The Art of NATURE, The Art of SCIENCE
Common names | Narrow-leaved purple coneflower, Blacksamson echinacea
Scientific name | Echinacea angustifolia
Used part | Root
Known active compounds | echinacoside, chlorogenic acid, cynarin, inulin
Potential benefits in cosmetics | anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-photoaging
Product name | Echinacea A Root-ANB
Plant Story
Echinacea angustifolia (also known as narrow-leaved purple coneflower or blacksamson echinacea) is a perennial herb native to North America. Native Americans widely used this plant as a medicine. The root was used to relieve toothache and chewed the stimulate saliva flow, which was useful as a thirst preventative. A wash was used as a dressing for burns to relieve pain. Native Americans also used this root for coughs and sore throats. In the late 1800’s E. angustifolia was the most commonly used herbal remedy in the United States. E. angustifolia, E. pallida, and E. purpurea are the species most often used medicinally. In herbal products made from E. angustifolia, the roots are typically used, whereas the leaves, stems, and flowers are often used from E. purpurea.
E. angustifolia root contains caffeic acid derivatives, mainly echinacoside followed by chlorogenic acid, isochlorogenic acid, and cynarin (1,5-O-dicaffeoyl-quinic acid). It also contains polysaccharides including inulin and fructans. Among all those compounds, cynarin is a characteristic component of E. angustifolia root. A study on caffeoyl derivatives (echinacoside, chlorogenic acid, chicoric acid, cynarin, caffeic acid) of E. angustifolia investigated their activities. These compounds protect collagen from radical damage through ROS scavenging activity. The anti-inflammatory activities of E. angustifolia were shown in rat paw and rat ear models. The treatment of E. angustifolia polysaccharidic fraction showed significantly less edema and inflammation in a dose-dependent manner.