Echinacea extract

6. March 2023
Cichoric acid, Symfinity 1298

Echinacea extract soothes inflammation in problem skin (e.g. acne) and has a pore-refining and decongestant effect. In the following we would like to introduce you to this fine active ingredient.

 

Botany

The genus Echinacea MOENCH belongs to the family Asteraceae. McGregor found nine species with two subspecies for the genus Echinacea, of which only Echinacea angustifolia, E. purpurea and E. pallida are used in cosmetics and medicine. Echinacea, as it is also popularly known, takes its name from the Greek “echinas”, meaning sea urchin. It refers to its conspicuous, spiny spreading leaves. They stand singly upwards and tower above the petals. Other names for the echinacea are hedgehog head, small sunflower or also Rudbeckia. The coneflower originated in North America. In Europe, echinacea is cultivated in Switzerland, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain and Germany. In Bavaria alone, an area of about 140 ha is used for the cultivation of echinacea.

Echinacea purpurea (L.) MOENCH is a hardy plant up to 180 cm tall with an erect stem and ovate, pointed basal leaves. The composite has a deep root so that it sprouts again every year. The purple flower heads are 1.5 to 3 cm long and 5 to 10 mm wide. Both the above-ground parts of the plant and the roots are used to obtain the active substances or the extract.

The cultivation period is up to 4 years. The flowering herb is harvested from the first year onwards, starting in October, and from the second year onwards already in August.

 

These ingredients make the echinacea extract so valuable

The active substances from the above-ground parts of Echinacea purpurea that have been identified so far include polyacetylenes, caffeic acid derivatives, flavonoids, alkylamides, alkaloids, ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and polysaccharides.

The aerial parts of E. purpurea contain a variety of caffeic acid derivatives and the most abundant substances are: Cichoric acid (2,3-O-di-caffeoyl-tartaric acid), cichoric acid methyl ester, 2-O-caffeoyl-3-O-feruloyl-tartaric acid, 2,3-O-diferuloyl-tartaric acid and caftaric acid (2-O-caffeoyl-tartaric acid). Cichoric acid has the highest content, with more than 2 % possible. The content of cichoric acid in Echinacea purpurea decreases in quantity from E. purpurea > E. pallida >> E. angustifolia. Within the plant parts, a decrease in content is found from flowers > leaves > stems.

Rutin is the only flavonoid that has been reliably identified.

Echinacea contains up to 0.6 % essential oils in the flowers and leaves, which are mainly composed of borneol, a-pinene, b-farnesene, myrcene and limonene.

Alkylamides are a rare class of natural compounds in the plant kingdom. Dodeca-(2E,4E,8Z,10E)-tetraenoic acid-(1)-isobutylamide was found to be a major constituent of lipophilic herb extracts of E. purpurea. Furthermore, the N-isobutylamides of undeca-(2E,4Z)-dien-8,10-dienoic acid, dodeca-(2E,4Z)-dien-8,10-dienoic acid, dodeca-(2E,4E,10E)-trien-8-ynoic acid and dodeca-(2E,4E,8Z)-trienoic acid could be detected. As with the caffeic acid derivatives, the concentration of alkylamides was highest in the flowers.

Tussilagin and isotussilagin were also detected in E. purpurea. Based on the dried drug, a tussilagin content of 0.006 % was determined.

In the herb of E. purpurea, two polysaccharides could be isolated, xylan and arabinorhamnogalactan.

 

Cosmetic and medicinal effects and uses

Echinacea extracts have medicinal and cosmetic applications due to their anti-inflammatory, wound-healing and anti-irritant properties. The efficacy derives mainly from the caffeic acid derivatives, alkylamides and polysaccharides.

Cichoric acid is highly interesting for cosmetics as it has a very good inhibitory effect on hyaluronidase when applied topically. This enzyme controls the degree of polymerisation of hyaluronic acid and indirectly also the adhesion and the possibility of spreading of infectious agents in the tissue. The inhibition of hyaluronidase is therefore directly related to a faster regeneration of skin cells in wounds and skin diseases. Another property of chicory acid is that it also acts as a radical scavenger. When applied topically, chicory acid or echinacea extract containing active ingredients can serve as a radical scavenger and neutralise reactive oxygen species.

