Year-and-a-Half Old, DriedEchinaceaRoots Retain Cytokine-Modulating Capabilities in anin vitroHuman Older Adult Model of Influenza Vaccination

Abstract

Alcohol tinctures prepared from aged Echinacea roots are typically taken for preventing or treating upper respiratory infections, as they are purported to stimulate immunity in this context. The effects of long-term (> 1 year) dry storage on the capabilities of Echinacea spp. roots from mature individuals to modulate cytokine production are unknown. Using an older human adult model of influenza vaccination, we collected peripheral blood mononuclear cells from subjects 6 months post-vaccination and stimulated them in vitro with the two Type A influenza viruses contained in the trivalent 2004-2005 vaccine with a 50 % alcohol tincture prepared from the roots of one of seven Echinacea species: E. angustifolia, E. pallida, E. paradoxa, E. purpurea, E. sanguinea, E. simulata, and E. tennesseensis. Before being processed into extracts, all roots had been stored under dry conditions for sixteen months. Cells were cultured for 48 hours; following incubation, supernatants were collected and assayed for interleukin-2, interleukin-10, and interferon-gamma production, cytokines important in the immune response to viral infection. Four species ( E. angustifolia, E. purpurea, E. simulata, E. tennesseensis) augmented IL-10 production, diminished IL-2 production, and had no effect on IFN-gamma production. Echinacea pallida suppressed production of all cytokines; E. paradoxa and E. sanguinea behaved similarly, although to a lesser extent. The results from these in vitro bioactivity assays indicate that dried Echinacea roots stored for sixteen months maintain cytokine-modulating capacities. Our data support and extend previous research and indicate that tinctures from different Echinacea species have different patterns of immune modulation; further, they indicate that certain species may be efficacious in the immune response to viral infection.

Echinacea Species and Alkamides Inhibit Prostaglandin E2 Production in RAW264.7 Mouse Macrophage Cells

“…High-Performance Liquid Chromatography Analysis. The HPLC method was described in previously published work ( , ). Briefly, into 320 μL of Echinacea extracts were added 40 μL (1 mg/mL) of N- isobutylundeca-2-ene-8,10-diynamide (C 15 H 21 O 2 ) and 40 μL (1 mg/mL) of 3,5-dimethoxy-4-hydroxycinnamic acid (C 11 H 12 O 5 ) as internal standards for quantification of lipophilic metabolites and hydrophilic metabolites, respectively.…”

A systematic review on the effects of Echinacea supplementation on cytokine levels: Is there a role in COVID-19?

“…A1 and A3 were gifted by MediHerb, Australia. Dose: 5 nM, 50 nM, 500 nM, and 5000 nM DURATION: 18 h Negative control: treatment without stimulation Positive control: stimulation without treatment Decreased expression: IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12p70 and TNF-α 1 Randolph, 2003 [ 37 ] Nutrilite Health Institute, Access Business Group, LLC, Buena Park, California and Source Precision Medicine, Boulderm Colorado THP-1 human monocyte cell line 18S mRNA E. angustifolia root, E. purpurea root and herb 10 μg/mL, 50 μg/mL, 250 μg/mL DURATION: 6 h Untreated cells Increased gene expression: IL-1α, IL1β, IL-8, IL-10 and TNF-α 3 Rininger, 2000 [ 99 ] Paracelsian, Incorporated, Ithaca, New York RAW264.7 macrophage cells LPS 0.1 μg/mL E. purpurea 5 μg/mL, 20 μg/mL, 80 μg/mL, 320 μg/mL DURATION: 48 h Medium alone and LPS + medium Increased production: IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10 and TNF-α 1 Ritchie, 2011 [ 100 ] Founded by A. Vogel Bioforce AG, Switzerland; Funded by Bioforce, Switzerland. Blood samples Zymosan (333 μg/mL) or LPS (from E.Coli at 100 ng/mL)/super-antigen SEB at 25 ng/mL) E. purpurea Echinaforce - patient took 4 1 mL doses for 5 days, then 10 1 mL doses for 3 days.…”

Constituents and receptor-mediated calcium signaling underlying bioactivities of Echinacea

“…The phytochemical composition of each extracts was evaluated by HPLC-PDA using the same method as that in our previously published work (50)(51)(52). Briefly, extracts were dissolved in DMSO to adjust the concentration to 10mg/ml.…”