Echinacea (Echinacea purpurea)
Historical note Echinacea was first used by Native American Sioux Indians
centuries ago as a treatment for snakebite, colic, infection and external wounds,
among other things. It was introduced into standard medical practice in the USA
during the 1800s as a popular anti-infective medication, which was prescribed
by eclectic and traditional doctors until the 20th century. Remaining on the
national list of official plant drugs in the USA until the 1940s, it was produced by
pharmaceutical companies during this period. With the arrival of antibiotics,
echinacea fell out of favour and was no longer considered a ‘real’ medicine for
infection. Its use has re-emerged, probably because we are now in a better
position to understand the limitations of antibiotic therapy and because there is
growing public interest in self-care. The dozens of clinical trials conducted
overseas have also played a role in its renaissance.
COMMON NAME
Echinacea
OTHER NAMES
E. angustifolia — American coneflower, black sampson, black susans, coneflower,
echinaceawurzel, Indian head, kansas snakeroot, purple coneflower,
purpursonnenhutkraut, racine d’echinacea, Rudbeckia angustifolia L., scurvy root,
snakeroot
E. purpurea — Brauneria purpurea (L.) Britt., combflower, purple cone flower,
red sunflower
Rudbeckia purpurea L. — E. pallida, Brauneria pallida (Nutt.) Britt., pale
coneflower, Rudbeckia pallida Nutt.
BOTANICAL NAME/FAMILY
Echinacea species (family Asteraceae [Compositae])
The name ‘echinacea’ generally refers to several different plants within the genus
—E. purpurea, E. pallida and E. angustifolia.
PLANT PARTS USED
Root, leaf and aerial parts
CHEMICAL COMPONENTS
The most important constituents in regard to pharmacological activity are the
polysaccharides, caffeic acid derivatives, alkylamides, essential oils and polyacetylenes,
although there are other potentially active constituents, as well as a range of
vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, resins, glycoproteins and sterols (Pizzorno & Murray
2006). Constituent concentrations vary depending on the species, plant part and
growing conditions. In regards to the final chemical composition of an Echinaceacontaining
product, the drying and extraction processes further alter chemical
composition.
MAIN ACTIONS
Due to the wide assortment of chemical constituents found in Echinacea, it has varied
pharmacological effects.