Echinacea Premium

Echinacea Premium combines the roots of the Echinacea angustifolia and Echinacea purpurea to enlist properties unique to each. The blending of these two plant species ensures that the specific caffeic acid derivatives (cichoric acid, echinacoside, cynarin) and the lipophilic components (especially alkylamides) are present in appropriate quantities. This product contains a total of 4.1 mg of alkylamides per tablet to ensure optimal strength and quality. These substances and other unnamed phytochemicals work together to:

• enhance immune system function (particularly non-specific immune function)
• support and promote normal interferon production
• support and promote healthy white blood cells
• support healthy immune response following stress, sudden changes in weather or temperature
• encourage healthy upper respiratory tissue
• support and maintain healthy throat tissue
• support healthy lymphatic system function
• stimulate the body’s normal tissue support and renewal function Δ

Caution: Contraindicated in known allergy to plants of the daisy family. Not to be used during pregnancy and lactation unless otherwise directed by a qualified health care professional.

For other contraindications and cautions specific to this product, please refer to the Contraindications and Cautions for MediHerb Botanicals.

Product Detail Sheet

Echinacea Quality

The Important Constituents

Echinacea is the most widely used herb and the most misunderstood. MediHerb has for many years invested heavily into research on Echinacea to identify quality markers that are important for therapeutic use. The levels of the phenolic acid esters, e.g. echinacoside, are commonly used by many manufacturers as marker compounds or indicators of Echinacea quality. However, recent trials have highlighted the significance of alkylamides for clinical efficacy, hence it is important that quality products are characterized for these phytochemicals as well. This has led to the incorporation of a specification and analytical test methodology for Echinacea products in the USP26-NF21 draft monographs which focuses on alkylamides tested by HPLC and DAD detection. The alkylamides being tested are the 2,4-diene alkylamides and the 2-ene alkylamides.

This method has been adopted by MediHerb and the alkylamides are determined as 2,4-diene alkylamides and 2-ene alkylamides. The 2-enes are characteristic of Echinacea angustifolia and are not found in the other species. The 2,4-dienes are found in both E. purpurea and E. angustifolia and these phytochemicals are responsible for the intense tingling sensation in the mouth when tasting good quality Echinacea products.

The phenolic acids are determined as the levels of caftaric acid, echinacoside and cichoric acid; echinacoside is typical of E. angustifolia and E. pallida roots and is not found in E. purpurea. Cichoric acid is not found in E. angustifolia root, but is found in the aerial parts of all species and characteristically in the root of E. purpurea.

MediHerb products are quantified to contain a minimum level of alkylamides by the USP26-NF21 HPLC method, the levels of phenolic acids are measured for information only and are used to confirm product identity and the absence of contamination from other Echinacea species.

The MediHerb Difference

MediHerb has developed specialized knowledge in the manufacture and testing of Echinacea products over the past 20 years. This includes a PhD study, extensive analytical method development, establishment of optimal harvesting, drying and storage protocols to maximize retention of actives and a successful clinical trial.

Please consult the product packaging label for the most accurate product information.

Δ These statements have not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.