OBJECTIVETo make microscopic identification research of three Echinacea-species roots recorded in the United States Pharmacopeia.

METHODThe root transverse section and powder of E. angustifolia, E. pallida, and E. purpurea were observed. The main microscopic features were photographed.

RESULTThe main microscopic features of transverse section and powder in three Echinacea-species roots are basically similar, except for some diagnostic differences. The results provide reliable reference for the authentication of raw materials of western herbal studies.

Echinacea ; anatomy & histology ; cytology ; Microscopy ; Plant Roots ; anatomy & histology ; cytology ; United States

OBJECTIVETo determine the content of polyphenol contained samples, in order to provide basis for comprehensive quality evaluation on Echinacea extracts.

METHODLC-MS was used for qualitative analysis on relevant compounds of the samples of Echinacea extracts. Optimized USP methods, RP-HPLC and QAMS (quantitative analysis of multi-components by single-marker) were used to determine the content of polyphenol. Meanwhile, UV method was adopted for comparative analysis on content according to international standard IS014502-1-2005.

RESULTThe six batches of samples could not meet the export standard for polyphenol content by HPLC. UV showed four batches in line with the standard and two batches in inconformity.

CONCLUSIONUV method is generally adoptedfor the content determination of domestic Echinacea extracts, but shows results that are significantly different from that by HPLC method. it is suggested to use HPLC method to standardize quality of extracts and raise market access standards.

China ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; standards ; Echinacea ; chemistry ; Quality Control

This article review and discuss the complimentary and alternative medicine (CAM), where it all began, practices and ideas self- defined by their users as preventing and treating illnesses or promoting health and well-being.
HERB-DRUG INTERACTIONS ; HERBALS ; ECHINACEA ; TANACETUM PARTHENIUM ; GARLIC ; GINKGO BILOBA ; PANAX ; KAVA ; VALERIAN ; HYPERICUM ; EPHEDRA

By consulting the literatures of foreign plant medicine Echinacea purpurea at home and abroad, this paper discusses the property and function of E. purpurea from the point of view of traditional Chinese medicine theory, so as to realize "herbalization", provide the theoretical basis of traditional Chinese medicine for the correct clinical application and rational compatibility of E. purpurea, and broaden the scope and varieties of clinical selection of traditional Chinese medicine. Relevant literatures of E. purpurea were selected from PubMed and CNKI databases and classified based on clinical application, chemical composition, pharmacological action, toxic and side effects. Those with a high reliability were screened out, including 313 articles in English and 46 in Chinese. Finally, the basic theory of traditional Chinese medicine was analyzed. In our view, E. purpurea features pungent and bitter tastes and a cold nature, and enters lung, spleen, heart meridians, with effects in evacuating wind-heat, clearing heat and detoxifying, invigorating Qi, strengthening body resistance, and treating wind-heat cold, sore throat swelling pain, cough, heat toxin stagnation, sore carbuncle swelling toxin, red swelling heat pain, body deficiency and multiple diseases, fatigue burnout. This paper analyzes the research literatures of E. purpurea, "herbalize" it, endows it with the property and function of traditional Chinese medicine, lays the foundation for further animal experiment and clinical research, and provides scientific theoretical guidance for the better application of E. purpurea in clinic and its proper compatibility and rational application. This research model will also provide reference for further studies of "traditional Chinese medicine" of foreign plant drugs, enrich traditional Chinese medicine resources, and promote the healthy and sustainable development of traditional Chinese medicine.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Echinacea/chemistry* ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Meridians ; Plants, Medicinal/chemistry*

OBJECTIVETo study the lipid constituents from Echinacea purpurea.

METHODThe compounds were isolated by chromatography method and the structures were identified on the basis of spectral analyses.

RESULTFive compounds were isolated and identified as, 1 beta, 6 alpha-dihydroxy-4(14)-eudesmene(1), (2E, 4E, 8Z, 10E)-N-isobutyl-2,4,8,10-dodecatetraenamide(2), (2E, 4E, 8Z, 10Z)-N-isobutyl-2,4,8,10-dodecatetraenamide(3), cerotic acid(4), hyxacosyl alcohol(5).

CONCLUSIONCompounds 1,4 and 5 were obtained from the plant for the first time.

Echinacea ; chemistry ; Fatty Acids ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Fatty Alcohols ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Sesquiterpenes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVETo analyze the natural change rule of active components of E. purpuea by measuring content of cichoric acid.

METHODReverse HPLC method was used.

RESULTThe maximum cichoric acid content of the roots occured in seedling age of May, and that of the flowers occured in blooming stage of mid July, but cichoric acid in stems was generally low anyway. The maximum content of cichoric acid in the plant above ground occured in the blooming stage of mid July.

CONCLUSIONThe measuring method of content of cichoric acid is successful and reliable. The optimum stage of harvest in Echinacea purpuea should be guided by natural change rule of cichoric acid content.

Caffeic Acids ; analysis ; Echinacea ; chemistry ; Flowers ; chemistry ; Plant Components, Aerial ; chemistry ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Seasons ; Succinates ; analysis

AIMTo study the water-soluble constituents of Echinacea purpurea.

