7,617
edits
Changes
From Gardenology.org - Plant Encyclopedia and Gardening Wiki
Jump to navigationJump to searchno edit summary
:''This article is about the flowering plant. For Superorder Echinacea (Echinodermata) see [[Sea urchin]]''
{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = ''Echinacea''
| image = EchinaceaPurpureaMaxima1a.UME.JPG
| image_width = 240px
| image_caption = ''Echinacea purpurea''
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[dicotyledon|Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Asterales]]
| familia = [[Asteraceae]]
| tribus = [[Heliantheae]]
| genus = '''''Echinacea'''''
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision = See text
}}
'''''Echinacea''''' commonly called the '''Purple coneflowers''', is a genus of nine species of [[herbaceous]] plants in the Family [[Asteraceae]]. All are strictly native to eastern and central [[North America]]. The plants have large showy heads of composite flowers, blooming from early to late summer. Some species are used in [[herbalism|herbal medicines]].
[[Image:Echinacea-purpura-flower-closeup.jpg|thumb|left|''E. purpurea'' flower centre]]
The genus name is from the [[Greek language|Greek]] ''echino'', meaning "spiny", due to the spiny central disk. They are [[herbaceous]], drought-tolerant [[perennial plant]]s growing to 1 or 2 m in height. The [[leaf|leaves]] are lanceolate to elliptic, 10–20 cm long and 1.5–10 cm broad. Like all Asteraceae, the [[flower]]s are a composite [[inflorescence]], with purple (rarely yellow or white) florets arranged in a prominent, somewhat cone-shaped [[head (botany)|head]]; "cone-shaped" because the petals of the outer ray florets tend to point downward (are reflexed) once the flower head opens, thus forming a cone.<br clear = left>
[[Image:Yellow Coneflower Echinacea paradoxa Closeup Bee 3008px.jpg|thumb|left|A [[Bee]] on an ''Echinacea paradoxa'' flower]]
==Species==
The species of ''Echinacea'' are:
*''[[Echinacea angustifolia]]'' - Narrow-leaf Coneflower
*''[[Echinacea atrorubens]]'' - Topeka Purple Coneflower
*''[[Echinacea laevigata]]'' - Smooth Coneflower, Smooth Purple Coneflower
*''[[Echinacea pallida]]'' - Pale Purple Coneflower
*''[[Echinacea paradoxa]]'' - Yellow Coneflower, Bush's Purple Coneflower
*''[[Echinacea purpurea]]'' - Purple Coneflower, Eastern Purple Coneflower
*''[[Echinacea sanguinea]]'' - Sanguine purple coneflower
*''[[Echinacea simulata]]'' - Wavyleaf Purple Coneflower
*''[[Echinacea tennesseensis]]'' - Tennessee Coneflower
[[Image:Echinacea_3.jpg|thumb|right|The spiny flower center from which the name derives]]
==Health effects==
''Echinacea'' is popularly believed to stimulate the body's [[immune system]] and ward off [[infection]]s, particularly the [[common cold]]. However, its clinical efficacy has not been established.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Caruso TJ, Gwaltney JM |title=Treatment of the common cold with echinacea: a structured review |journal=Clin. Infect. Dis. |volume=40 |issue=6 |pages=807-10 |year=2005 |pmid=15736012 |doi=10.1086/428061}}</ref>
===History===
''Echinacea'' angustifolia rhizome was used by [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|North American Plains Indians]], perhaps more than most other plants, for various herbal remedies. Echinacea was one of the basic antimicrobial herbs of [[Eclectic]] medicine in the mid 1800s through the early 1900s and its use was documented for snakebite and anthrax. In the [[1930]]s "Echinacea" became popular in both Europe and America as a herbal medicine.
===Active substances===
The full spectrum of echinacea's chemical components responsible for its health effects are not well understood. Like most [[crude drugs]] from plant or animal origin, the constituent base is complex and some parts may be directly antimicrobial while others work at stimulating or modulating different parts of the immune system. All species have chemical compounds called [[phenols]], which are common to many other plants. Both the phenol compounds [[cichoric acid|Cichoric]] and [[caftaric acid|caftaric]] are present in ''E. purpurea'', other phenols include [[echinacoside]], which is found in greater levels within ''E. angustifolia'' and ''E. pallida'' roots than in other species. When making herbal remedies, these phenols can serve as markers to evaluate the quantity of echinacea in the product. Other chemical constituents that may be important in echinacea health effects include [[alkylamides]] and [[polysaccharide]]s.
