Further evidence for echinacea and coronavirus
Clinical study results unveiled by A.Vogel in October confirm the broad antiviral efficacy of Echinacea purpurea extract in both preventive and acute therapy.
The study was carried out by an international team of researchers during the pandemic to explore Echinacea’s preventive use against viral respiratory infections, including SARS-CoV-2.
120 adults either took Echinacea purpurea for five months or placebo. Nasopharyngeal and blood samples were routinely collected to measure the presence and concentration of respiratory viruses, including SARS-CoV-2.
In the Echinacea purpurea group, 63% fewer SARS-CoV-2 infections were detected – 14 cases in the control group but only five in the Echinacea group.
“This result is statistically significant,” says Dr. Emil Kolev, lead investigator at Convex, Bulgaria, where the study was carried out. “The effect shows not only in the prevention of infections, but also in a significantly reduced viral load in naso-/oropharyngeal swabs under acute therapy with Echinacea purpurea.
“We observed over 99% decrease in viral load after 5 days, not only for SARS-CoV-2, but for all respiratory viruses.”
Previous study data with almost 1,000 participants has shown a preventive benefit of Echinacea purpurea against coronaviruses in adults and children.
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