METHODSThe compounds were isolated by chromatography method and their structures were identified on the basis of spectral analyses.

RESULTSFive compounds were identified as 2-(4-hydroxylphenyl)-ethyl-O-alpha-L-rhamnopy-ranoasyl-(1-->6)-beta-D- glucopyranoside, named echipuroside A 1); (6S, 9R)-6-hydroxy-3-one-alpha-inonol-9-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside 2), ampelopsisionoside 3); phenylmethyl-6-O-beta-D-xylopyranosyl(1-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranoside 4) and phyenylmethyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside 5).

CONCLUSIONCompound 1 is a new compound, the others were isolated from this plant for the first time.

Cyclohexanones ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Disaccharides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Echinacea ; chemistry ; Glucosides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Molecular Structure ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Solubility ; Terpenes ; Water ; chemistry

PURPOSE: Echinacea, a traditional plant medicine has been used as immune-stimulant. Recent studies have revealed that extract of Echinacea has immunostimulatory effects on human blood mononuclear cells. This study was designed for the purpose of screening the genes associated with immunologic effects of Echinacea on monocytes and dendritic cells using a cDNA microarray chip. METHODS: CD14+monocyte cells were cultured for one day with Echinacea extract (final concentration: 50 microgram/mL) in experiment 1, but were cultured without Echinacea in experiment 2. The gene expression of these cultured monocytes was analyzed using the cDNA microarray chip. Dendritic cells produced from CD14+monocyte were cultured for five days with GM-CSF and IL-4, and then cultured for one day with Echinacea in experiment 3, but were done without Echinacea in experiment 4. RESULTS: In experiments 1 and 2, there were 17 significantly expressed genes with average expression ratios above 2.5, including interferon gamma-inducible protein 30 (IFI 30), CDC (cell-division-cylcle)-like kinase 2 (CLK 2), syndecan binding protein (syntenin), superoxide dismutase 2, etc. In experiments 3 and 4, there were 24 gene, with significantly expressed genes were 24 genes, which were insulin-like growth factor 2 (somatomedin A), methyl-CpG binding domain protein 3, IFI 30, small inducible cytokine subfamily A, member 22, etc. The genes encoding CD44, IFI 30, mannose receptor C type 1 (MRC 1), chemokine receptor 7 (CCR 7), CLK 2, syntenin and cytochrome C oxidase subunit VIII were significantly expressed in both monocytes and dendritic cells cultured with Echinacea. CONCLUSION: This study employed a cDNA microarray chip to elicit the immune-associated gene profile; the expression was enhanced by Echinacea in CD14+monocytes and dendritic cells. Thus we laid the basis for the quantitative and functional analysis of genes induced by Echinacea in monocytes and monocyte-derived dendritic cells.
Carrier Proteins ; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.) ; Dendritic Cells* ; Echinacea* ; Electron Transport Complex IV ; Gene Expression* ; Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor ; Humans ; Interferons ; Interleukin-4 ; Mannose ; Mass Screening ; Monocytes* ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Phosphotransferases ; Plants ; Superoxide Dismutase ; Syndecans ; Syntenins

Echinacea (E.) purpurea herb is commonly known as the purple coneflower, red sunflower and rudbeckia. In this paper, we report the curative efficacy of an Echinacea extract in gamma-irradiated mice. E. purpurea was given to male mice that were divided into five groups (control, treated, irradiated, treated before irradiation & treated after irradiation) at a dose of 30 mg/kg body weight for 2 weeks before and after irradiation with 3 Gy of gamma-rays. The results reflected the detrimental reduction effects of gamma-rays on peripheral blood hemoglobin and the levels of red blood cells, differential white blood cells, and bone marrow cells. The thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARs) level, Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSPx) activities and DNA fragmentation were also investigated. FT-Raman spectroscopy was used to explore the structural changes in liver tissues. Significant changes were observed in the microenvironment of the major constituents, including tyrosine and protein secondary structures. E. purpurea administration significantly ameliorated all estimated parameters. The radio-protection effectiveness was similar to the radio-recovery curativeness in comparison to the control group in most of the tested parameters. The radio-protection efficiency was greater than the radio-recovery in hemoglobin level during the first two weeks, in lymphoid cell count and TBARs level at the fourth week and in SOD activity during the first two weeks, as compared to the levels of these parameters in the control group.
Animals ; Antioxidants/isolation & purification/*pharmacology ; Blood Cell Count ; DNA Fragmentation/drug effects ; Echinacea/*chemistry ; Erythrocytes/drug effects/radiation effects ; *Gamma Rays ; Glutathione Peroxidase/metabolism ; Leukocytes/drug effects/radiation effects ; Lipid Peroxidation/drug effects ; Liver/*drug effects/enzymology/radiation effects ; Male ; Mice ; *Phytotherapy ; Plant Extracts/*pharmacology ; Radiation-Protective Agents/isolation & purification/pharmacology ; Random Allocation ; Superoxide Dismutase/metabolism

Adjuvants, Immunologic ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal ; pharmacology ; Antiviral Agents ; pharmacology ; Caffeic Acids ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Echinacea ; chemistry ; classification ; Fatty Acids, Unsaturated ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Molecular Structure ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Polyunsaturated Alkamides