title: Effects of Echinaforce® treatment on ex vivo-stimulated blood cells.
abstract: The herb Echinacea purpurea, also called purple coneflower, is regarded as an immune modulator. This study examined changes in cytokine production in blood samples from 30 volunteers before and during 8-day oral administration with an ethanolic extract of fresh Echinacea purpurea (Echinaforce(®)). Daily blood samples were ex vivo stimulated by LPS/SEB or Zymosan and analysed for a series of cytokines and haematological and metabolic parameters. Treatment reduced the proinflammatory mediators TNF-α and IL-1β by up to 24% (p<0.05) and increased anti-inflammatory IL-10 levels by 13% (p<0.05) in comparison to baseline. This demonstrated a substantial overall anti-inflammatory effect of Echinaforce(®) for the whole group (n=28). Chemokines MCP-1 and IL-8 were upregulated by 15% in samples from subjects treated with Echinaforce(®) (p<0.05). An analysis of a subgroup of volunteers who showed low pre-treatment levels of the cytokines MCP-1, IL-8, IL-10 or IFN-γ (n=8) showed significant stimulation of these factors upon Echinaforce(®) treatment (30-49% increases; p<0.05), whereas the levels in subjects with higher pre-treatment levels remained unaffected. We chose the term "adapted immune-modulation" to describe this observation. Volunteers who reported high stress levels (n=7) and more than 2 colds per year experienced a significant transient increase in IFN-γ upon Echinaforce(®) treatment (>50%). Subjects with low cortisol levels (n=11) showed significant down-regulation of the acute-phase proteins IL1-β, IL-6, IL-12 and TNF-α by Echinaforce(®) (range, 13-25%), while subjects with higher cortisol levels showed no such down-regulation. This is the first ex vivo study to demonstrate adapted immune-modulation by an Echinacea preparation. While Echinaforce(®) did not affect leukocyte counts, we speculate that the underlying therapeutic mechanism is based on differential multi-level modulation of the responses of the different types of leukocytes. Echinaforce(®) thus regulates the production of chemokines and cytokines according to current immune status, such as responsiveness to exogenous stimuli, susceptibility to viral infection and exposure to stress.
authors: School of Life Sciences, Merchiston Campus, Napier University, EH10 5DT, Edinburgh, United Kingdom. mrr3@st-andrews.ac.uk
authors: M R
authors: MR
authors: Ritchie
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Gertsch
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Klein
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Schoop
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001773:Blood Cells / Q000187:drug effects*; D018925:Chemokines / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D015536:Down-Regulation; D020900:Echinacea / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000187:drug effects*; D007372:Interferons / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D007378:Interleukins / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D015854:Up-Regulation; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D018925:Chemokines; D007378:Interleukins; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D007372:Interferons