====Root or whole plant====
A medical study (Taylor et al. 2003<ref>[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=14657066&dopt=Abstract "Efficacy and safety of echinacea in treating upper respiratory tract infections in children: a randomized controlled trial", Taylor, J. A., et al. 2003., ''Journal of the American Medical Association'' 2003 Dec 3;290(21):2824-30]</ref>.) found that when echinacea products made from the entire plant (not just the root) were taken after the second cold symptom appeared they provided no measurable beneficial effect for children in treating the severity or duration of symptoms caused by the common cold virus. Dosage however was about a third of what clinical herbalists routinely use, and the leaves and stems are not known to be clinically effective. Studies by the University of Virginia School of Medicine (Turner, 2005 <ref>[http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/short/353/4/341 "An evaluation of ''Echinaceae angustifolia'' in experimental rhinovirus infections." Turner, R. B. et al. 2005., New England Journal of Medicine 353: 341-348.].</ref>) confirmed these results, and added that ''Echinacea'' had no clinically significant effects on the common cold even if taken immediately upon infection, or as a [[prophylaxis]] starting a week prior to symptoms of infection. However, a University of Maryland review of available studies concluded that ''Echinacea'', when taken at first sign of a cold, reduced cold symptoms or shortened their duration. This conclusion was based on 13 European studies.<ref>Paul Bergner. "Healing Power of Echinacea and Goldenseal and Other Immune System Herbs" (The Healing Power)1997</ref> The University of Maryland study also found that three of four studies concluded that taking ''Echinacea'' to prevent a cold was ineffective, although including studies that use subclinical doses, the wrong part or unassayed material will bias such conclusions. Another scientific review, however, of 14 published studies found that the incidence of colds was reduced by 58% and the duration by a day and half.<ref>{{cite journal
| last = Shah
| first = Sachin A
| coauthors = S. Sander, C. White, M. Rinaldi, C. Coleman
| year = 2007
| month = July
| title = Evaluation of echinacea for the prevention and treatment of the common cold: a meta-analysis
| journal = The Lancet Infectious Diseases
| volume = 7
| issue = 7
| pages = 473-480
| pmid = 17597571
| doi = 10.1016/S1473-3099(07)70160-3
| accessdate = 2007-07-07
}}</ref>
====Alcohol-based or dry====
Leading herbalists claim that many studies do not distinguish between alcohol-based echinacea tinctures, which retain potency for up to seven years after production, and capsules containing the dried herb, which lose their efficacy over time.{{Fact|date=June 2007}} Capsules not only lose strength, but must be digested in the stomach while alcohol tinctures enter the lymphatic system through the tongue.
====Frequency of administration====
Proponents of echinacea assert that it is not a "one-dose" treatment, and that in order to work effectively, a dose should be taken at the very first sign of a cold symptom. Subsequent doses must be taken every two to four hours after the first dose, including every two to four hours during the overnight sleeping period, until the cold symptoms have disappeared (generally within 24 hours.) The scientific studies stated above appear to disagree with these claims as ad hoc rationalising; if the cold doesn't go away when expected, the patient can always be blamed for not following the strict regimen, and the product is never to blame. This is known as subjective validation.
====Species====
Not all species of ''Echinacea'' are equally effective. A Cochrane review of the published studies <ref>[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=16437427&query_hl=4&itool=pubmed_docsum Linde K, ''et al''. ''Echinacea'' for preventing and treating the common cold. ''Cochrane Database Syst Rev''. 2006 Jan 25;(1):CD000530]</ref> has found that there is some evidence of benefit in the treatment (but not prevention) of the common cold by the aerial parts of ''Echinacea purpurea''; other formulations of the plant did not show the same effect, and no formulation was effective for prevention.
