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Echinacea: Cold and flu prevention

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By: Sean Moloughney

Editor, Nutraceuticals World

Nutraceutical: Echinacea

Indication: Cold and flu prevention

Source: Evid Based Complement Alternat    Med. 2012:841315

Research: This study investigated the safety (risk) and efficacy (benefit) of Echinacea purpurea extract in the prevention of common cold episodes in a large population over a 4-month period; 755 healthy subjects were allocated to receive either an alcohol extract from freshly harvested E. purpurea (95% herba and 5% root) or placebo. Participants were required to record adverse events and to rate cold-related issues in a diary throughout the investigation period. Nasal secretions were sampled at acute colds and screened for viruses.

Results: A total of 293 adverse events occurred with Echinacea and 306 with placebo treatment. Nine and 10% of participants experienced adverse events, which were at least possibly related to the study drug (adverse drug reactions). Thus, the safety of Echinacea was non-inferior to placebo. Echinacea reduced the total number of cold episodes, cumulated episode days within the group, and pain-killer medicated episodes. Echinacea inhibited virally confirmed colds and especially prevented enveloped virus infections (P < 0.0 5). Echinacea showed maximal effects on recurrent infections, and preventive effects increased with therapy compliance and adherence to the protocol. Researchers concluded that compliant prophylactic intake of E. purpurea over a 4-month period appeared to provide a positive risk to benefit ratio.

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