Echinacea (Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench)
- Atc Codes:R07AX#L03AW05
Table of contents
- Brand Names
- Drug Combinations
- Chemistry
- Pharmacologic Category
- Mechanism of Action
- Therapeutic Use
- Unlabeled Use
- Pregnancy and Lactation Implications
- Contraindications
- Warnings and Precautions
- Adverse Reactions
- Substrate of
- Inhibits
- Induces
- Drug Interactions
- Nutrition/Nutraceutical Interactions
- Special Considerations
Brand Names
Europe
Belgium: Echinacin; Germany: Aar Vir, Anore 54, Biozell Echinacea, Cefasept Tableteen, Cevitect Echinacea Pastillen, Contramutan Mono Saft, Dr.Theiss Echinacea Tropfen F, Echan, Echiherb Tableteen, Echinacea, Echinacin, Echinaforce Presssaft, Echinapur, Echinatur, Eficea H, Episcorit, Esberitox Mono, Immudynal, Immunobion, Immunopret Echinacea, Klosterfrau Echinacea-Tropfen, Lymphozil, Naturreiner Heilpflanzensaft Sonnenhut, Ortitruw, Palmisan, Pascotox Purpurea, Prophyimmun Echinacin, Resitan Mono, Sonnenhut Erkältungstabletten, Wiedimmun-Phyto; Hungary: Echinacea; Latvia: Echinacea, Immunal, Imunox, Visamin Drops; Lithuania: Immunal; Netherlands: Echinacea, Echinaforce; Poland: Echimax, Echinacea, Echinacin, Echinapur, Echinerba, Immunal, Lymphozil, Purex, Succus Echinaceae; Spain: Echinacea, Echinacin, Rinasey; Sweden: Echinacea, Echinagard, Echinatex, Echitonil, Esberitox, Kan Jang, Salva Vid Munsar.
Latin America
Argentina: Equinacea; Brazil: Enax, Imunnal; Mexico: Regripax.
Drug combinations
Echinacea: Achillea millefolium; Acidum arsenicosum; Acidum benzoicum; Acidum formicicum; Acidum hydrofluoricum; Acidum lacticum; Acidum nitricum; Acidum oxalicum; Acidum phosphoricum; Acidum silicicum; Aconitum napellus; Aesculus hippocastanum; Ailanthus altissima; Aloe spp.; Alpinia officinarum; Althaea officinalis; Aluminium oxydatum; Ammi visnaga; Ammonium bromatum; Ammonium carbonicum; Angelica archangelica; Antimonit; Apis mellifera; Arbutinum; Arctium spp.; Arctostaphylos uva-*ursi; Argentum colloidale; Argentum nitricum; Arnica montana; Arsenum iodatum; Arsenum sulfuratum flavum; Artemisia abrotanum; Artemisia absinthium; Articulationes interphalangeae bovis; Arum maculatum; Astragalus exscapus; Atropa bella-*donna; Atropinum sulfuricum; Aurum chloratum; Aurum metallicum; Avena sativa; Baptisia tinctoria; Barium carbonicum; Barium iodatum; Bellis perennis; Berberis vulgaris; Betula pendula; Blatta orientalis; Brassica nigra; Bryonia spp.; Bufo bufo; Cadmium sulfuricum; Caffeine; Calcium carbonicum; Calcium fluoratum; Calcium glycerinophosphoricum; Calcium hypophosphorosum; Calcium iodatum; Calcium phosphoricum; Calcium sulfuricum; Calendula officinalis; Caltha palustris; Capsella bursa-*pastoris; Capsicum annuum; Carbo animalis; Carbo vegetabilis; Cardiospermum halicacabum; Ceanothus americanus; Centaurium erythraea; Centella asiatica; Cephaelis spp**.; Cetraria islandica; Chamaelirium luteum; *Chamomile; Chelidonium majus; Chimaphila umbellata; Chondrodendron; Cinnamomum spp.; Cimicifuga racemosa; Cinchona pubescens; Citrullus colocynthis; Clematis recta; Cochlearia officinalis; Coffea arabica tosta; Colchicum autumnale; Conium maculatum; Convallaria majalis; Conyza canadensis; Cortisonum aceticum; Crataegus spp.; Creatininum–serotoninum-*sulfuricum; Crotalus horridus; Croton tiglium; Cucurbita pepo; Cuprum aceticum; Cuprum sulfuricum; Cuscuta europaea; Cytisus scoparius; Dactylopius coccus; Daphne mezereum; Datura stramonium; Delphinium staphisagria; Dioscorea villosa; Drosera spp**.; Dryopteris filix–mas; Eleutherococcus senticosus; Endometrium bovis; Endometrium suis; Equisetum