English name: Echinacea Herb P.E
Latin name: Echinacea purpurea,
Chinese name: Echinacea
Section: Asteraceae
Genus: The genus Echinacea
Use areas: the whole plant
History:
Echinacea is a plains Indian tribes, the most widely used medicinal plants are generally used for colds, toothache, snake bites and other trauma. Indigenous over the years as alternative medicine, strengthen the immune system and clear the blood, in particular, is prone to seasonal changes and flu cough season. In 1887, the introduction of a comprehensive treatment system and to promote for a variety of diseases, from colds to syphilis. The modern study of this herbal medicine began in the 1930s in Germany.
Functions:
Echinacea, the main active ingredients, polyphenols, caffeic acid derivatives and polysaccharides has the following features:
1. immune stimulating effect
Inulin: by increasing the number of myeloid leukocytes play a role, to improve the chemotaxis of monocytes and neutral virus lysis.
Polysaccharide: hydrocarbon receptor of T lymphocytes and macrophages to produce immune stimulation can increase the phagocytic capacity of macrophages, and stimulate macrophages to increase tumor necrosis factor, interferon, leukocytes mediated the number of numbers, can destruction of tumor cells.
Alkyl amines and caffeic acid derivatives: a lipophilic alkyl amines can increase macrophage phagocytosis.
Echinacea: to improve the activity of non-specific T cells to produce interferon, and promote the secretion of lymphocytes, reducing the T-helper cells, and lower T-helper cells and suppressor ratio.
2. organizational renewal and anti-inflammatory effects
Inhibition of hyaluronidase (hyaluronidase), can stimulate the synthesis of fibroblast growth and glucosamine produce cortical ketones role, promoting the secretion of adrenal cortical hormone. Polysaccharides have a role in resistance to infection.
3. The antibacterial effect
Echinacea purpurea glycosides and caffeic acid derivatives have a weak antibacterial activity.
4. Antiviral
Influenza, herpes, and blistering virus can inhibit antiviral activity attributed to the inhibition of hyaluronidase, can hinder the cell surface receptor for the virus.
5. toxicity
The amount of excess willing to cause a low grade fever, sensitive people may dermatitis.