Phytochemical localization and fungal inhabitants in the fruits of four Echinacea taxa

Abstract

Relatively little is known about the fruits of Echinacea, as they are not traditionally used in medicine. Therefore, the goal of this study was to investigate aspects of the fruits of four Echinacea taxa native to North America: E. purpurea, E. pallida var. angustifolia, E. pallida var. pallida, and E. atrorubens var. paradoxa. The alkylamide and phenolic contents of the fruits were analyzed, showing that Echinacea fruits yield valuable metabolites which could, with additional research, be incorporated into a variety of natural health products. Additionally, the effect of the fruit coatings on germination rates under different conditions was studied. Fungal endophyte and epiphyte species present within these fruits were identified to gain a better understanding of how these microbes may contribute to the health of the plant, phytochemical content, and the overall quality of Echinacea herbal products.iii