Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1930. / Typescript. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Annotated bibliography: leaves 44-55.

Echinacea purpurea is consumed as a natural health product around the world. Due to the genus’ ethnobotanical relevance, the phytochemistry of Echinacea has been extensively studied, revealing a variety of bioactive metabolites including caffeic acid derivatives and alkylamides. Whereas seasonal trends in root chemistry have been established, trends in other plant parts are relatively understudied. Similarly, few studies have evaluated the effects of organic plant growth substances in field trials. With increased demand for organic products, industry is looking for alternative ways to optimize yields and medicinal properties. For this thesis, my first objective was to quantify the concentrations of E. purpurea’s secondary metabolites across organic treatments throughout the plant’s first growth year to determine optimal harvesting time and conditions in all parts of the plant. The second objective was to determine how seasonal variations affect its potential bioactivity through inhibition of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Plants were grown in field plots treated with four different organic treatments: water (control), high cytokinin, low cytokinin, and fish oils; samples were collected biweekly from May-September. Dried plants were separated into major plant parts and were extracted exhaustively in 70% EtOH. Using high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC), concentrations of alkylamides and select caffeic acid derivatives were quantified in all samples and compared across plant part, developmental stage, and organic fertilizers. It was determined that while there were no major differences between treatments, phytochemical concentrations changed throughout the season in all plant parts; revealing that aerial parts of the plant also bioactive secondary metabolites and should not be excluded from future studies. Following this study, an MIC50 assay was used to test these extracts against P. aeruginosa PA14. It was noted that seasonality effects of phytochemistry were not consistent with bioactivity and that there were no significant differences between extract and carrier control. While the antibiotic activity of root extracts varied seasonally, the flower extract exhibited the most consistent antibiotic potential. The results presented in this thesis will not only aid in industry practices and yield optimization but, through filling knowledge gaps on seasonality and organic treatments in field trials, will increase the understanding of E. purpurea’s chemistry and related bioactivity, with implications on both the medicinal properties and eco-physiology of the species.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of North Carolina at Greensboro, 2006. / Title from PDF title page screen. Advisor: Gregory Raner; submitted to the Dept. of Chemistry. Includes bibliographical references (p. 109-116).

Ph.D.

This thesis describes the in vivo evaluation of orally administered extracts of Echinacea species, and fractions obtained from Echinacea purpurea for specific immunostimulatory function induced in Balb/c mice by immunization with microbial vaccines. Two vaccines were used for this purpose in this study. The first vaccine used consisted of whole-cell formalin-killed Salmonella typhimurium vaccine, which is known to induce production of specific antibodies but no delayed-type hypersensitivity response considered as an indicator of the cell-mediated immune response. The second vaccine was a commercial acellular pertussis vaccine (DTaP) consisting of inactivated diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and native or inactivated virulence factors of Bordetella pertussis (the etiological agent of whooping cough) which is known to induce a humoral immune response but with controversial reports about performance in the induction of cell-mediated immunity. Both vaccines were administered intraperitoneally, whereas the herbal extracts and fractions were administered by oral gavage. The phytochemical profile of the ethanolic extracts of Echinacea purpurea, Echinacea pallida, Echinacea angustifolia and one commercial product "Echinacea Triplex" and three fractions prepared from Echinacea purpurea, namely polysaccharides, phenolics and alkylamides, was determined by thin-layer chromatography, high-performance liquid chromatography and/or by chemical analytical techniques. Statistically significant increases in specific anti-Salmonella typhimurium serum antibody were obtained for the Echinacea purpurea, Echinacea angustifolia and Echinacea Triplex [Trade Mark] treatment groups, and also for groups receiving treatment with fractions obtained from Echinacea purpurea, namely, polysaccharide, alkylamide and phenolic fractions. Statistically significant increases in the anti-B pertussis serum antibodies were also obtained in the young Echinacea Triplex [Trade Mark] group vaccinated with the DTaP vaccine. Significant enhancement of serum interleukin-12 titres was observed in the Echinacea Triplex [Trade Mark] as well as the phenolic fraction treatment groups which were vaccinated with killed Salmonella typhimurium vaccine. Of the groups vaccinated with the DTaP vaccine, only Echinacea Triplex [Trade Mark] displayed statistically significant increases in mean interleukin-12 titre compared to the placebo in both young and old groups, however Echinacea purpurea, and Echinacea angustifolia both displayed significant increases in mean interleukin-12 titre in the young treatment mice. Increases in interferon-gamma levels in mice orally dosed with phenolic, polysaccharide or alkylamide fractions of Echinacea purpurea and vaccinated with the killed Salmonella typhimurium vaccine were also observed, however these need to be repeated for confirmation, and statistical analysis.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of North Carolina at Greensboro, 2007. / Title from PDF title page screen. Advisor: Jason Reddick; submitted to the Dept. of Chemistry. Includes bibliographical references (p. 41-46).

