Extrapolations from pharmacological research have led some authors to suggest restrictions or contraindications for the use of Echinacea. This article examines the known chemistry and pharmacology of the various Echinacea species and products, and challenges some of these popular concepts. In particular, the hypotheses that Echinacea is a T cell activator and that it will accelerate pathology i...

Echinacea has gained considerable attention because of its increasing economic value and use as a medicinal plant. The genus Echinacea, Asteraceae, is represented by eleven taxa found in the United States and in south central Canada. Echinacea purpurea is the most widespread species (McGregor 1968) and the most widely cultivated medicinal species of the genus (McKeown 1999). Echinacea species h...

The aim of this study was to investigate radioprotective properties of Echinacea purpurea tablets in vivo. We analysed lymphocyte chromosome aberrations (CA), micronuclei (MN), apoptosis of leukocytes and haematological parameters in a group of radiation workers who were identified as carrying dicentric chromosomes in their lymphocytes. All radiation workers were taking two 275 mg Echinacea tab...

Echinacea purpurea, Echinacea angustifoli and Echinacea pallida are frequently used as medicinal plants. Besides asking for evidence on their efficacy, there is an increasing interest for safety data. This review systematically presents the available literature on drug interactions, contraindications, adverse events, duration of use, and safety of use in pregnant and nursing women, and assesses...

Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench, Asteraceae, a native of North America is among the most frequently utilized Echinacea spp. for medicinal, cosmetic, and beverage preparations. Most of the echinacea preparations in the industry originate from wild harvesting and few from non-standardized (unregulated) cultivation and harvesting. According to the recent reports (Brevoort 1996), echinacea preparati...

background: purple coneflower (echinacea purpurea l.) is one of the most important medicinal plants. hairy root culture of echinace, represent a valuable alternative to field cultivation for the production of bioactive secondary metabolites. objective: the present study investigates the effects of kno3, cacl2 and mgso4 concentrations on growth and the biosynthesis of cichoric acid in echinacea ...