Echinacea purpurea is a popular cultivated perennial medicinal plant of North American origin, rich for hydroxycinnamic acids and polysaccharides.
Aerial parts of purple coneflower is an ingredient of the aromatic teas “Ранкова наснага / Morning inspiration” and useful bath tea “Чоловіча сила / Male Strength”, produced by APC “Antea”, for internal consumption and flavoring of the bath and phytobarrels (75 g and 125 g, accordingly, in a linen bag and wooden tube).
Echinacea, which has immunostimulatory, adaptogenic, antioxidant, membrane-stabilizing effects, is used in inflammatory processes, infectious and viral diseases, especially the upper respiratory tract, as well as to increase physical and mental performance (herbal teas «ІмунПлюс-АНТЕА» / «ImmunePlus-ANTEA», «АлтЕхін-АНТЕА» / «AlthEchin-ANTEA»).
It should be mentioned that the drug, based on the Echinacea purpurea herb, is licensed in Switzerland and some other countries as a prophylactic and therapeutic agent for respiratory infections, in vitro it inactivates coronaviruses (HCoV-229E, SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV) at a concentration of <10 μg/ml (Signer et al., 2020). In addition to coronaviruses, influenza A virus (human and avian), influenza B, herpes simplex 1 and 2, rhinoviruses, respiratory syncytial virus are sensitive to Echinacea purpurea drugs (Hudson and Vimalanathan, 2011).
Various raw parts of purple coneflower stimulate immunity, CNS and male potency, and demonsrate anti-inflammatory activity; echinacea is used for prostatitis, prostate adenoma, cystitis and nephritis («Потенціал-АНТЕА» / «Potential-ANTEA»).