Another effect of echinacea extracts is based on the alkylamides. They are inhibitors of cyclooxygenase and 5-lipoxygenase and have an anti-inflammatory effect. The identified polysaccharides have immunostimulating effects and round off the spectrum of action of the echinacea extract.

 

Tolerability of Echinacea Extract

The research team around Mengs examined the pressed juice of Echinacea purpurea and found excellent tolerability. Mutagenicity and carcinogenicity tests were also negative.

Tussilagin and isotussilagin, in contrast to many other pyrrolizidine alkaloids, also show no toxic effects.

 

Quality of Echinacea Extract

Cichoric acid is one of the main ingredients and, along with alkylamides and polysaccharides, is responsible for the medicinal and cosmetic effects. Cichoric acid is easy to determine and should be used as a marker for the quality of the echinacea extract.

If you would like us to develop a cosmetic product with Echinacea extract for you, please do not hesitate to contact us.

A brochure on echinacea extract including proof of efficacy can be found here:

SymFinity_1298

 

In addition, we are happy to work with these extracts:

TradenameSupplierINCI NameRemarks
Echinacea ExtractThe Garden of Naturalsolution Co., Ltd.Echinacea Angustifolia Extract
Phytexcell EchinaceaCrodaromGlycerin , Butylene Glycol , Aqua , Echinacea Purpurea Extract
Glycogem EchinaceaSharon Laboratories LtdGlycerin , Aqua , Echinacea Angustifolia Meristem Cell Culture , Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans
Echinacea Purpurea HerbasecLipoid Kosmetik AGMaltodextrin , Echinacea Purpurea Root Extract
Echinacea Augustifolia Glycolic ExtractGreentechPropylene Glycol , Aqua , Echinacea Angustifolia Root Extract
Glycerolat SFT EchinaceaSolabia GroupAqua, Glycerin, Echinacea Purpurea Root Extract
Echinacea Purpurea Herbasol TinctureLipoid Kosmetik AGAlcohol , Aqua , Echinacea Purpurea Root Extract , Sorbitol
Echinacea Extract, Organic, AromaSanaBio GmbHEchinacea Purpurea Extract
Coneflower, Purple (Echinacea) Extract – PhytobasicBio-Botanica, Inc.Echinacea Angustifolia Extract , Echinacea Purpurea Extract
Echinacea in Olive Oil - 3252CBio-Botanica, Inc.Echinacea Purpurea Extract , Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil
Echinacea Purpurea Root CO2-to extract - 227.001Flavex Naturextrakte GmbHEchinacea Purpurea Root Extract
Echinacea Purpurea Root CO2-to extract (organic), DE-ÖKO-013 - 227.002Flavex Naturextrakte GmbHEchinacea Purpurea Root Extract
Coneflower Extract 5:1Bio-Botanica, Inc.Echinacea Angustifolia Extract , Propylene Glycol
Purple Coneflower FloraceuticalBio-Botanica, Inc.Echinacea Purpurea Extract , Butylene Glycol
EchinAge CROP-GAethera BiotechGlycerin , Echinacea Purpurea Callus Lysate , Citric Acid
PHYTELENE EG 520 Purple CornflowerGreentechPropylene Glycol , Aqua , Rosa Centifolia Flower Extract
Jeju Active ComplexDaebong LS Co., Ltd.Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract , Oryza Sativa (Rice) Extract , Echinacea Purpurea Extract , Opuntia Coccinellifera Fruit Extract , Setaria Italica Seed Extract
CALENDULA EXTRACT 5:1Bio-Botanica, Inc.Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
RED CLOVER FLOWER EXTRACT 5:1Bio-Botanica, Inc.Trifolium Pratense (Clover) Flower Extract

 

Literature:

