I’ve always been enthralled by plants and their medicinal properties, but nothing quite gripped me like the capabilities of echinacea species, commonly known as purple coneflowers. It is believed that the First People of America were using plants from the echinacea genus for hundreds of years to treat colds, sore throats, and headaches. “Elk root” was the name used by the Ute people for the plant as they held the belief that sick elk would seek out the plant as a remedy on instinct. Settlers from Europe made note of these practices with echinacea and introduced a number of American patented medications containing extracts of the plants in the late nineteenth century. Even now, you may find echinacea extracts sold in your local pharmacy. [1][2]
All organisms are grouped based upon similarities/differences in both physical features and their DNA (genetics), with each group getting more and more specific. The names of these groupings, from least to most specific, are: Life, Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, and finally Species which are the individual organisms. Echinacea is the name of the genus, and numerous species within it have been seen to have medicinal properties, though some have been focused on more than others. The Echinacea genus is part of the Asteraceae (daisy) family, meaning its closely related to the more recognisable daisy, sunflower, marigolds, cosmos, and dahlias which you might recognise if you’ve ever gardened with a parent or grandparent. The genus gets its name from the Latin word “ekhinose”, meaning hedgehog, because of the flowers’ spiney, sea urchin-like centre. [1][2]
Traditional uses were mainly of the species Echinacea purpurea (E. purpurea), E. angustifolia, and E. pallida with the focus of anti-infective and antitoxin affects, being applied to wounds, boils, and to treat snakebites, mouth inflammation and tonsilitis. Modern interest in the echinacea species has focussed on their potential to aid the immune system, which protects us from harmful infections and chemicals, especially for the first signs of colds and flu – like the First People of America used it for! [2]
There have been a number of studies done on the three previously mentioned echinacea species both in vitro, meaning in glass on cultured cells, and in vivo, meaning in the living on animals and/or humans. These studies showed that extracts from echinacea plants do in fact have effects best described as immunomodulatory. This means that it alters how the immune system acts, either activating immune cells and being proinflammatory or suppressing the system, calming it down when it is overreacting.
It was identified that the compounds within the echinacea extracts specifically targeted and stimulated specific types of white blood cells generally named monocytes. The exact monocytes the extracts targeted were macrophages which are responsible for engulfing and “eating” invading microorganisms via a process called phagocytosis, and also activated Natural Killer (NK) cells which eliminate infected and cancerous human cells. These cells are all part of your innate immune system, a natural, general immunity that you have to any foreign microbe that invades your body. As part of this system, cells communicate with each other using chemicals as signals that are released in greater quantities when these cells are treated with echinacea extract. Released chemical signals will lead to more cells of the innate system joining the fight against infection and also lead to the eventual involvement of the adaptive immune system, which is responsible for producing a specific response to a specific harmful microorganism.[3][4]
Echinacea extracts have also been observed to be useful as an antifungal against infectious fungi that can cause skin diseases, for example saccharomyces and candida species. Studies carried out saw an enhancement of candida phagocytosis by macrophages and NK cells, from humans, when exposed to echinacea extract, and immunocompromised mice infection and death rates decreased when echinacea extract was administered. [3]
When looking at the effect of echinacea extracts on bronchitis, inflammation of the bronchial tubes in your airway, it was seen to outperform treatment with antibiotics at shortening the duration of illness. However, the methods used for these trials was imperfect, and this can be said for a lot of the experimentation on echinacea extracts, especially when the exact active compound and its uptake by the body are unknown, bringing doubt unto the conclusions draw from these studies. In some cases, the exact species of plant was mixed up, claiming to have used E. angustifolia when in fact E. pallida was used, which doesn’t really help the validity of the research done by these scientists! [3][4]
With all this said, current understanding is that certain preparations from echinacea are effective for reducing the severity and duration of symptoms [4]. I just find it oh so fascinating how one single group of plants can have so many medicinal uses and makes me wonder what other plants’ therapeutic properties may be and emphasises to me the importance of conservation and protecting the natural world around us for all the wondrous possibilities it holds.
By Iolo E. University 3rd Year
References:
Wayland E. 2025. The Apothecary’s Garden. London. Welbeck.
Simmonds M, Howes MJ, Irving J. 2016. The Gardener’s Companion to Medicinal Plants – An A-Z of Healing Plants and Home Remedies. London. Frances Lincoln.
B. Barrett. 2003. Medicinal properties of Echinacea: A critical review. Phytomedicine. Volume 10 (1). Pages 66-86. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0944711304701993
Susan S Percival. 2000. Use of echinacea in medicine. Biochemical Pharmacology. Volume 60 (2). Pages 155-158. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S000629529900413X
