Arzneimittelforschung 1990 May;40(5):594-8 (Published in German)Chemiluminescence was used as an indicator for phagocytic activity of granulocytes induced by zymosan in whole blood. Luminol was used to amplify the luminescence measured. Methods and conditions of the trial were varied and the dependence on the methods applied became evident. The effects of echinacea-extract (Echinacin) and phorbolester (PMA) in various concentrations on phagocytic activity of whole blood heparinized with 10 I.E./ml heparin as well as on phagocytic activity of erytrocytolized blood were investigated. The reaction of the granulocytes--phagocytis and therefore chemilumenescence--under the influence of echinacea extract depends on the doses and methods applied. Therefore standardized methods and investigations of various immunoparameters as well as clinical investigations are necessary to prove the immunostimulative effect of socalled immunotherapeutics. This has not been undertaken up to now. Dose and method dependent single results cannot be a convincing justification for specific therapeutic medication. Heinzer F Chavanne M Meusy JP Maitre HP Giger E Baumann TW [The classification of therapeutically used species of the genus Echinacea]

Pharm Acta Helv 1988;63(4-5):132-6 (Published in German) Lersch C Zeuner M Bauer A Siebenrock K Hart R Wagner F Fink U Dancygier H Classen M Stimulation of the immune response in outpatients with hepatocellular carcinomas by low doses of cyclophosphamide (LDCY), echinacea purpurea extracts (Echinacin) and thymostimulin.

Arch Geschwulstforsch 1990;60(5):379-83

Outpatients with inoperable far advanced hepato-cellular carcinomas (n = 5) were treated with LDCY--300 mg/m2 i.v. every 28 days-, echinacin--60 mg/m2 i.m.--and thymostimulin--30 mg/m2 i.m., day 3-10 after LDCY, then twice a week. Therapy was well tolerated by all patients. Their Karnofsky' index increased for 10% in the mean. A stable disease for more than 8 weeks was documented by abdominal ultrasonography in one patient. Serum levels of Alpha-Fetoprotein (AFP), Carcinoembryonic Antigen (CEA) and Tissue Polypeptide Antigen (TPA) did not increase in 2 patients. Median survival time was 2.5 months. One patient is still alive after 8 months. Absolute numbers of CD8+ cells significantly (p less than 0.02) decreased for 7% 1 day after LDCY, whereas CD4+ cells increased (p less than 0.02) from day 1-7. Numbers of natural killer (NK-) cells increased for 17% (p less than 0.05), their activity for 90% (p less than 0.05). Activities of peripheral polymorphs (p less than 0.05) increased for 27% and of Lymphokine Activated Killer (LAK-) cells for 180% (p less than 0.05). Luettig B Steinmuller C Gifford GE Wagner H Lohmann-Matthes ML Macrophage activation by the polysaccharide arabinogalactan isolated from plant cell cultures of Echinacea purpurea.

J Natl Cancer Inst 1989 May 3;81(9):669-75

In this study, acidic arabinogalactan, a highly purified polysaccharide from plant cell cultures of Echinacea purpurea, with a molecular weight of 75, 000, was effective in activating macrophages to cytotoxicity against tumor cells and micro-organisms (Leishmania enriettii). Furthermore, this polysaccharide induced macrophages to produce tumor necrosis factor (TNF-alpha), interleukin-1 (IL-1), and interferon-beta 2. Arabinogalactan did not activate B cells and did not induce T cells to produce interleukin-2, interferon-beta 2, or interferon-gamma, but it did induce a slight increase in T-cell proliferation. When injected ip, this agent stimulated macrophages, a finding that may have therapeutic implications in the defense against tumors and infectious diseases.