Clinical effect of Echinacea purpurea as an antiviral and its effect on reproductive hormones (original) (raw)

ANTIVIRAL ACTIVITY OF ECHINACEA (ECHINACEA PURPUREA)

Antiviral drugs effect on specific and limited virus family. Also viral replication inhibitor drugs have toxic effects on host cells. In addition, viruses are resisting to antiviral drugs. As a result, it is necessary to new drugs with fewer side effects or no side effects. Medical plants such as Echinacea (Echinacea purpurea) have been used for viral infections treatment including cold and rabies, traditionally. In the article, we try to introduce Echinacea antiviral activity and its potential of viral disease treatment like cold, AIDS, herpes, inflammation of the cornea and conjunctiva (keratoconjunctivitis) and encephalitis.

International Journal of Pharma and Bio Sciences PHARMACOLOGICAL IMPORTANCE OF ECHINACEA PURPUREA

Echinacea (E.) purpurea is a medicinal herb commonly known as the purple coneflower, red sunflower and rudbeckia. Echinacea purpurea, a plant is mostly used to treat respiratory infections. This paper reviews the history, chemistry and pharmacological action of Echinacea species. The Echinacea species, Echinacea angustifolia, Echinacea pallida and Echinacea purpurea have a long history of medicinal use particularly infections, and today Echinacea preparations are the best herbal medicine used in several countries like America, Germany, Australia, Thailand and some other European countries. Mainly Echinacea is focused on its immunomodulatory effects, anti inflammatory and antioxidant effects, anti viral effects, particularly in the prevention and treatment of upper respiratory tract infections. The chemistry and pharmacology action of Echinacea species is well documented and several groups of bioactive constituents, including alkamides and lipophilic alkamides, water-soluble phenolic compounds (mainly caffeic acid derivatives) and polysaccharides, benzalkonium chloride are considered important for its activity. The efficacy of Echinacea is not yet revealed completely. From the available data it is reported Echinacea appears to be well tolerated. However, further investigation and surveillance are necessary to establish the safety profiles of different Echinacea preparations. Safety issues include the possibility of allergic reaction, dose dependent adverse effects and overdose. In this article we have reviewed the role of bioactive compounds and the pharmacological properties of Echinacea purpurea.

Echinacea purpurea . Aerial Parts Contain Multiple Antiviral Compounds

Pharmaceutical Biology, 2005

Stems, leaves, and flowers of Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench (Heliantheae: Asteraceae) were fractionated by various solvents and the fractions evaluated for antiviral activity in relation to chemical composition and distribution within the plant. All of the aqueous fractions contained potent activity against herpes simplex virus and influenza virus. However, although some of this activity could be attributed to polysaccharide and cichoric acid components, their individual contributions could not account for the total antiviral activity; other potent antivirals must be present. In addition, the ethanol-and ethyl acetate-soluble fractions from leaves and stem contained an uncharacterized but potent antiviral photosensitizer, which was absent from the flower extract. None of the fractions, however, contained anti-rhinovirus activity. Thus, part of the alleged benefits of Echinacea purpurea extracts can be attributed to the presence of anti-influenza and anti-HSV compounds, and some of these activities are likely to be present in various commercial tinctures, teas, capsules, and tablets.