===Contraindications===
''Echinacea'' herbals should not be taken by persons with progressive systemic and auto-immune disorders such as [[tuberculosis]], [[leicosis]], connective tissue disorders, [[collagenosis]], and related diseases such as [[lupus erythematosus]], according to the German Kommission E. Its use in [[AIDS]] or against opportunistic infections in AIDS patients is controversial: the Kommission E recommend against it. <ref>[http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/echinacea/NS_patient-echinacea [[Mayo Clinic]] report]</ref>. It should not be used with other known hepatotoxic drugs such as [[anabolic steroid]]s, [[amiodarone]] (''Pacerone''<sup>®</sup> or ''Cordarone''<sup>®</sup>), [[methotrexate]], or [[ketoconazole]] (''Nizoral''<sup>®</sup>) <ref>[http://archinte.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/158/20/2200?maxtoshow=&HITS=10&hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=1&andorexacttitle=and&andorexacttitleabs=and&andorexactfulltext=and&searchid=1095665122685_136&stored_search=&FIRSTINDEX=0&sortspec=relevance&volume=158&firstpage=2200&journalcode=archinte Herbal medicines. "Selected clinical considerations focusing on known or potential drug-herb interactions.", Miller, Lucinda G., 1998, ''Archives of Internal Medicine'' 158: 2200-2211.]</ref>.
==Other uses==
===Medical===
Echinacea may, in addition to common cold, be useful when treating [[Athlete's foot]] with [[Econazole]], or in cancer treatment<ref>[http://www.umm.edu/altmed/ConsHerbs/Echinaceach.html [[University of Maryland, Baltimore|University of Maryland]] Echinacea Study Review]</ref>.
===Others===
Some species of ''Echinacea'', notably ''P. purpurea'', ''E. angustifolia'', and ''E. pallida'', are grown as [[ornamental plant]]s in gardens<ref>[http://www.ars.usda.gov/SP2UserFiles/Place/36251200/Posters/Echinacea_poster2.pdf "A Comprehensive Echinacea Germplasm Collection Located at the North Central Regional Plant Introduction Station"], USDA</ref> They tolerate a wide variety of conditions, maintain attractive foliage throughout the season, and multiply rapidly. Appropriate species are used in [[prairie]] restorations.
==References==
<div class="references-2column">
<references/>
</div>
==External links==
* [http://web.mac.com/david.vernon/iWeb/The%20Canberra%20Journal/The%20Scribbles/AFFFC40F-7112-4236-9D24-A6173FD8FD91.html Echinacea - the wonder herb (reprinted from ''The Skeptic'' Winter 2007)]
[[Category:Asteraceae]]
[[Category:Medicinal plants]]
{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = ''Echinacea''
| image = EchinaceaPurpureaMaxima1a.UME.JPG
| image_width = 240px
| image_caption = ''Echinacea purpurea''
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[dicotyledon|Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Asterales]]
| familia = [[Asteraceae]]
| tribus = [[Heliantheae]]
| genus = '''''Echinacea'''''
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision = See text
}}
'''''Echinacea''''' commonly called the '''Purple coneflowers''', is a genus of nine species of [[herbaceous]] plants in the Family [[Asteraceae]]. All are strictly native to eastern and central [[North America]]. The plants have large showy heads of composite flowers, blooming from early to late summer. Some species are used in [[herbalism|herbal medicines]].
[[Image:Echinacea-purpura-flower-closeup.jpg|thumb|left|''E. purpurea'' flower centre]]
The genus name is from the [[Greek language|Greek]] ''echino'', meaning "spiny", due to the spiny central disk. They are [[herbaceous]], drought-tolerant [[perennial plant]]s growing to 1 or 2 m in height. The [[leaf|leaves]] are lanceolate to elliptic, 10–20 cm long and 1.5–10 cm broad. Like all Asteraceae, the [[flower]]s are a composite [[inflorescence]], with purple (rarely yellow or white) florets arranged in a prominent, somewhat cone-shaped [[head (botany)|head]]; "cone-shaped" because the petals of the outer ray florets tend to point downward (are reflexed) once the flower head opens, thus forming a cone.<br clear = left>
[[Image:Yellow Coneflower Echinacea paradoxa Closeup Bee 3008px.jpg|thumb|left|A [[Bee]] on an ''Echinacea paradoxa'' flower]]
==Species==
The species of ''Echinacea'' are:
*''[[Echinacea angustifolia]]'' - Narrow-leaf Coneflower
*''[[Echinacea atrorubens]]'' - Topeka Purple Coneflower
*''[[Echinacea laevigata]]'' - Smooth Coneflower, Smooth Purple Coneflower
*''[[Echinacea pallida]]'' - Pale Purple Coneflower
*''[[Echinacea paradoxa]]'' - Yellow Coneflower, Bush's Purple Coneflower
*''[[Echinacea purpurea]]'' - Purple Coneflower, Eastern Purple Coneflower
*''[[Echinacea sanguinea]]'' - Sanguine purple coneflower
*''[[Echinacea simulata]]'' - Wavyleaf Purple Coneflower
*''[[Echinacea tennesseensis]]'' - Tennessee Coneflower
[[Image:Echinacea_3.jpg|thumb|right|The spiny flower center from which the name derives]]
