The synthesis of the alkamides 2Z,4E-undeca-2,4-dien-8,10-diynoic acid isobutyl amide (1) and 2Z,4E-undeca-2,4-dien-8,10-diynoic acid isobutyl amide (5) was accomplished by organometallic coupling followed by introduction of the doubly unsaturated amide moiety. The distribution of these two amides in accessions of the nine species of Echinacea was determined.

Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench, a top selling botanical medicine, is currently of considerable interest due to immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, antiviral and cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2) binding activities of its alkylamide constituents. The purpose of these studies was to comprehensively profile the alkylamide (alkamide) content of E. purpurea root, and to compare yields of alkylamide cons...

The multiresistance of bacteria to antibiotics, as well as the lack of new antibiotics on the market encouraged the reasearch of antibacterial activity of non-antibiotic substances including plant extracts. During the previous decades, it has been proven that extracts of certain plants have a strong antibacterial activity, but their clinical use was limited due to the presence of organic solven...

Seeds from five lots each of Echinacea angustifolia DC, and E. pallida (Nutt.) Nutt. were germinated in a growth chamber in light (40 μmol·m(-2)· s(-1)) or darkness at 25 °C for 16 to 20 d after soaking in 1 mM ethephon or water for 10 min, or moist stratification at 4 - 6 °C for two weeks. Either light or ethephon promoted seed germination of E. angustifolia and E. pallida, in comparison with ...

* Morphological and physiological attributes were assessed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of ozone (O(3)) sensitivity in a highly sensitive species, cutleaf coneflower (Rudbeckia laciniata var. digitata). * Foliage at the same height in the canopy on paired O(3)-sensitive and -insensitive cutleaf coneflowers was assessed for level of foliar symptoms, stomatal density, stomatal responsiv...

Visible injury caused by ozone is recorded every year in native plant species growing in Great Smoky Mountains National Park (USA). One of the most sensitive species, cutleaf coneflower (Rudbeckia laciniata L.), shows great variation in symptoms between and within populations but the causes of this variation and its ecological significance are currently unknown. This paper presents data relatin...

BACKGROUND The widespread use of nutritional supplements among athletes is poorly understood. The prevalence of supplement intake and users' knowledge have been researched independently leading to useful, but disconnected, information on supplement use. METHODS The 'UK Sport 2005 Drug Free Survey' data (n = 874) were re-analysed using association [chi2] and 'strength of association' tests [ph...

BACKGROUND Pharyngitis is an inflammatory condition of the pharynx and associated structures commonly caused by the Group A streptococci (GAS). There is a growing interest in discovering plant-based anti-inflammatory compounds as potential alternatives to conventional drugs. This study evaluated anti-inflammatory activity of phytochemical-rich extracts prepared from 12 herbal plants using human...

Despite the widespread use of herbal medicines, documented herb-drug interactions are sparse. We have reviewed the literature to determine the possible interactions between the seven top-selling herbal medicines (ginkgo, St John's wort, ginseng, garlic, echinacea, saw palmetto and kava) and prescribed drugs. Literature searches were performed using the following databases: Medline (via Pubmed),...