  • Dissertation by Markus Frauen
  • Wagner, H., Proksch, A., Riess-Maurer, I., Vollmar, A., Odenthal, S., Stuppner, H., Jurcic, K., Le Turdu, M., Fang, J. V. (1985) Immunstimulierend wirkende Polysaccharide (Heteroglykane) aus höheren Pflanzen. Arzneim.-Forsch./Drug Res. 35: 1069-1075
  • McGregor, R. L. (1968) The taxonomie of the genus Echinacea (Compositae). The University of Kansas Science Bulletin 48: 113-142
  • Bauer, R., Remiger, P., Wagner, H. (1988) Echinacea – Vergleichende DC und HPLC-Analyse der Herba-Drogen von Echinacea purpurea, E. palladia und E. angustifolia. Dtsch. Apoth. Ztg. 128: 174-180
  • Bauer, R. (1997) Echinacea – Pharmazeutische Qualität und therapeutischer Wert. Z. Phytother. 18: 207-214
  • Bauer, R. (1996) Echinacea-Drogen – Wirkungen und Wirksubstanzen. ärztl. Fortb. 90: 111-115
  • Bauer, R. (1988) Echinacea – Der Sonnenhut – Stand der Forschung. Phytother. 9: 151-159
  • Bauer, R., Wagner, H. (1990) Eichinacea – Handbuch für Ärzte, Apotheker und andere Naturwissenschaftler. Wissenschaftliche Verlagsgesellschaft mbH, Stuttgart Bauer, R., Khan, I., Wagner, H. (1986) Echinacea-Drogen – Standardisierung mittels HPLC und DC. Dtsch. Apoth. Ztg 126: 1065-1070
  • Becker, H., Hsieh, W. C. (1985) Chicoree-Säure und deren Derivate aus Echinacea-Arten. Z. Naturforsch 40: 585-587
  • Malonga-Makosi, J.-P. (1983) Untersuchung der Flavonoide von Echinacea angustifolia DC. Und Echinacea purpurea MOENCH. Dissertation, Heidelberg
  • Röder, E., Wiedenfeld, H., Hille, T., Britz-Kirstgen, R. (1984) Pyrrolizidine in Echinacea angustifolia DC. und Echinacea purpure M. – Isolierung und Analytik. Dtsch. Apoth. Ztg. 124: 2316-2318
  • Maffai Facino, R., Carini, M., Aldini, C., Marinello, C., Arlandini, E., Franzoi, L., Colombo, M., Pietta, P., Mauri, P. (1993) Direct characterization of caffeoyl esters with antihyaluronidase activity in crude extracts from Echinacea angustifolia roots by fast atom bombardement tandem mass spectrometry. Il Farmaco 48: 1447-1461
  • Maffai Facino, R., Carini, M., Aldini, C., Saibene, L., Pietta, P., Mauri, P. (1995) Echincoside and caffeoyl conjugates protect collagen from free radicalinduced degradation: a potential use of Echinacea extracts in the prevention of skin photodamage. Planta Med. 61: 510-514
  • Bauer, R., Remiger, P., Jurcic, K., Wagner, H. (1989) Beeinflussung der Phagozytoseaktivität durch Echinacea-Extrakte. Z. Phytother. 10: 43-48
  • Müller-Jakic, B., Breu, W., Pröbstle, A., Redl, K., Greger, H., Bauer, R. (1994) In vitro inhibition of cyclooxygenase and 5-Lipoxygenase by alkylamides from Echinacea and Achillea species. Planta Med. 60: 37-40
  • Mengs, U., Clare, C. B., Poiley, J. A. (1991) Toxicity of Echinacea purpurea –acute, subacute and genotoxicity studies. Arzneim.-Forsch./Drug Res. 41: 1076-1081
  • Echinacea. [No authors listed]2021 Oct 18. Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed) [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Library of Medicine (US); 2006–
  • Echinacea angustifolia DC. Lipophilic Extract Patch for Skin Application: Preparation, In Vitro and In Vivo Studies. Hasa D, Žakelj S, Grabnar I, Cilurzo F, Dall’Acqua S, Riva A, Perissutti B, Voinovich D.Pharmaceutics. 2020 Nov 16;12(11):1096.
  • Efficacy of hydrophilic or lipophilic emulsions containing Echinacea purpureaextract in treatment of different types of pruritus. Kilic A, Harder A, Reich H, Knie U, Masur C, Abels C.Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2018 Nov 20;11:591-602