Echinacea, its biological activity, health benefits, therapeutic uses, general consideration of using Echinacea and risk factors
Description : Echinacea is one of the most popular herbs belongs to daisy family. It has been widely used for
Article Details :
Echinacea is one of the most popular herbs belongs to daisy family. It has been widely used for various medicinal purposes.
Biological activity
Antioxidant activity
- It is packed with various imperative plant components that act as antioxidants. Antioxidants are very important molecules that help to defend every cell of the body from oxidative damages
- Its cichoric acid, rosmarinic acid and flavonoids are considered as the main components accountable for exerting antioxidant activity
- Its free radical scavenging activity is really very effective for decreasing oxidative stress, which is responsible for increasing the risk of developing several chronic diseases like cardiovascular problems, diabetes, cancers etc
- Its fruits and flowers contain relatively higher amount of antioxidant than other parts of this plant like the roots and the leaves thus it is better to consume the extract of its flower or fruits in order to protect the body from free radical induced oxidative damages
- It contains another important component named alkamides that play imperative role in enhancing antioxidant activity and it is also responsible for renewing worn-out antioxidants
Anti-inflammatory activity
- Inflammation is considered as the body’s natural process of defending itself and it also helps in promoting healing but often inflammation get out of control and can sustain for longer than usual, which subsequently increases the risk of various chronic diseases
- Echinacea plays significant role in preventing inflammation as it has the ability to exhibits anti-inflammatory activity
- It significantly decreases the concentration of inflammatory markers within body, which are responsible for triggering inflammation thus its consumption is thought to be very effective for delaying the onset of inflammatory events in body as a result reduces the prevalence of chronic inflammatory diseases
- It is also related with preventing joint swelling and helps to improve joint health
- It helps to reduce pain as well
- It is extremely useful for improving the symptoms of arthritis
Anti-carcinogenic activity
- We all know that cancer is a disease, which involves uncontrolled growth of cells and considered as one of the leading causes of death. Consumption of Echinacea or its extract is extremely helpful for decreasing the prevalence of cancers as it has powerful anti-carcinogenic activity
- It plays significant role in suppressing the growth of malignant cells within body by inducing apoptosis
- It is also associated with triggering cancerous cell death
- It helps to prevent metastasis as well
- It helps to hinder the growth of tumor cells too. It is closely related with regulating cellular proliferation, which is considered as the main factor accountable for reducing the prevalence of tumors
- It is extremely effective for decreasing the prevalence of pancreatic cancer and colon cancer
Antimicrobial activity
- It exerts powerful antimicrobial activity that helps in suppressing the growth as well as replication of microbial cells within host
- It is also associated with decreasing the prevalence of microbial infestation
- It helps to reduce the susceptibility of developing infectious diseases
- It is extremely effective against yeast infections
- Individual suffer from ear infection should try Echinacea as it plays vital role in improving the symptoms of ear infection
Health benefits
Role on immunity
- Echinacea is very popular for its beneficial role on immune system. Basically it plays imperative role in boosting up the overall immunity of the body
- Its consumption is extremely useful for improving the health of immune cells as it helps in protecting every immune cells from oxidative damages, which ultimately improves immune functions
- It is also associated with stimulating the synthesis of WBC that helps in fighting against infections and also helps in strengthening the defense mechanism of the body
Role on digestive health
- Its consumption is very useful for promoting overall digestive health
- It acts as laxative and plays imperative role in promoting regularity thus individual suffer from constipation should consume it for easy defecation. On the other hand consumption of Echinacea through its herbal tea is also considered as an effective way for loosening the bowel
- It helps to improve the health of stomach as well thus its consumption is thought to be very effective for improving the symptoms of peptic ulcer as well as gastritis