Echinacea as a Potential Force against Coronavirus Infections? A Mini-Review of Randomized Controlled Trials in Adults and Children

Abstract

Echinacea purpurea has been shown to broadly inhibit coronaviruses and SARS-CoV-2 in vitro. This review discusses the available clinical evidence from randomized, blinded and controlled human studies. Two RCTs capturing incidence of viral respiratory tract infections during Echinacea preventative treatment were identified including coronavirus infections. Incidence and/or viral loads were measured by RT-PCR and symptom severity was recorded. In a first study, Jawad et al. collected nasopharyngeal swabs from adults (N = 755) over 4 months of continuous prevention. Overall, 24 and 47 enveloped virus infections occurred, including 21 and 33 coronavirus detections (229E; HKU1; OC43) with Echinaforce® extract (2400 mg daily) and placebo, respectively (p = 0.0114). In a separate study, Ogal et al. administered the same extract (1200 mg) or control for 4 months to children (4–12 years) (N = 203). Echinacea reduced the incidence of enveloped virus infections from 47 to 29 (p = 0.0038) whereas 11 and 13 coronavirus detections (229E, OC43, NL63) were counted (p > 0.05). Respiratory symptoms during coronavirus infections were significantly lower with area-under-curve AUC = 75.8 (+/−50.24) versus 27.1 (+/−21.27) score points (p = 0.0036). Importantly, viral loads in nasal secretions were significantly reduced by 98.5% in the Echinacea group, with Ct-values 31.1 [95% CI 26.3; 35.9] versus 25.0 [95% CI 20.5; 29.5] in the control group (p = 0.0479). Results from clinical studies confirm the antiviral activity found for Echinacea in vitro, embracing enveloped respiratory pathogens and therefore coronaviruses as well. Substantiating results from a new, completed study seem to extrapolate these effects to the prevention of SARS-CoV-2 infections. As hypothesized, the established broad antiviral activity of Echinacea extract appears to be inclusive for SARS-CoV-2.

Echinacea Purpurea For the Long-Term Prevention of Viral Respiratory Tract Infections During Covid-19 Pandemic: A Randomized, Open, Controlled, Exploratory Clinical Study

“…Our findings demonstrate that EF treatment during acute RTI episodes significantly reduced virus loads (all viruses and SARS-CoV-2) by more than 99%. This is further consistent with observations by Nicolussi et al (2022) observing a 98.5% reduction on day 2 of illness treated with the same EF preparation ( p < 0.046) and the shortened time to become virus free (qPCR negative) ( Nicolussi et al, 2022 ).…”

“…In vitro , a hydroethanolic extract prepared from freshly-harvested herb and root parts of Echinacea purpurea (Echinaforce®, EF) inhibited infectivity of human CoV-229E, highly pathogenic MERS- and SARS-CoV, as well as the newly identified SARS-CoV-2 ( Signer et al, 2020 ). Two earlier prevention studies in adults and children suggested clinically relevant benefits of EF for enveloped viral pathogens including coronaviruses ( Nicolussi et al, 2022 ). The same extract exhibited adaptive immuno-modulating properties in vivo by reducing the inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-1β and increasing the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 ( Ritchie et al, 2011 ).…”

The pharmaceutical industry is dangerous to health. Further proof with COVID-19

“…[ 142 ] In vivo , the results of recent work seem promising but this herbal medicine needs further clinical studies to evaluate the hypothesis of its effectiveness against SARS-CoV-2. [ 122 ] However, since the beginning of the COVID-19 period, every time a treatment that improved patient health was discovered, it was immediately discredited. [ 15 ] Moreover, since March 11, 2020, virtually, no governmental public statements have been made regarding immune system improvement, while according to Kostoff et al ., the only real protection during a viral outbreak is a healthy immune system.…”

COVID-19: A Review on Various Therapeutic and Nutritional Approaches

“…So, Echinacea can serve as a potential treatment towards SARS-CoV-2 due to its virucidal characteristics. Although it still needs to undergo clinical trials [99].…”