title: The effect of Echinacea purpurea, Astragalus membranaceus and Glycyrrhiza glabra on CD69 expression and immune cell activation in humans.
abstract: The increasing use of medicinal herbs among the general public has piqued the need for scientific-based research to determine the mechanism of action of herbs administered orally in human subjects. The ability of three herbs, Echinacea purpurea, Astragalus membranaceus and Glycyrrhiza glabra, to activate immune cells in human subjects was assessed in this pilot study. The effect of these herbs when ingested for 7 days was measured both when administered singly, and in combination, using flow cytometry. The primary cell activation marker measured was CD69. The results demonstrate that Echinacea, Astragalus and Glycyrrhiza herbal tinctures stimulated immune cells as quantified by CD69 expression on CD4 and CD8 T cells. This activation took place within 24 h of ingestion, and continued for at least 7 days. In addition, these three herbs had an additive effect on CD69 expression when used in combination.
authors.affiliation: Helfgott Research Institute, National College of Naturopathic Medicine, Portland, OR, USA.
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brush
authors.forename: Elissa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mendenhall
authors.forename: Alena
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Guggenheim
authors.forename: Tracy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Erin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Connelly
authors.forename: Amala
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Soumyanath
authors.forename: Randal
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Buresh
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Barrett
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zwickey
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism*; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000378:metabolism*; D027883:Astragalus Plant / Q000737:chemistry; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D020900:Echinacea / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D006035:Glycyrrhiza / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry; D000099192:CD69 Antigens
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D015703:Antigens, CD; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D010936:Plant Extracts; D000099192:CD69 Antigens