The modulatory influence of some Echinacea-based remedies on antibody production and cellular immunity in mice

Echinacea purpurea-containing remedies are herbal medicines used in respiratory tract infections and several inflammatory conditions as enhancers of non-specific and modulators of specific cellular immunity. They also exert anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, and anti-microbial activity. The aim of the present study was to compare the in vivo influence of orally administered three Echinacea purpurea-based remedies (IMMUNAL drops, ECHINACEA FORTE drops, IMMUNAL FORTE tablets) on some parameters of cellular and humoral immunity in mice. Results: Feeding mice for seven days with IMMUNAL drops resulted in enhanced anti-SRBC antibody production and modulatory effect on proliferative response to PHA of their splenic lymphocytes. No stimulatory effect was observed on splenocytes chemokinesis. Mice fed with ECHINACEA FORTE drops presented enhanced response to PHA of their splenocytes. However, contrary to the previous group, no enhancement of antibody production was observed. In this group, lymphocyte-induced immunological angiogenesis (LIA) and chemokinesis (spontaneous migration -SM) of spleen lymphocytes was diminished after feeding mice with both doses (LIA) or with a higher dose (SM) of remedy. Lymphocyte-induced immunological angiogenesis activity of splenocytes collected from animals fed with prophylactic and therapeutic IMMUNAL FORTE tablet doses did not differ from the controls.