Unlocking Natureʼs Pharmacy: Effects of processing on chemical composition and biological activity of Echinacea purpurea

Quality, safety, and efficacy of traditional herbal medicinal products (THMPs) are essential requirements for their registration as THMPs in the EU under Directive 2004/24/EC. Many factors affect quality, including biotic and abiotic. In addition, factors associated with post-harvest storage and processing can also affect metabolomic fingerprints, and hence biological activity of THMPs. In the current study we have investigated the effects of age and processing on the metabolomic fingerprints of tinctures of Echinacea purpurea, one of the top selling herbal medicines used to treat common cold symptoms, sore throats and infections of the upper respiratory tract. Tinctures of E. purpurea, were prepared in our laboratories with plant material grown in the midlands of Ireland. Two-, and three-year-old plants were collected. Fresh and air-dried plant material was investigated. Plant material was chopped or shredded, and all samples were prepared as tinctures, which were evaluated after 6 weeks and again after 18 weeks. Samples were analysed by HPLC and ¹H NMR. Distinct qualitative and quantitative differences were found between fresh and dried tinctured samples and between tinctures that were prepared from chopped and shredded material. Two-year-old E. purpurea contained a higher concentration of chicoric acid than three- year-old plant material. E. purpurea that had been chopped contained a higher concentration of chicoric acid in contrast to the shredded plant material. All the tinctures were non-toxic to and inhibited the production of IFN-β in vitro in the iBMDM (immortalised bone marrow derived macrophage) cell line. IL-6, TNF-α and Rantes, were not affected.

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Artikel online veröffentlicht:
12. Dezember 2022