Echinacea is a plant that contains various chemicals and is used to stimulate the immune system, treat infections, and reduce inflammation. It works by stimulating immune cells, increasing antibody and white blood cell production, and inhibiting bacteria. Typical dosages are 200mg tablets taken 1-2 times daily or 100mg capsules taken 3 times daily. Side effects can include nausea, vomiting, and rash. It should not be used by people with autoimmune disorders or while pregnant/breastfeeding. Echinacea may interact with some medications metabolized by the liver or affected by P-glycoprotein transporters.

1. ECHINACEA
(Echinacea Purpurea)
Pharmacognostic features
Chemical constituent
Uses
Mechanism of action
Dosage
toxicity
Side effects
Contraindications
precautions
Drug interactions
Reference

2. Echinacea purpurea

3. Pharmacognostic features
Botanical origin:
Echinacea purpurea (L) Moench
Family: Asterecea / compositae
 Common name: Purple Cone flower
English name: Echinacea purpurea
Part used: Roots and flower heads

4. Chemical constituents
• Glycosides
• Achinacosides
• Echinacin
• Polysaccharides
• Caffeic acid
• Essential oils
• Flavonoids
• Volatile oils
• Vitamins and minerals

5. Uses
• Antiseptic
• Stimulate immune system
• Antibiotic activity
• Anti viral and anti fungal
• Mouth wash
• Anti inflammatory
• Improve white blood count

6. Mechanism of action
• Antibiotic activity
It has a mild antibiotic effect, helping to protect cells from invading pathogens as
bacteria, viruses, fungi. The plant both stimulates the properdin /complement system,
which helps the body control and prevent infections, and increases production of
alpha- and alpha-2 gamma globulins, which prevents viral and other infections.
• Immune modulatory action
Make immune cell efficient , increase activity of anti tumor cell and promote the T Cell
activation and stimulates the new tissue growth.
• Phagocytosis function
Stimulates the production of interferon as well as other important product of immune
system including tumor necrosis factor which is important in body against cancer.
• Against infection
It inhibits an enzyme hyaloronidase secreted by bacteria to help them gain access to
healthy cells.

7. Dosage
• Film coated tablet contain 200 mg of extract
from Echinacea purpurea root.
• In adults and elderly and children and over 12
years take 1-2 tablet with water.
• Tablet contain 6.78 mg of E . purpurea.
• Capsules contain 100 mg of three times daily.
• E . purpurea herb juice ; daily dose of 6-9 ml
for upto maximum of 8 weeks.

8. Toxicity
• In several clinical studies, the frequency of adverse
effects in the Echinacea group and control group were
similar and not statistically significant, while in some
studies, rash and gastrointestinal symptoms were
reported from the Echinacea group. Some adverse
effects were also reported by the UK Committee on
Safety of Medicines and the Medicines and Healthcare
Products Regulatory Agency's spontaneous reporting
scheme (the “yellow card” scheme), commonly
including abdominal pain, angioedema, dyspnea,
nausea, pruritus, rash, erythema, and urticaria.

9. Side effects
• Fever
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Unpleasant taste
• Stomach pain
• Diarrhea
• Headache
• Numbness of tongue.
• Dizziness
• Insomnia

10. Contra-indications
• Do not use if :
• you are allergic to any of the ingredients or to Echinacea
• You are pregnant or breast-feeding.
• You have a skin condition called pemphigus vulgaris.
• You have an immune system disorder such as multiple
sclerosis (MS), lupus (systemic lupus erythematosus, SLE),
rheumatoid arthritis (RA), or other immune system
conditions called "autoimmune disease.“
• Product may increase the effect of caffeine. Avoid drinking
large amounts of beverages containing caffeine (coffee, tea,
certain sodas) or eating large amounts of chocolate.
• If your product contains alcohol, do not use it in
combination with metronidazole or disulfiram .

11. Precautions
• Do not chew.
• Do not exceed the stated dose.
• For oral administration only.
• Not for use in those under 18.
• Always read the label.
• Use of Echinacea is restricted to no longer than eight weeks at a
time. This is because after eight consecutive weeks,Echinacea
losses its effectiveness and may even diminish immune function.
• Regular users of this herb, need "break" periods : namely, periods
of time that they are not taking echinacea in order for it to maintain
its ability to enhance immune function and fight infection.

12. Drug interactions
Drug Interaction Classification
Maj
or
Highly clinically significant. Avoid combinations; the risk of the interaction outweighs the benefit.
Mod
erat
e
Moderately clinically significant. Usually avoid combinations; use it only under special circumstances.
min
or
Minimally clinically significant. Minimize risk; assess risk and consider an alternative drug, take steps to circumvent the
interaction risk and/or institute a monitoring plan

13. Caffeine
Interaction Rating: Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Talk with your health provider.
The body breaks down caffeine to get rid of it. Echinacea might
decrease how quickly the body breaks down caffeine. Taking
echinacea along with caffeine might cause too much caffeine in the
bloodstream and increase the risk of side effects. Common side
effects include jitteriness, headache
Etoposide ( VePesid)
Interaction Rating: Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Talk with your health.
Etoposide provider is changed and broken down by the body.
Echinacea might change how the body breaks down some
medications. Taking echinacea along with etoposide might increase
the side effects of etoposide. Before taking echinacea, talk to your
healthcare provider if you are taking any medications that are
changed by the body.

14. • Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 1A2 (CYP1A2) substrates)
Interaction Rating: Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Talk with your health provider.
• Some medications are changed and broken down by the liver. Echinacea might decrease how
quickly the liver breaks down some medications. Taking Echinacea along with some
medications might increase the effects and side effects of some medications. Before taking
Echinacea, talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking any medications that are
changed by the liver.
• Some of the medications that are changed by the liver include clozapine (Clozaril),
cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril ), fluvoxamine (Luvox), haloperidol (Haldol),
Warfarin (Coumadin).
Interaction Rating: Minor Be cautious with this combination.
Talk with your health provider.
• Warfarin (Coumadin) is used to slow blood clotting. The body breaks down warfarin
(Coumadin) to get rid of it. Echinacea might increase the breakdown and decrease the
effectiveness of warfarin (Coumadin). Decreasing the effectiveness of warfarin (Coumadin)
might increase the risk of clotting. Be sure to have your blood checked regularly. The dose of
your warfarin (Coumadin) might need to be changed.
• Cardiac glycosides: In cell culture research, Echinacea purpurea reduced the flux of drugs
such as digoxin by inhibiting p-glycoprotein transporter activity .

15. REFERENCES
• http://www.healthenhancingpharmacy.com/ns/Display
Monograph.asp?StoreID=AA17FDA0BA7345A4BAF000
B703198885&DocID=basic-interactions-echinacea
• http://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-
77326/echinacea-purpurea-root-oral/details#
• http://en.mr-ginseng.com/echinacea/
• http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC44411
64/
• https://www.upjs.sk/public/media/5705/thaiszia-16-
011-026-mistrikova.pdf
• http://www.mdidea.com/products/herbextract/echina
cea/data05.html