Echinacea purpurea Extract Affects the Immune System, Global Metabolome, and Gut Microbiome in Wistar Rats

Abstract

Echinacea purpurea extract, a traditional herbal food additive with dual-purpose of medicine and edible material, has been widely used for the treatment and prevention of various infectious diseases, especially for children, old aged and immunocompromised patients. Although there were numerous reports suggested E. purpurea possessed immunostimulatory and antibacterial effects in vitro, the mechanisms underlying remained to be elucidated. This study employed immunologic factors analysis, GC-TOFMS based metabolomics and 16S-rRNA-sequencing microbiome profiling technologies to explore the effects of E. purpurea on young rats, a physiological insufficient immunity status, by compared with pidotimod treatment on young rats and adult animals. E. purpurea treatment significantly increased IL-2, decreased IL-6 and affect immunoglobulins in the spleen of young rats, indicating its promotion of cellular immunity. Both the immunologic factors and the global metabolome of E. purpurea treated young rats were close to the status of mature individuals. Results of 16S-rRNA-sequencing of ileum content together with co-metabolism metabolites demonstrated that E. purpurea changed gut microbiota structure characteristically as a reducing Firmicutes phylum, especially Lactobacillus, and a rising Actinobacteria phylum including Bifidobacterium. The results were concluded that E. purpurea could potentially promote the maturation of immune and metabolism of immature rats, and also affect gut flora structure.

The Antioxidant Effects of Cerium Oxide Nanoparticles and Echinacea Purpurea against Lead-induced Immunosuppression in Male Albino Rats

“…Administration of E.P. decreases IL-6 and TNF-α result go in hand with results obtained by Wang et al [24] that confirmed the positive impact of E. P. on the immune system. Similarly, CeONPs treatment lowered levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, IL-6 and TNF-α which in agreement with [12] .…”

Effects of Echinacea Purpurea on Cryptosporidiosis in Immunosuppressed Experimentally Infected Mice

“…Also, preparations obtained from Echinacea purpurea (E. purpurea) leaves showed antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antiparasitic, immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, explaining its popular use against many infectious diseases for hundreds of years [24][25][26][27] . Echinacea was also used as a food supplementary, helping in treatment and prevention of many infections, especially in children, old aged and immunocompromised patients [28,29] . Extracts from Echinacea leaves decrease Cox-2 in a concentration dependent manner and interfere with IL-17 production [30,31] .…”

Plant-Derived Nutraceuticals and Immune System Modulation: An Evidence-Based Overview

“…As major immunomodulatory mechanisms, they act especially as boosters of immune system, through the stimulation of both innate and adaptive humoral and cellular immunity ( Table 1 ). However, further mechanisms, such as an interference with proinflammatory pathways and a modulation of the gut microbiome, have been reported [ 18 , 19 , 20 ].…”

“…and E. angustifolia DC), characterized by immunostimulant properties on both innate and adaptive response, associated with antiviral, antinflammatory and antimicrobial effects [ 42 ]. More recently, its ability to indirectly boost the immune system, through the modulation of gut microbiome, has been highlighted [ 18 ]. All the phytocomplex seems to be involved in these properties, however, alkylamides and purified polysaccharides have been found to induce immunomodulatory effects [ 42 , 43 ].…”