This diploma thesis Evaluation of the assortment of coneflowers (Echinacea) in the climatic conditions of Central European thermophytic deals with the evaluation of the genus Echinacea (L.) Moench assortment. The thesis is focused on topics dealing with history, morphology, taxonomy, cultivation and breeding of the family Coneflowers. Regarding the practical part, 45 cultivars of the genus Echinacea were observed and evaluated. Measured and evaluated characters were compared with other authors ratings.

The diploma thesis on Historical and current varietal assortment of Echinacea Moench and their evaluation in the climatic conditions of the Central European thermophyticum summarizes the complete assortment development. The genus itself has 10 species and several varieties. the original location, North America with scattered areas of occurrence. Among the basic observed features of the assortment were the coloring of inflorescences, leaves, stems and subsequent comparison with RHS Color Chard standards. The stand height, leaf length, inflorescence diameter and radiant flowers were also evaluated and compared. The observation was done in two places and the results were summarized. Among the overflows of several plants, two were chosen as hopeful, for overgrowth.

Summary Herbal remedies have been used for many years to alleviate various symptoms. They were used in ritual acts to reassure the Gods and as medication. Plants as rhubarb and ginseng were used in China long time ago. The Egyptians had knowledge of herbal medicine such as aloe, myrrh and henbane, 1550 BC. The father of medicine Hippocrates used a large number of herbal medicines, and had many theories on the subject. Different parts of the plant can be used to extract the active ingredients. The active ingredient is made up of essential oils, tanning substances etc. The parts that are used may be the root, stem, leaves, and flowers. In order to extract the active ingredients, you can use various strategies such as making tinctures or extracts. Echinacea has been used against various diseases, the plant now used to alleviate cold symptoms. St John's worth can be used for depression. Valerian can be used as a sedative. Ginkgo can be used for poor cerebral blood flow in the brain. The mental and physical performance can be increased with the help of ginseng. These are approved herbal medicine and the interest in them is increasing. But do they work and how safe are they? Use and safety of Echinacea and Ginkgo where reviewed in the present study. Three scientific articles on the echinacea effect were studied, as were two articles about ginkgo. The aim of the Echinacea articles was to examine whether the plant was effective against the common or not. The other two articles examined ginkgo’s effect on memory problem and on tinnitus, respectively. Echinacea studies showed no significant difference therapeutically compared to placebo. The side effects were few, and not serious. The studies on ginkgo did not demonstrate any therapeutic difference compared to placebo. The side effects were few and not serious. These are approved herbal remedies. Do they really work, or could this effect rather be referred to as placebo? The use of herbal remedies as medicines could potentially be useful as complementary to traditional medicine. To read the instructions and follow the dosage, however, is an important part of the safety. More studies are also needed on the safety of herbal remedies. / Abstrakt I många år har man använt sig av naturläkemedel för att lindra olika sjukdomssymtom. Dels användes förr dels i rituella handlingar för att blidka gudarna, och dels i medicineringssyfte. Växter som rabarber och ginseng användes i Kina. Egyptierna hade kunskaper om läkeväxter som aloe, myrra och bolmört, redan 1550 f.kr. Medicinens fader Hippokrates använde sig av ett stort antal läkeväxter och hade många teorier angående ämnet. Olika delar av växten kan utnyttjas för att utvinna de aktiva substanserna. Delarna som används kan vara t ex roten, stammen, bladen, blomman. De aktiva substanserna består av eteriska oljor, garvämnen, slemämnen, bitterämnen m.m.. För att utvinna de aktiva substanserna använder man sig av olika bredningsformer som tinktur, extrakt eller annat. Echinacea har använts mot flera olika sjukdomar. Nu används växten för att lindra förkylningssymtom. Johannesört ges mot depression. Som lugnande medel kan valeriana användas. Ginkgo kan användas vid dålig genomblödning, t ex i hjärnan. Den psykiska och fysiska prestationsförmågan kan höjas med hjälp av ginseng. Dessa är godkända naturläkemedel. Och intresset för dem ökar. Men fungerar de, och hur säkra är de? I detta arbete granskades artiklar om Echinacea och Ginkgo, deras användning och säkerhet. Tre vetenskapliga artiklar, angående echinaceas effekt studerades, samt två artiklar om ginkgo. Echinacea-artiklarnas syfte var att undersöka om växten hade effekt mot förkylning. De andra två artiklarna undersökte ginkgos effekt dels mot minnesproblem, och dels mot tinnitus. Echinaceastudierna visade ingen signifikant terapeutisk skillnad jämfört med placebo. De biverkningar som fanns var få och inte allvarliga. Studierna om ginkgo visade inte heller någon terapeutisk skillnad jämfört med placebo. Biverkningarna var även här få och inte allvarliga. Dessa godkända naturläkemedel, har i andra studier visat vetenskapligt bevisad effekt, men kan denna effekt möjligen framför allt vara en placeboeffekt? Användningen av naturläkemedel kan vara ett bra komplement till traditionell medicinering. Att läsa anvisningarna och följa doseringen är dock en viktig del av säkerheten. Flera studier behövs även kring säkerheten med naturläkemedel. 2008:F26

