Planta Med 1992; 58: 163-165
Egert D, Beuscher N
The cytopathogenicity of viruses can be measured by dye uptake
method in mammalian cells according to N. B. FINTER. By this
method and the plaque reduction test several extracts of
Echinacea purpurea were studied for their antiviral activities.
To demonstrate an effect it is necessary to incubate the cells
with the extract to be tested previous to virus infection for at
least 4-6 hours. After treatment with juice of Herba recens
Echinaceae purpureae and with methanolic and aqueous extracts
from the roots of this plant, respectively, mouse L 929 cells are
50-80% resistant to Influenza, Herpes and Vesicular stomatitis
viruses. This resistance remains for at least 24 hours. 48 hours
later the cells are virus-sensitive again. Incubation of
mammalian cells with Echinacea purpurea extracts in presence of
hyaluronidase does not result in formation of viral
resistance.
The antiviral principle of Echinacea purpurea is resistant to
heat treatment (2 hours, 60-80 C). Acidic treatment results in a
partial inactivation.
The extracts can be separated by thin-layer chromatography into
several UV-absorbing spots. However, the antiviral activity is
not associated with one of these spots. It seems to be
distributed all over the chromatogramm.
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