutrophil and monocyte counts, and immune activity were significantly enhanced. In addition, Echinacea has a significant inductive effect on cytochrome P450 3A activity.

Echinacea root contains glycoproteins such as arabinose and galactose, which can dose-dependently stimulate the phagocytic function of macrophages and also stimulate activated macrophages to secrete β2-interferon [37]. Sun et al. found that Echinacea root extract can significantly increase the number of NK cells and monocytes in normal male rats. The polysaccharide components in the root of Echinacea purpurea can stimulate the proliferation of mouse B lymphocytes and enhance the humoral immune function of mice [38]. Wager [32] (1981) and others have pointed out through research that the high molecular weight polysaccharide components in the root of Echinacea purpurea have immunostimulatory effects, can stimulate the proliferation of mononuclear lymphocytes and the activity of macrophages, which causes macrophages to release tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin (IL-1, IL-6) and interferon β-2 (IFNβ-2). The polysaccharide fraction of Echinacea purpurea stimulates the phagocytic function of macrophages; stimulates the proliferation of T lymphocytes; and significantly increases the number of spots in the haemolytic spot test, thereby significantly enhancing humoral immunity. The VSV infection test shows a weak interferon-like effect that inhibits virus growth.

Studies have shown that the polysaccharide components of Echinacea root also have antifungal effects, such as against Trichophyton interdigitalis and Candida albicans. Echinacea root extract (1:1000) can completely inhibit the growth of Trichophyton interdigitalis, and the polysaccharides contained in Echinacea root have an inhibitory effect on Candida albicans infection.

Echinacea was used as a traditional anti-inflammatory medicine in North America and Europe, and by Native Americans to treat wounds, toothache, snakebites and sepsis. In Western countries, it is used to treat upper respiratory tract diseases (cold, flu, etc.), skin diseases (acne, boils, hemorrhoids and wounds), allergic diseases (asthma) and sore throats. The root of Echinacea purpurea contains a high amount (0.004% to 0.0395%) of the polyunsaturated isobutylamide, which is a local anesthetic. It also has immunomodulatory effects, can prevent inflammation caused by pathogens, exhibits strong anti-inflammatory activity, and can be used to prevent and treat bacterial infections. In addition, an ethanol extract of Echinacea purpurea root was shown to be effective in treating colds and speeding up recovery in a controlled double-blind trial.

The high molecular weight polysaccharides in the root of Echinacea purpurea, such as arabinose and galactose, can stimulate macrophages and exert anti-inflammatory activity. It has been reported that Echinacea purpurea extract has varying degrees of inhibitory effects on Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Staphylococcus epidermidis. Its clinical antibacterial effect and mechanism may be related to its immunostimulatory activity. Canlas et al. [39] (2010) reported that Echinacea purpurea extract can inhibit the proliferation of parasites in the body and has a good control effect on inflammation caused by parasitic infections.

Echinacea root also contains essential oils such as humulene, borneol, and vanillin, which have anthelmintic effects. Echinacea can kill tumor cells by stimulating macrophages to produce tumor necrosis factor, interleukin, interferon, etc. Abdul et al. reported that echinacea can significantly reduce the plasma concentration of benzylidene acetone. Miller [40] (2005) reported that some components of echinacea root also have anti-aging and anti-cancer effects.

In summary, Echinacea root is rich in active ingredients such as echinacoside, monocaffeoyl tartaric acid, volatile oil, and polyphenols. It has anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and immunostimulatory pharmacological effects, and has broad application prospects in the green breeding of livestock and poultry.

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