arvense; *Ergotinum; Eriodictyon californicum; Ervum lens; Eucalypti aetheroleum; Eucalyptus globulus; Eupatorium perfoliatum; Euphorbia cyparissias; Euphrasia spp.; Fel tauri; Ferrum phosphoricum; Ferrum picrinicum; Ferula assafoetida; Formica rufa; Fraxinus americana; Fucus vesiculosus; Funiculus umbilicalis bovis; Galeopsis segetum; Galium aparine; Galium mollugo; Galium verum; Gelsemium sempervirens; Gingiva bovis; Glechoma hederacea; Grindelia robusta; Guaiacum; Hamamelis virginiana; Hedera helix; Helianthemum canadense; Hepar sulfuris; Humulus lupulus; Hydrargyrum bichloratum; Hydrargyrum bicyanatum; Hydrargyrum biiodatum; Hydrargyrum oxydatum rubrum; Hydrargyrum stibiato-*sulfuratum; Hydrargyrum sulfuratum rubrum; Hydrastis canadensis; Hyoscyamus niger; Hypericum perforatum; Iodum; Iris versicolor; Jatropha curcas; Juglans regia; Juniperus spp**.; Kalium bichromicum; Kalium carbonicum; Kalium chloratum; Kalium chloricum; Kalium iodatum; Kalium phosphoricum; Kalium stibyltartaricum; Kalium sulfuricum; Kalmia latifolia; Kaolinum ponderosum; Krameria triandra; Kreosotum; Lachesis mutus; Ledum palustre; Levisticum officinale; Lilium lancifolium; Lithium chloratum; Lobaria pulmonaria; Lobelia inflata; Lophophytum leandri; Luffa operculata; Lycopodium clavatum; Lytta vesicatoria; Malva sylvestris; Manganum aceticum; Marsdenia cundurango; Matricaria recutita; Mentholum; Menyanthes trifoliata; Mercurius solubilis Hahnemanni; Momordica balsamina; Morella cerifera; Myristica fragrans; Nasturtium officinale; Natrium carbonicum; Natrium chloratum; Natrium kakodylicum; Natrium phosphoricum; Natrium silicicum; Natrium sulfuricum; Natrium tetraboracicum; Natrium tetrachloroauratum; Natriumcarbonat; Nicotiana tabacum; Ocimum basilicum; Ononis spinosa; Origanum majorana; Ovarium bovis; Oxalis acetosella; Paeonia officinalis; Papaver somniferum; Parametrium bovis; Passiflora incarnata; Petroleum rectificatum; Petroselinum crispum convar; Peumus boldus; Phenolum; Phosphorus; Phytolacca americana; Pimpinella; Pinus sylvestris; Placenta bovis; Plantago major; Poison Ivy; Polygala senega; Populus spp.; Potentilla erecta; Prunus spinosa; Pulmonaria officinalis; Pulsatilla spp.; Pyrogenium**; Ranunculus bulbosus; Rheum; Rosae aetheroleum; Rosmarini aetheroleum; Rosmarinus officinalis; Rumex crispus; Ruta graveolens; Salix alba; Salvia officinalis; Salviae aetheroleum; Sambucus nigra; Sanguinaria canadensis; Sanicula europaea; Secale cornutum; Sedum spp.; Selenicereus grandiflorus; Semecarpus anacardium; Sempervivum tectorum; Sepia officinalis; Serenoa repens; Silver nitrate; Silybum marianum; Smilax spp.; Sodium Bicarbonate**; Solidago virgaurea; Spigelia anthelmia; Spongilla lacustris; Staphylococcus; Streptococcus–pyogenes Strychnos nux–vomica; Sulfur; Sulfur iodatum; Symphytum officinale; Taraxacum officinale; Terebinthina laricina; Terebinthinae aetheroleum; Teucrium marum; Teucrium scorodonia; Thuja occidentalis; Thymi aetheroleum; Tonsilla palatina bovis; Toxicodendron quercifolium; Tuba uterina bovis; Tuberculini–derivatum–proteinosum–purificatum–ad–usum–humanum; Tuberculinum–pristinum; Tunica conjunctiva bovis; Tunica mucosa sinuum paranasalium bovis; Urtica urens; Vaccininum; Veratrum album; Veratrum viride; Verbena officinalis; Veronica officinalis; Veronica virginica; Vincetoxicum hirundinaria; Viola tricolor; Virola sebifera; Viscum album; Vitex agnus–castus; Xysmalobium undulatum; Zincum metallicum***
Chemistry
Echinacea: Consists of dried rhizome and roots of Echinacea pallida (Nutt.) Nutt. of Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench and of Echinacea angustifolia DC.
