ECHINACEA(Echinacea Purpurea)

Pharmacognostic features Chemical constituent

UsesMechanism of action

Dosagetoxicity

Side effectsContraindications

precautionsDrug interactions

Reference

Echinacea purpurea

Pharmacognostic features

Botanical origin: Echinacea purpurea (L) MoenchFamily: Asterecea / compositae Common name: Purple Cone flower English name: Echinacea purpurea Part used: Roots and flower heads

Chemical constituents

• Glycosides• Achinacosides • Echinacin• Polysaccharides• Caffeic acid• Essential oils• Flavonoids• Volatile oils• Vitamins and minerals

Uses

• Antiseptic• Stimulate immune system• Antibiotic activity• Anti viral and anti fungal• Mouth wash• Anti inflammatory• Improve white blood count

Mechanism of action• Antibiotic activity It has a mild antibiotic effect, helping to protect cells from invading pathogens as bacteria, viruses, fungi. The plant both stimulates the properdin /complement system, which helps the body control and prevent infections, and increases production of alpha- and alpha-2 gamma globulins, which prevents viral and other infections.• Immune modulatory action Make immune cell efficient , increase activity of anti tumor cell and promote the T Cell activation and stimulates the new tissue growth.• Phagocytosis functionStimulates the production of interferon as well as other important product of immune system including tumor necrosis factor which is important in body against cancer.• Against infectionIt inhibits an enzyme hyaloronidase secreted by bacteria to help them gain access to healthy cells.

Dosage

• Film coated tablet contain 200 mg of extract from Echinacea purpurea root.

• In adults and elderly and children and over 12 years take 1-2 tablet with water.

• Tablet contain 6.78 mg of E . purpurea.• Capsules contain 100 mg of three times daily.• E . purpurea herb juice ; daily dose of 6-9 ml

for upto maximum of 8 weeks.

Toxicity• In several clinical studies, the frequency of adverse effects

in the Echinacea group and control group were similar and not statistically significant, while in some studies, rash and gastrointestinal symptoms were reported from the Echinacea group. Some adverse effects were also reported by the UK Committee on Safety of Medicines and the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency's spontaneous reporting scheme (the “yellow card” scheme), commonly including abdominal pain, angioedema, dyspnea, nausea, pruritus, rash, erythema, and urticaria.

Side effects• Fever• Nausea• Vomiting• Unpleasant taste• Stomach pain• Diarrhea• Headache• Numbness of tongue.• Dizziness• Insomnia

Contra-indications• Do not use if :• you are allergic to any of the ingredients or to Echinacea • You are pregnant or breast-feeding.• You have a skin condition called pemphigus vulgaris.• You have an immune system disorder such as multiple

sclerosis (MS), lupus (systemic lupus erythematosus, SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), or other immune system conditions called "autoimmune disease.“

• Product may increase the effect of caffeine. Avoid drinking large amounts of beverages containing caffeine (coffee, tea, certain sodas) or eating large amounts of chocolate.

• If your product contains alcohol, do not use it in combination with metronidazole or disulfiram .

Precautions • Do not chew.• Do not exceed the stated dose.• For oral administration only.• Not for use in those under 18.• Always read the label.• Use of Echinacea is restricted to no longer than eight weeks at a

time. This is because after eight consecutive weeks,Echinacea losses its effectiveness and may even diminish immune function.

• Regular users of this herb, need "break" periods : namely, periods of time that they are not taking echinacea in order for it to maintain its ability to enhance immune function and fight infection.

Drug interactions

Drug Interaction ClassificationMajor

Highly clinically significant. Avoid combinations; the risk of the interaction outweighs the benefit.

Moderate

Moderately clinically significant. Usually avoid combinations; use it only under special circumstances.

minor

Minimally clinically significant. Minimize risk; assess risk and consider an alternative drug, take steps to circumvent the interaction risk and/or institute a monitoring plan

CaffeineInteraction Rating: Moderate Be cautious with this combination.Talk with your health provider.The body breaks down caffeine to get rid of it. Echinacea might decrease how quickly the body breaks down caffeine. Taking echinacea along with caffeine might cause too much caffeine in the bloodstream and increase the risk of side effects. Common side effects include jitteriness, headacheEtoposide ( VePesid)Interaction Rating: Moderate Be cautious with this combination.Talk with your health.Etoposide provider is changed and broken down by the body. Echinacea might change how the body breaks down some medications. Taking echinacea along with etoposide might increase the side effects of etoposide. Before taking echinacea, talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking any medications that are changed by the body.

• Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 1A2 (CYP1A2) substrates)Interaction Rating: Moderate Be cautious with this combination.Talk with your health provider.

• Some medications are changed and broken down by the liver. Echinacea might decrease how quickly the liver breaks down some medications. Taking Echinacea along with some medications might increase the effects and side effects of some medications. Before taking Echinacea, talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking any medications that are changed by the liver.

• Some of the medications that are changed by the liver include clozapine (Clozaril), cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril ), fluvoxamine (Luvox), haloperidol (Haldol),

Warfarin (Coumadin). Interaction Rating: Minor Be cautious with this combination. Talk with your health provider.• Warfarin (Coumadin) is used to slow blood clotting. The body breaks down warfarin

(Coumadin) to get rid of it. Echinacea might increase the breakdown and decrease the effectiveness of warfarin (Coumadin). Decreasing the effectiveness of warfarin (Coumadin) might increase the risk of clotting. Be sure to have your blood checked regularly. The dose of your warfarin (Coumadin) might need to be changed.

• Cardiac glycosides: In cell culture research, Echinacea purpurea reduced the flux of drugs such as digoxin by inhibiting p-glycoprotein transporter activity .

REFERENCES

• http://www.healthenhancingpharmacy.com/ns/DisplayMonograph.asp?StoreID=AA17FDA0BA7345A4BAF000B703198885&DocID=basic-interactions-echinacea

• http://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-77326/echinacea-purpurea-root-oral/details#

• http://en.mr-ginseng.com/echinacea/• http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/P

MC4441164/• https://www.upjs.sk/public/media/5705/thais

zia-16-011-026-mistrikova.pdf• http://www.mdidea.com/products/herbextra

ct/echinacea/data05.html