Variability of In Vitro Macrophage Activation by Commercially Diverse Bulk Echinacea Plant Material is Due Predominantly to Bacterial Lipoproteins and Lipopolysaccharides

We previously reported that the majority of in vitro monocyte/macrophage activation exhibited by extracts of Echinacea and other botanicals depends on bacterial lipopolysaccharides and Braun type bacterial lipoproteins [1]. We determined the contribution made by these bacterial components to the overall immune enhancing activity detected in E. purpurea and E. angustifolia from bulk root and aerial material obtained from six major growers/suppliers in North America. Substantial variation in activity (up to 200-fold) was observed in extracts of these materials when tested in two monocyte/macrophage cell lines. The majority of activity was negated by treatment with agents that target bacterial lipoproteins (lipoprotein lipase) and lipopolysaccharides (polymyxin B). Experiments comparing the activity of freeze dried, freshly harvested Echinacea plants with those harvested and dried using various commercially relevant conditions, suggest that post-harvesting procedures do not substantially contribute to the variation observed in the commercial material. Acknowledgements: This research was partially funded by grants from the National Institutes of Health RO1 AT002360 (NCAAM) to DSP and the USDA, Agricultural Research Service Specific Cooperative Agreement No. 58-6408-7-012. References: [1] Pugh ND, et al. (2008), Int Immunopharmacology, 8: 1023–1032.