Echinacea purpurea radix

Echinacea purpurea the red coneflower (see below coneflower) is the parent plant of Echinaceae purpureae radix, the purple coneflower root. Echinaceae purpureae radix, an officinal preparation (Ph.Eur.8; Monograph: ESCOP) from the whole or cut underground parts of the plant.
quality is defined in the European Pharmacopoeia (Ph. Eur.).

HMPC mon ograph: Traditional-use: internal: relief of cold symptoms, external: for treatment of pustules in mild acne.

ESCOP mon ograph: supportive treatment and prevention of recurrent upper respiratory tract infections (common cold).

Commission E: negative monograph, efficacy not proven at the time.

Caffeic acid derivatives(echinacoside a glycosidic ester of caffeic acid, caftaric acid, chicory acid), chlorogenic acid, essential oil, polysaccharides, etc.

Promotion of wound healing, antiphlogistic, antimycotic, antiviral, non-specific immune modulation.

Internal: Supportive therapy for recurrent infections of the urinary and respiratory tract. Also for prophylaxis of infections.

Not to be used for progressive systemic diseases for fundamental reasons. HIV infections, multiple sclerosis, autoimmune diseases.

With parenteral application dose-dependent fever reactions, also nausea and vomiting. Allergic reactions with parenteral application.

1. Balciunaite G et al.(2015) Fractionation and evaluation of proteins in roots of Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench. Acta Pharm 65:473-479.
2. Kim HR et al. (2014) Immune enhancing effects of Echinacea purpurea root extract by reducing regulatory T cell number and function. Nat Prod Commun 9:511-514.
3. https://arzneipflanzenlexikon.info/coneflower.php.
4. https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/herbal-monograph/final-european-union-herbal-monograph-onechinacea-purpurea-l-moench-radix-revision-1_en.pdf