==Health effects==
''Echinacea'' is popularly believed to stimulate the body's [[immune system]] and ward off [[infection]]s, particularly the [[common cold]]. However, its clinical efficacy has not been established.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Caruso TJ, Gwaltney JM |title=Treatment of the common cold with echinacea: a structured review |journal=Clin. Infect. Dis. |volume=40 |issue=6 |pages=807-10 |year=2005 |pmid=15736012 |doi=10.1086/428061}}</ref>
===History===
''Echinacea'' angustifolia rhizome was used by [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|North American Plains Indians]], perhaps more than most other plants, for various herbal remedies. Echinacea was one of the basic antimicrobial herbs of [[Eclectic]] medicine in the mid 1800s through the early 1900s and its use was documented for snakebite and anthrax. In the [[1930]]s "Echinacea" became popular in both Europe and America as a herbal medicine.
===Active substances===
The full spectrum of echinacea's chemical components responsible for its health effects are not well understood. Like most [[crude drugs]] from plant or animal origin, the constituent base is complex and some parts may be directly antimicrobial while others work at stimulating or modulating different parts of the immune system. All species have chemical compounds called [[phenols]], which are common to many other plants. Both the phenol compounds [[cichoric acid|Cichoric]] and [[caftaric acid|caftaric]] are present in ''E. purpurea'', other phenols include [[echinacoside]], which is found in greater levels within ''E. angustifolia'' and ''E. pallida'' roots than in other species. When making herbal remedies, these phenols can serve as markers to evaluate the quantity of echinacea in the product. Other chemical constituents that may be important in echinacea health effects include [[alkylamides]] and [[polysaccharide]]s.
====Root or whole plant====
A medical study (Taylor et al. 2003<ref>[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=14657066&dopt=Abstract "Efficacy and safety of echinacea in treating upper respiratory tract infections in children: a randomized controlled trial", Taylor, J. A., et al. 2003., ''Journal of the American Medical Association'' 2003 Dec 3;290(21):2824-30]</ref>.) found that when echinacea products made from the entire plant (not just the root) were taken after the second cold symptom appeared they provided no measurable beneficial effect for children in treating the severity or duration of symptoms caused by the common cold virus. Dosage however was about a third of what clinical herbalists routinely use, and the leaves and stems are not known to be clinically effective. Studies by the University of Virginia School of Medicine (Turner, 2005 <ref>[http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/short/353/4/341 "An evaluation of ''Echinaceae angustifolia'' in experimental rhinovirus infections." Turner, R. B. et al. 2005., New England Journal of Medicine 353: 341-348.].</ref>) confirmed these results, and added that ''Echinacea'' had no clinically significant effects on the common cold even if taken immediately upon infection, or as a [[prophylaxis]] starting a week prior to symptoms of infection. However, a University of Maryland review of available studies concluded that ''Echinacea'', when taken at first sign of a cold, reduced cold symptoms or shortened their duration. This conclusion was based on 13 European studies.<ref>Paul Bergner. "Healing Power of Echinacea and Goldenseal and Other Immune System Herbs" (The Healing Power)1997</ref> The University of Maryland study also found that three of four studies concluded that taking ''Echinacea'' to prevent a cold was ineffective, although including studies that use subclinical doses, the wrong part or unassayed material will bias such conclusions. Another scientific review, however, of 14 published studies found that the incidence of colds was reduced by 58% and the duration by a day and half.<ref>{{cite journal
| last = Shah
| first = Sachin A
| coauthors = S. Sander, C. White, M. Rinaldi, C. Coleman
| year = 2007
| month = July
| title = Evaluation of echinacea for the prevention and treatment of the common cold: a meta-analysis
| journal = The Lancet Infectious Diseases
| volume = 7
| issue = 7
| pages = 473-480
| pmid = 17597571
| doi = 10.1016/S1473-3099(07)70160-3
| accessdate = 2007-07-07
}}</ref>
====Alcohol-based or dry====
Leading herbalists claim that many studies do not distinguish between alcohol-based echinacea tinctures, which retain potency for up to seven years after production, and capsules containing the dried herb, which lose their efficacy over time.{{Fact|date=June 2007}} Capsules not only lose strength, but must be digested in the stomach while alcohol tinctures enter the lymphatic system through the tongue.
