Dietary Supplement Database

Echinacea is a perennial flowering plant native to Missouri, Nebraska, and Kansas. The most common preparation of this herb is the liquid extract made from the pungent root of Echinacea purpurea.⁸

1. Bone K. Echinacea: when should it be used? Alternative Medicine Review. 1997;2:451-458.
2. Budzinski JW, Foster BC, Vandenhoek S, Arnason JT. An in vitro evaluation of human cytochrome p450 3A4 inhibition by selected commercial herbal extracts and tinctures. Phytomedicine. 2000;7:273-82.
3. Kliger, B. Echinacea. American Family Physician. 2003;267:77-80.
4. Melchart D, Linde K, Worku F, et al. Results of five randomized studies on the immuno-modulatory activity of preparations of echinacea. J Altern Complement Med. 1995;1:145-160.
5. Miller LG. Herbal medicinals: selected clinical considerations focusing on known or potential drug-herb interactions. Arch Intern Med. 1998;158:2200-2211.
6. See DM, Broumand N, Sahl L, Tilles JG. In vitro effects of echinacea and ginseng on natural killer and antibody-dependent cell cytotoxicity in healthy subjects and chronic fatigue syndrome or AIDS patients. Immunopharmacology. 1997;35:229-235.
7. Schar D. Echinacea, the plant that boosts your immune system. London: Souvenir Press Ltd. 1999.
8. Skidmore-Roth L. Mosby's handbook of herbs and natural supplements. St. Louis: Elsevier Science Imprints. 2001.


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	Scientific Names \| Reported Uses \| Scientific Evidence \| Adverse Effects \| References Scientific Names: echinacea augustifolia, echinacea pallida, echinacea purpurea Common Names: american cone flower, black sampson, black susans, comb flower, cone flower, indian head, kansas snakeroot, missouri snakeroot, purple coneflower, red sunflower, rudbeckia, sampson root, scurvy root, snakeroot, thimbleweed Echinacea is a perennial flowering plant native to Missouri, Nebraska, and Kansas. The most common preparation of this herb is the liquid extract made from the pungent root of Echinacea purpurea.⁸ Scientific Names \| Reported Uses \| Scientific Evidence \| Adverse Effects \| References Reported Uses: Immune stimulant. Prophylaxis and treatment of upper respiratory infection and other bacterial, viral, protozoan, and fungal infections. Wound healing. Anti-inflammatory. Scientific Names \| Reported Uses \| Scientific Evidence \| Adverse Effects \| References Scientific Evidence: Several studies support the role of echinacea as an immune stimulant. In vitro research demonstrates increased phagocytosis, NK cell activity, and increased antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity, mediated by TNF-a.^4,6 Echinacea also appears to have a mild antibiotic effect most likely due to its caffeic acid constituent, and bacteriostatic effects against E. coli and P. aeruginosa. ⁷ Data supporting the use of echinacea as treatment for URI are limited by the heterogeneity of preparations and the poor quality of many of the studies. A Cochrane review was carried out, and the quantitative meta-analysis of 16 trials reported a positive effect.⁴ Three studies in 1997 and 1999 show that echinacea reduced severity of symptoms on URI symptom scoring instruments and reduced the duration of illness by one to two days.³ Scientific Names \| Reported Uses \| Scientific Evidence \| Adverse Effects \| References Adverse Effects, Contraindications, Drug Interactions: Historical use, modern research, and herbal reference publications show Echinacea to have an excellent safety profile. The suggested potential to stimulate TNF-a, IL-1, and IL-6 lead some to believe that it should not be used by AIDS patients, as it may speed the course of their disease.¹ Furthermore, as an immune stimulant, caution should be used in combining it with immuno-suppressive drugs such as corticosteroids, cyclosporine, amiodarone, methotrexate, and ketoconazole ⁵ In vitro studies shoe echinacea to be a mild inhibitor of cytochrome p450 3A4 enzyme complex system, leading to increased levels of metabolization of some drugs such as itraconazole, fexofenadine, and lovastatin ² The reported adverse effects of been uncommon and minor: abdominal upset, nausea, dizziness. Persons with a history of allergy to any plant in the daisy family (including ragweed, marigold, and chrysanthemum) may be at greater risk for allergic reaction to echinacea.³ Scientific Names \| Reported Uses \| Scientific Evidence \| Adverse Effects \| References pub med search References: 1. Bone K. Echinacea: when should it be used? Alternative Medicine Review. 1997;2:451-458. 2. Budzinski JW, Foster BC, Vandenhoek S, Arnason JT. An in vitro evaluation of human cytochrome p450 3A4 inhibition by selected commercial herbal extracts and tinctures. Phytomedicine. 2000;7:273-82. 3. Kliger, B. Echinacea. American Family Physician. 2003;267:77-80. 4. Melchart D, Linde K, Worku F, et al. Results of five randomized studies on the immuno-modulatory activity of preparations of echinacea. J Altern Complement Med. 1995;1:145-160. 5. Miller LG. Herbal medicinals: selected clinical considerations focusing on known or potential drug-herb interactions. Arch Intern Med. 1998;158:2200-2211. 6. See DM, Broumand N, Sahl L, Tilles JG. In vitro effects of echinacea and ginseng on natural killer and antibody-dependent cell cytotoxicity in healthy subjects and chronic fatigue syndrome or AIDS patients. Immunopharmacology. 1997;35:229-235. 7. Schar D. Echinacea, the plant that boosts your immune system. London: Souvenir Press Ltd. 1999. 8. Skidmore-Roth L. Mosby's handbook of herbs and natural supplements. St. Louis: Elsevier Science Imprints. 2001. Please direct all comments and questions to the webmaster. Copyright 2004, University of California, San Diego. All rights reserved