title: Human gene expression as a tool to determine horticultural maturity in a bioactive plant (Echinacea purpurea L. Moench).
abstract: A phenological study was conducted to determine the impact of harvest maturity on the immune-modulating properties of Echinacea purpurea. The aerial parts of this plant were collected during seven stages of development and were assayed for a common botanical marker for this species, cichoric acid. Plants of selected development stages were also assayed for total polysaccharides and compared for their immune-modulating effects on the THP-1 monocyte/macrophage cell line by means of a gene expression study. Although the concentration of cichoric acid did not change significantly during the course of the study, stage 1 (advanced vegetative) had the highest concentration of total polysaccharides and exhibited the most potent induction activity on immune-modulating cytokines such as interferon-gamma and tumor necrosis factor-alpha. These findings suggest that the use of gene expression may be an effective tool not only to standardize botanical extracts but also to optimize harvest time.
authors.affiliation: Nutrilite Health Institute, 19600 6th Street, Lakeview, California 92567, USA. ernesto.brovelli@nutrilite.com
authors.forename: Ernesto Antonio
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Brovelli
authors.forename: Diego
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rua
authors.forename: Haeri
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Roh-Schmidt
authors.forename: Amitabh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chandra
authors.forename: Erin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lamont
authors.forename: Giuliana Doris
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Noratto
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D002109:Caffeic Acids / Q000032:analysis; D002460:Cell Line; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D020900:Echinacea / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000254:growth & development*; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D007109:Immunity / Q000187:drug effects; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000032:analysis; D013386:Succinates / Q000032:analysis; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D002109:Caffeic Acids; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011134:Polysaccharides; D013386:Succinates; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D007371:Interferon-gamma; C100435:chicoric acid