Effects of Echinacea pupurea on the immunity system: from promise to fact

Echinacea purpurea has long been used in folk medicine to prevent and treat a wide range of diseases like common cold، simple cough، pulmonary infections، dermatologic disorder and even chronic diseases due to immunodeficiency. This study was conducted to check the immunomodulatory properties of hydroalcoholic extract of Echinacea purpurea in NMRI-mice challenged with Sheep Red Blood Cells (SRBCs). The study population included 14 NMRI-male mice that were randomly grouped in two equal groups and immunized with SRBC. Hydroalcoholic extract of Echinacea pupurea were administered to the treatment group mice per os in daily doses of 0. 025 mg from the beginning of the study and continued for 2 weeks. Specific humoral and cellular immunity، susceptibility of macrophages respiratory burst and proliferation of immune cells were measured. The Mann-Whitney test was used in order to compare using SPSS 19 software. The findings indicated a significant increase (205. 267±10. 933) in the level of anti-SRBC antibody and simultaneously a significant decrease (15. 288±4. 202) in the level of cellular immunity in treatment group compared to control group. Lymphocyte proliferation index in splenocytes was significantly increased (1. 821±227) in treatment group. However، the level of respiratory burst intensity (0. 702±0. 020) and nitric oxide production (50. 253±2. 032) in phagocytic population of splenocytes dramatically decreased in treatment groups compared to control mice. Since، the respiratory burst and nitric oxide production of phagocytic cells decreased، the possible immunostimolatory effectiveness of Echinacea pupurea is doubtful. However، this data suggest that the hydroalcoholic extract of Echinacea pupurea may be used as a natural source for purposes of modulating the immune system.