The plants that belong to this genus are robust, with lanceolate leaves, whole and covered with hair (E. angustifolia, E. pallida) or oval, toothed and almost glabrous (E. purpurea). The inflorescence is a great chapter whose flowers have peripheral lígulas folded, violet, red or almost white (E. pallida).
Source
This genus is common in the grasslands of central and eastern North America from Texas to Georgia, from Nebraska to Pennsylvania. It was often grown in gardens. Their flowering season begins in June and ends in September.
Chemical composition
In addition to non-specific compounds (inulin, fatty acids, sterols, rutoside, etc. ...), the roots of E. Angustifolia contain essential oils, alkaloids pirrolizidínicos, acids, phenols free and esterified, also present in E. Pallida (leafy shoots) [609]: caféico acid, chlorogenic acid, cinarina, esters of tartaric acid esters and mono-dicaféicos (= 3.4-dihidroxicinámico acid), mono-esters and diferúlicos (3-acid = methoxybenzaldehyde 4 -- Cinnamic hydroxy) [610,611] and acid esters osídicos caféico (equinacósido and verbascósido (ester diosídico [609,610]). The biological activity is partly related to a fraction lipophilic [612] and, second, with the presence of polysaccharides immunostimulants .
Long-chain aliphatic compounds:
Long-chain aliphatic compounds:
Amides isobutilamina and highly unsaturated fatty acids: acids (2E, 4E, 8Z, 10 (E or Z)-dodecan-2 ,4,8,10-tetraenoic acid (2E-7Z)-tredeca-2, 7 -dien-10 ,12-diinoico, and so on. majority in E. angustifolia [614,615].
Polysaccharides: present in E. Angustifolia [72], has made its structural study on the species E. Purpurea, a plant [616th] and cell cultures [616b].
Pharmacological data
Various investigations have been devoted to the study of the drug [617] which is seen as immunostimulant [618], that is, capable of stimulating the body's defenses at different levels, also spoke of inducing parainmunidad.
Test clearance carbon granulocytes or show that the polysaccharides are responsible for this activity observed in vitro [72]. Activated macrophages make a major [619], stimulating their phagocytic power, increasing their citoxicidad and activating the secretion of interleukin I. Acting weakly at the level of lymphocytes B. Do not act on the lymphocytes T. The use of polysaccharide produced by cell culture showed that one of them induce the secretion of TNF (tumor necrosis factor) from macrophages [616b].
On the other hand, it has been found that the isobutilamida acid dodecatetraenoico is a potent inhibitor of lipoxygenase [620] and that some caffeic esters (eg equinacósido) are antiviral properties [610].
Observations on the Man
His immunostimulant activity in various ailments due to a decrease or immune deficiency has been shown through clinical trials [623]. The development of this drug needs a better understanding of the active principles responsible for their action and the mechanisms involved in it. The efficacy of treatment depends on many factors such as duration, route of administration and the immune initial patient [612]. The drug appears to lack of toxicity and does not cause side effects.
Employment
Echinacea and other drugs that can stimulate non-specific defense mechanisms, are used in the countries of Germanic culture, where they see it as a possible alternative to chemotherapy and taken as the prevention of infectious states. The preparations based on echinacea, are indicated as an adjunct of drug treatment of mild infections or for prophylaxis of infections in patients at risk. To be transient stimulation of the immune system, it is recommended to use in short periods and at regular intervals.
In Spain authorizing the use of this plant for prophylaxis and treatment of patients with mild to moderately severe colds, flu and other infectious diseases of the respiratory system.
Precautions
not given to children under two years. The dosage for children is 1 capsule per 10 kg. weight per day.
The drug
The root form a cylinder regular (10-20 x 0.5-1 cm), slightly ringed and marked with scars in the form of "V". The smell and the taste is weak, at first sweet, then becomes strong and pungent. Examined under a microscope, the result shows a cortical parenchyma cellulosic containing small clusters of cells esclerificadas elongated cylinder and a central part in the peripheral in which crystallizes inulin. For a long time as two varieties of one species, E. angustifolia and E. pallida are two completely different species karyological as both morphological and anatomical [15th]. The analysis by C.C.F. and H.P.L.C. of methanol extract of the roots, also allow to differentiate clearly [609622b].
Bibliography
[609] R. BAUER, P. Remige and H. WAGNER
Vergleichende DC-und HPLC - Analyze von der Herb-Drug
Echinacea purpurea, E. E. pallida und Angustifolia
Dtsch. Apoth-Ztg., 28, 174-180, 1988.
[610] A. CHEMINAT, R. ZAWATZKY, H. Becker and R. BROUI
Llardén
Caffeoyl conjugate from Echinacea species: structures and
biological activity
Phytochemistry, 27, 2787-2794, 1988.
[611] R. BAUER, I.A. KHAN, J. PUHLMANN and H. WAGNER
TLC and HPLC analysis of Echinacea pallida and E. Angustifolia
roots
Planta Med., 54, 426-430, 1988; see also: H. SOICKE, G.
AL - HASSAN and K. Gorle, Weitere Kaffeesäure Derivatives aus
Echinacea purpurea, Planta Med. 54,175-176, 1988.
[612] R. BAUER, K. JURCIC, J. PUHLMANN and H. WAGNER