Nuo 2004 metų buvo pradėta tirti blyškiosios ežiuolės (Echinacea pallida (Nutt.) Nutt) anatominė ir morfologinė sandara, atlikti lapo, stiebo ir šaknies tyrimai. Tęsiant pradėtą darbą magistriniame darbe, tyrimo objektu buvo pasirinktos dvi (Echinacea Moench.) genties rūšys: blyškioji (Echinacea pallida (Nutt.) Nutt) ir rausvažiedė (Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench.). Išanalizavus ežiuolės (Echinacea Moench.) genties rūšių vegetatyvinių organų anatominę sandarą, darbe pateikti išsamūs jų sandaros aprašymai, nurodomi anatominiai diagnostiniai požymiai bei kiekybiniai savitumai. Ištyrus blyškiosios (Echinacea pallida) ir rausvažiedės (Echinacea purpurea L.) ežiuolių vegetatyvinių organų anatominę sandarą visuose pavyzdžiuose nustatyta heterobatmija. Ežiuolės (Echinacea Moench.) lapuose didžiausią diagnostinę reikšmę turi žiotelinio aparato pagalbinių ląstelių skaičius ir išsidėstymas. Blyškiosios ežiuolės ( Echinacea pallida) lapalakščiui būdingas anomocitinis žiotelinio aparato tipas. Šio tipo žiotelinis aparatas apsuptas 3 pagalbinėmis ląstelėmis, viena iš kurių žymiai mažesnė už kitas dvi. Rausvažiedės ežiuolės (Echinacea purpurea L.) lapalakščiui būdingas anomocitinis žiotelinio aparato tipas. Tai toks žiotelinio aparato tipas, kai varstomosios ląstelės apsuptos nuo 2 iki 6 pagalbinių ląstelių, kurios nesiskiria nuo epidermio ląstelių nei dydžiu, nei forma. Tiriant ežiuolės (Echinacea Moench.) genties rūšių epidermio sandarą nustatyta, kad žiotelinis aparatas išsidėsto... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Anatomical characteristic of Echinacea Moench. genus species is presented in this work. Then are reseached there species of Echinacea Moench.: E. purpurea, E. palaida and E. angustifolia. The description and comparison of overgraund stems, leaves, rhizomes and roots anatomic structure of there species are presented in this work, also diagnostic characters and quantative characteristic are specified. After anglyzis of anatomical structure of Echinacea Moench axial organs it was established heterobatmia. By anatomical characters comparison exodermis structure in the stems is of great diagnostic `importance. Exodermis lamellosity is constant character. The number of auxiliary cells of stomatal aparatus and their situation are of great diagnostic importance in the leaves. E. purpurea leaf has anomacitical stomatal aparatus type. The means, stomatal guard cells are surrounded by from 2 to 6 auxilaliary celle, which doesn't differ from epidermis cells. E. pallida leaft has anisocitical atomatal aparatus type. The stomatal guard cells of this are surrounded then other. Striking differences are characteristic to the structure and situation of secretory tissue in the anglyzis of anatomical structure of Echinacea Moench rhizomes. All analyzed plants have schizogenic glands. Epitelium cells lamellosity and inner canal cavity in the schizogenic glanda are different in the different species of plants. One Echinacea Moench. is different from another in lamelloity of suber tissue in... [to full text]