Pharmacologic Category
Natural Products; Herbs. Homeopathic products. (ATC-Code: L03AW05; R07AX).
Mechanism of action
Increases bodily resistance to infection and is used for boils, erysipelas, septicemia, cancer, syphilis and other impurities of the blood, (antiseptic action). Currently, immunomodulatory, rather than immunostimulatory, is considered the most appropriate term to describe immunological effects of echinacea. Antiviral activity described for various different preparations of echinacea following in vitro studies. Activity against several yeast strains, including Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Candida albicans, described for extracts of E. purpurea roots. In vitro inhibition of cyclooxygenase 1 (COX-1/PTGS1) and, to a lesser extent, COX-2/PTGS2 described for alkamides isolated from E. purpurea roots. Wound-healing properties documented for echinacea attributed in part to a polysaccharide fraction, thought to inhibit the action of hyaluronidase.
Therapeutic use
According to traditions, echinacea has been used for abscesses, acne, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, bacterial infections, bee stings, boils, burn wounds, diphtheria, dizziness, eczema, gingivitis, gum inflammation (pyorrhea), hemorrhoids, herpes labialis, HIV/AIDS, influenza, malaria, menopause, migraine headache, mouth sores, nasal congestion/runny nose, pain, psoriasis, rheumatism, skin ulcers, snake bites, stomach upset, syphilis, tonsillitis, typhoid, urinary disorders, urinary tract infections, whooping cough (pertussis). Oral preparations popular in Europe and United States for prevention and treatment of upper respiratory infections (URIs).
Pregnancy and lactiation implications
Not recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Pregnant women should avoid tinctures due to potentially high alcohol content.
Unlabeled use
Preventing and treating common cold and other URIs. Genital herpes. As adjunctive treatment in cancer chemotherapy.
Contraindications
Allergy to any ingredient in echinacea. History of asthma, immune system problems (autoimmune disorders, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, infection with HIV, cancer), collagen disease, tuberculosis, diabetes, leukemia, organ transplant, pneumonia, stomach problems (e.g. blockage or resorption problems), or multiple sclerosis. Concomitant consumption of antibiotics, corticosteroids, or chemotherapy. Concurrent infection or fever.
Warnings and precautions
There is no proven effective medicinal dose for echinacea. Individuals with allergies to plants or flowers in the Asteraceae/Compositae family theoretically more likely to have allergic reactions to echinacea (caution). Multiple cases of anaphylactic shock (severe allergic reactions) and allergic rash reported with echinacea taken orally. Allergic reactions including itching, rash, wheezing, facial swelling, and anaphylaxis may occur more commonly in patients with asthma or other allergies. Echinacea injections caused severe reactions; not recommended. Echinacea associated with increased incidence of rash in children. Prior to using echinacea, patient should check with a physician if suffering from autoimmune illness or progressive disease. Long-term safety of herbal products not known. Prolonged use may diminish effects of this product (continued use not recommended for >8 weeks).