Effect of Immunomodulatory Supplements Based on Echinacea Angustifolia and Echinacea Purpurea on the Posttreatment Relapse Incidence of Genital Condylomatosis: A Prospective Randomized Study

Abstract

Introduction. HPV infection is a highly infectious disease; about 65% of partners of individuals with genital warts will develop genital condylomatosis. Only in 20-30% it regresses spontaneously and relapse rates range deeply (9-80%). Echinacea extracts possess antiviral and immunomodulator activities. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the therapy, using a formulation based on HPVADL18® (on dry extracts of 200 mg Echinacea Purpurea (EP) roots plus E. Angustifolia (EA)), on the posttreatment relapse incidence of genital condylomatosis. Materials and Methods. It is a prospective single-arm study. Patients with a satisfactory and positive vulvoscopy, colposcopy, or peniscopy for genital condylomatosis were divided into two random groups and subjected to destructive therapy with Co2 Laser. Group A (N=64) immediately after the laser therapy started a 4-month treatment with oral HPVADL18®; Group B (N=61) did not undergo any additional therapy. Patients were subjected to a follow-up after 1, 6, and 12 months. Differences in relapse incidence between the two groups during follow-up controls were evaluated by χ2-test; the groups were stratified by age, gender, and condylomatosis extension degree. Results and Discussion. Gender, age, and condyloma lesions’ extension degree showed no statistically significant differences between the two trial groups. The relapse incidence differs statistically between the two studied groups and progressively decreases during the 12 months after treatment in both groups. Statistically significant reduction of relapse rates has been shown in Group A in patients over 25 years old. This difference is significant for both men and women. The relapse incidence is superior in case of extended condylomatosis. Conclusions. In conclusion, the presence of a latent infection causes condylomatosis relapse; in order to reduce the relapse risk an induction of a protective immune response seems to be essential to allow rapid viral clearance from genital areas surrounding lesion and treatment zones. Echinacea promotes this process. EP and EA dry root extracts seem to be a valid adjuvant therapy in reducing relapse incidence of lesions in patients treated for genital condylomatosis.

Echinacea angustifolia and Echinacea purpurea Supplementation Combined with Vaginal Hyaluronic Acid to Boost the Remission of Cervical Low-Grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesions (L-SILs): A Randomized Controlled Trial

“…However, the efficacy was reduced in the case of extended condylomatosis, for which an increased relapse rate was reported. Such findings confirmed that EP and EA dry root extracts could be a valid adjuvant therapy to reduce the recurrence of genital condylomatosis [ 19 ].…”

“…In a recent prospective study, De Rosa et al [ 19 ] showed that, in the case of HPV-related genital condylomatosis, the relapse incidence of visible warts was significantly lower with treatment with oral EP and EA and progressively decreases during the 12 months follow-up. The efficacy was for both men and women with visible condylomatosis.…”

Improving growth properties and phytochemical compounds of Echinacea purpurea (L.) medicinal plant using novel nitrogen slow release fertilizer under greenhouse conditions

“…www.nature.com/scientificreports/ (more than 3 times) less than E. purpurea requirement that indicates the need to NO 3 − fertilizers apply in order to increase NO 3 − level in the studied soil. Nitrate leaching from agricultural soils is common due to anionic nature of NO 3 − ion and non-adsorption on negatively charged soil exchangeable sites, which leads to apply of different N fertilizers to soil 7 . In present study, the soil N deficiency was calculated with regard to E. purpurea N-requirement and provided the optimum level of NO 3 − concentration for the plant growth by using different N fertilizers containing various percentages of NO 3 − .…”

“…Comparing of other Echinacea species, E. purpurea is the most able species to adjust to new conditions. It is resistance to heat or cold weather conditions, easy to grow, and flaunt high efficiency 7 , 8 . Numerous scientific researches demonstrated the useful effect of Echinacea immunomodulatory functions and human health 9 , 10 .…”

Case Report: Combination of Electrocautery and Echinacea Therapy in Condylomata Acuminata

“…Combination therapy, namely immunomodulatory agents including Echinacea, associated with better response rate and lower recurrences. Previous studies stated that Echinacea could be used as an immunomodulator in cases of genital warts and no recurrences were found [6]. Health professionals might consider Echinacea in high risk patient, recurrent lesions, multiple lesions, recalcitrant lesions, and difficult to treat areas [7].…”