Extracts of the plant Echinacea purpurea are widely used for medicinal purposes. Effective quality control of these extracts requires rapid methods to determine their chemical composition. A new method for analysis of caffeic acid derivatives and alkamides from Echinacea extracts has been developed. With this method, isomeric isobutylamides and 2-methylbutylamides can be distinguished, a capabi...

While radiation hazards, due to free radical generation, present an enormous challenge for biological and medical safety, Echinacea purpurea is a potent scavenger of a variety of free radicals. The aim of this study was to investigate the radioprotective effect of Echinacea purpurea against oxidative stress in spleen tissues and alterations in some immune responses. Rats were whole body irradia...

BACKGROUND: It is important to understand the efficacy of immunoregulatory materials, herbal remedies or probiotics, in different parts of immune system following vaccination with different tropism. OBJECTIVES: Aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of Echinacea purpurea and a probiotic (protexin) on systemic and mucosal immune response in turkey. METHODS: A total of 288 1-day-old male tu...

Title:Antiplasmodial activity of solvent fractions of methanolic root extract of Dodonaea angustifolia in Plasmodium berghei infected mice

Background & Aim: This experiment was conducted to examine the effect of different levels of Echinacea purpurea (EP) in comparison with an antibiotic (flavofosfolipol) on total antioxidant activity (AOA) in serum of broiler chicks. Experimental: In this trial 240 one-day-old broiler chicks (Ross 308) were weighed and randomly assigned to the 5 treatment groups, each with 4 re...

INTRODUCTION When directly exposed to various echinacea fractions, human leukocytes ex vivo are strongly stimulated to proliferate and to produce immunostimulation and inflammatory cytokines. A comparison of fractions containing lipoidal small molecules and high-molecular-weight water-soluble polysaccharides indicates that the latter are substantially more potent as immunostimulants. Echinacea ...

Background & Aim: Hydroxycinnamic acids are one of the most important bioactive substances of Echinacea drugs. These compounds possess immuno-enhancing activity and thus, total hydroxycinnamic acids are mostly used as the main criterion for quality control of Echinacea purpurea and its drugs.  Hence, the quality control of Echinacea requires to develo...