Available online 11 September 2015
Echinacea complex – chemical view and anti-asthmatic profile
- a Department of Pharmacology, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine Comenius University, Martin's Biomedical Center (BioMed) Malá Hora 11161 4C, Martin, Slovakia
- b Institute of Chemistry, Center for Glycomics, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, Bratislava, Slovakia
- c Division of Organic and Pharmaceutical Technology, University of Technology, Wrocław, Poland
- Received 19 May 2015, Revised 4 September 2015, Accepted 6 September 2015, Available online 11 September 2015
Abstract
Ethnopharmacological relevance
Echinacea purpurea
(L.) Moench is one of the mostly used herbs in the traditional medicine
for the treatment of respiratory diseases. Modern interest in Echinacea
is directed to its immunomodulatory activity. Recent studies have shown
that secretion of asthma-related cytokines in the bronchial epithelial
cells can be reversed by Echinacea preparations.
Aim of the study
To examine the pharmacodynamics profile of Echinacea
active principles, a complex has been isolated from its flowers by
alkaline extraction and has been tested using an animal model of
allergic asthma.
Material and methods
The structural features of Echinacea purpurea
complex was determined using chemical and spectroscopic methods.
Allergic inflammation of the airways was induced by repetitive exposure
of guinea pigs to ovalbumin. Echinacea complex was then
administered 14 days in 50 mg/kg b.w. daily dose perorally.
Bronchodilatory effect was verified as decrease in the specific airway
resistance (sRaw) in vivo and by reduced contraction amplitude
(mN) of tracheal and pulmonary smooth muscle to cumulative
concentrations of acetylcholine and histamine in vitro. The impact on mucociliary clearance evaluated measurement of ciliary beat frequency (CBF) in vitro using LabVIEW™ Software. Anti-inflammatory effect of Echinacea
complex was verified by changes in exhaled NO levels and by Bio-Plex®
assay of Th2 cytokine concentrations (IL-4, IL-5, IL-13 and TNF-alpha)
in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF).
Results
Chemical
and spectroscopic studies confirmed the presence of carbohydrates,
phenolic compounds and proteins, as well as the dominance of
rhamnogalacturonan and arabinogalactan moieties in Echinacea
complex. The significant decrease in sRaw values and suppressed
histamine and acetylcholine-induced contractile amplitude of isolated
airways smooth muscle that were similar to effects of control drug
salbutamol confirmed Echinacea complex bronchodilatory
activity. The anti-inflammatory effect was comparable with that of
control agent budesonide and was verified as significantly reduced
exhaled NO levels and concentration of Th2 cytokines in serum and BALF.
The values of CBF were changed only insignificantly on long-term
administration of Echinacea complex suggested its minimal negative impact on mucociliary clearance.
Conclusion
Pharmacodynamic studies have confirmed significant bronchodilatory and anti-inflammatory effects of Echinacea
complex that was similar to effects of classic synthetic drugs. Thus,
results provide a scientific basis for the application of this herb in
traditional medicine.as a supplementary treatment of allergic disorders
of the airways, such as asthma.
Graphical abstract
Abbreviations
- Ep, Echinacea complex;
- sRaw, specific airway resistance;
- CBF, ciliary beat frequency;
- NO, nitrogen oxide;
- BALF, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid;
- Th2 cytokine, T helper cell cytokine;
- IL-1-β, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-10, IL-13, interleukins 1, 4, 5, 6, 10, 13;
- TNF-α, tumor necrosis factor alpha;
- NMR, nuclear magnetic resonaces;
- AC, Citric acid;
- HCl, hydrochloric acid;
- TFA, trifluoroacetic acid;
- HPLC, high-performance liquid chromatography;
- UV-vis, ultraviolet–visible;
- NaCl, sodium chloride;
- DTGS detector, deuterated-triglycine sulfate detector;
- D2O, deuterium oxide;
- HSQC, heteronuclear single quantum correlation experiment;
- OVA+, ovalbumin-sensitized animals;
- i.p., intraperitoneally;
- Sal LT, salbutamol long term;
- Bud LT, budenoside long term;
- Ep LT, Echinacea complex long term;
- Al(OH)3, aluminium hydroxide;
- eNO, exhaled nitric oxide;
- ASM, airway smooth muscle;
- ppb, particle per billion;
- ROI, region of interest;
- FFT, Fourier transform algorithm;
- GalA, galacturonic acid;
- OMe, O-methyl;
- βGal, β-linked galactose;
- Araf, arabinofuranose;
- AHR, airway hyperreactivity;
- iNOS, inducible NO-synthase;
- Gal, galactose;
- Ara, arabinose;
- Rha, rhamnose;
- Xyl, xylose;
- Glc, glucose;
- Man, mannose;
- Fuc, fucose;
- GalA, galacturonic acid
Keywords
- Echinacea purpurea;
- Polysaccharide-phenolic-protein complex;
- NMR;
- Anti-asthmatic effect;
- Bronchodilatory effect;
- Anti-inflammatory effect
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