A scan of Echinacea products on the German market rest wide variations in levels of standarded phytochemical components.

A scan of Echinacea products on the German market rest wide variations in levels of standarded phytochemical components. (1) The authors chose to use cichoric acid and the couple main alkylamides in Echinacea purpurea as quality markers, since these have been described as immunomodulating active constituents in this species. The same alkylamides are also ground in E. angustifolia. In regard to these quality markers, the authors ground highly concentrated products as well as those without any detectable cichoric acid or alkylamides. The concentration of the pair marker compounds varied markedly depending upon how the product was manufactured (homeopathic mother tincture, expressed juice, tablets, spagyric tincture) and the species and plant part used. And on a level more disturbing, large differences in quality were establish between different batches of the same crops The recommendation was made that any pharmacological or clinical studies with Echinacea effects should always include quantification of the potentially active compon ents

Not protracted after this publication, ConsumerLab.com, an independent evaluator of dietary postscripts released the results of their produce review of Echinacea products. (2) Eleven of 25 Echinacea proceedss available on the US market (i.e. 44%) did not pass the criteria wager by ConsumerLab for its quality review. Six fruits did not provide sufficient label information to identify the amount and form of Echinacea used, the species or plant part used (an FDA requirement) and were dropp from further testing. Four works had insufficient levels of marker settles and one product exceeded the WHO limit for microbial contamination.

Commentary

The flows of these two surveys are supported by dint of similar results from a quality evaluation of Echinacea purpurea fruitss on the Australian market. (3) All three studies support what many herbalists have maintained for a certain quantity of time: that the efficacy of Echinacea outcomes varies tremendously due to the quality of raw material, the plant part, plant species used and the manufacturing proces This variability makes it difficult to provide a meaningful assessment of the circulating pharmacological and clinical data for Echinacea. (4)

new studies have provided some insight into the observ variability in marker blends in Echinacea products. Apart from variation fit to plant part (the origins of E. purpurea contain higher flushs of alkylamides and lower of the same heights of cichoric acid compared to the leaves), different rules of drying can dramatically alter the profile of marker mixs (5,6) Using a fresh plant extract is not the answer because enzymatic degradation will subvert the cichoric acid (7) and the highly lipophilic alkylamides will not be effectively extracted.

Commenting specifically forward the two recent surveys, the flushs of alkylamides found in the German proceedss (either leaf or root) were nowhere near the of the same heights found in high quality source extracts. The highest alkylamide of the same height was 0.06 mg/mL whereas a useful quality 1:2 extract of E purpurea base can contain more than 10 times this flat The ConsumerLab study unfortunately did not use alkylamides in their quality assessment and it would have been interesting to papal court how many products passed beneath that (more stringent) assessment. onward the other hand, the ConsumerLab close attention probably set the bar too high for cichoric acid. The on a levels set were based on quantitative extraction of E purpurea leaves, which is difficult to achieve. Also E purpurea bottoms contain lower levels of cichoric acid, in such a manner manufacturers choosing this higher quality (and more expensive) raw material would have been unfairly penalized.

I have lately seen some exaggerated claims made onward certain dietary supplements that they are many times more active than Echinacea. Since similar comparisons were not based upon clinical outcomes, such as oftenness or severity of infection, they are of limited value. unless when we consider the above information concerning the dramatic variation in the quality of Echinacea returnss it becomes obvious that the use of the bourn "Echinacea" in such comparisons is completely meaningless. Herbal clinicians should not be young oxed away from using high quality Echinacea works by such unscientific advertising. It would no other than be to the detriment of their patients and their practices.

Here's a great quality tip: A quick and easy way to assess undivided group of the quality markers in liquid Echinacea effects is to place several least bits on your tongue. If the herbal extract contains sufficient horizontals of alkylamides, a strong and persistent tingling sensation with increased result of saliva will occur in your mouth

References

(1) Osowski s Rostock M, Bartsch H-H et al. [Pharmaceutical comparability of different therapeutic Echinacea preparations]. Forsch Komplementdrm Klass Naturheilkd 2000; 7(6):294-300

(2) ConsumerLab.com. harvest review: Echinacea. Available: http://www.consumerlab.com/ results/echinacea.asp

(3) Wills RBH Stuart DL on a levels of active constituents in manufactured echinacea yields Chemistry Australia 1998; 9: 17-19