====Frequency of administration====
Proponents of echinacea assert that it is not a "one-dose" treatment, and that in order to work effectively, a dose should be taken at the very first sign of a cold symptom. Subsequent doses must be taken every two to four hours after the first dose, including every two to four hours during the overnight sleeping period, until the cold symptoms have disappeared (generally within 24 hours.) The scientific studies stated above appear to disagree with these claims as ad hoc rationalising; if the cold doesn't go away when expected, the patient can always be blamed for not following the strict regimen, and the product is never to blame. This is known as subjective validation.
====Species====
Not all species of ''Echinacea'' are equally effective. A Cochrane review of the published studies <ref>[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=16437427&query_hl=4&itool=pubmed_docsum Linde K, ''et al''. ''Echinacea'' for preventing and treating the common cold. ''Cochrane Database Syst Rev''. 2006 Jan 25;(1):CD000530]</ref> has found that there is some evidence of benefit in the treatment (but not prevention) of the common cold by the aerial parts of ''Echinacea purpurea''; other formulations of the plant did not show the same effect, and no formulation was effective for prevention.
===Contraindications===
''Echinacea'' herbals should not be taken by persons with progressive systemic and auto-immune disorders such as [[tuberculosis]], [[leicosis]], connective tissue disorders, [[collagenosis]], and related diseases such as [[lupus erythematosus]], according to the German Kommission E. Its use in [[AIDS]] or against opportunistic infections in AIDS patients is controversial: the Kommission E recommend against it. <ref>[http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/echinacea/NS_patient-echinacea [[Mayo Clinic]] report]</ref>. It should not be used with other known hepatotoxic drugs such as [[anabolic steroid]]s, [[amiodarone]] (''Pacerone''<sup>®</sup> or ''Cordarone''<sup>®</sup>), [[methotrexate]], or [[ketoconazole]] (''Nizoral''<sup>®</sup>) <ref>[http://archinte.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/158/20/2200?maxtoshow=&HITS=10&hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=1&andorexacttitle=and&andorexacttitleabs=and&andorexactfulltext=and&searchid=1095665122685_136&stored_search=&FIRSTINDEX=0&sortspec=relevance&volume=158&firstpage=2200&journalcode=archinte Herbal medicines. "Selected clinical considerations focusing on known or potential drug-herb interactions.", Miller, Lucinda G., 1998, ''Archives of Internal Medicine'' 158: 2200-2211.]</ref>.
==Other uses==
===Medical===
Echinacea may, in addition to common cold, be useful when treating [[Athlete's foot]] with [[Econazole]], or in cancer treatment<ref>[http://www.umm.edu/altmed/ConsHerbs/Echinaceach.html [[University of Maryland, Baltimore|University of Maryland]] Echinacea Study Review]</ref>.
===Others===
Some species of ''Echinacea'', notably ''P. purpurea'', ''E. angustifolia'', and ''E. pallida'', are grown as [[ornamental plant]]s in gardens<ref>[http://www.ars.usda.gov/SP2UserFiles/Place/36251200/Posters/Echinacea_poster2.pdf "A Comprehensive Echinacea Germplasm Collection Located at the North Central Regional Plant Introduction Station"], USDA</ref> They tolerate a wide variety of conditions, maintain attractive foliage throughout the season, and multiply rapidly. Appropriate species are used in [[prairie]] restorations.
==References==
<div class="references-2column">
<references/>
</div>
==External links==
* [http://web.mac.com/david.vernon/iWeb/The%20Canberra%20Journal/The%20Scribbles/AFFFC40F-7112-4236-9D24-A6173FD8FD91.html Echinacea - the wonder herb (reprinted from ''The Skeptic'' Winter 2007)]
[[Category:Asteraceae]]
[[Category:Medicinal plants]]
