effect of Echinacea purpurea, Astragalus membranaceus and Glycyrrhiza glabra on CD25 expression in humans: a pilot study

• Published in: Phytotherapy research Vol. 21; no. 11; pp. 1109 - 1112
• Main Authors: Zwickey, Heather, Brush, Julie, Iacullo, Carolyn M, Connelly, Erin, Gregory, William L, Soumyanath, Amala, Buresh, Randal
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chichester, UK John Wiley & Sons, Ltd 01.11.2007; Wiley
• Subjects: adaptogens; Astragalus; Astragalus membranaceus; Astragalus propinquus; Biological and medical sciences; botanicals; CD25; CD4 T cells; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes - metabolism; clinical trial; Double-Blind Method; drug effects; Echinacea; Echinacea purpurea; Gene Expression; Gene Expression - drug effects; General pharmacology; Glycyrrhiza; Glycyrrhiza glabra; herbs; Humans; ingestion; Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit; Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit - metabolism; Lymphocyte Activation; Lymphocyte Activation - drug effects; Medical sciences; metabolism; Pharmacognosy. Homeopathy. Health food; pharmacology; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Pilot Projects; Plant Preparations; Plant Preparations - pharmacology; T-lymphocytes; Time Factors; Asia; China; Human; botanicals; Echinacea purpurea; Pharmacognosy; adaptogens; CD4 T cells; Compositae; Medicinal plant; herbs; Leguminosae; Folk medicine; Dicotyledones; Glycyrrhiza glabra; Angiospermae; T-Lymphocyte; Plant origin; Flower crop; Clinical trial; Flavoring crop; Spermatophyta; CD25
• ISSN: 0951-418X; 1099-1573
• DOI: 10.1002/ptr.2207

This phase 0, double-blind, repeated within subject, randomized pilot study examined CD25 expression on T cells after ingestion of three commonly used herbs: Echinacea purpurea, Astragalus membranaceus and Glycyrrhiza glabra, administered singly and in combination. CD25 expression on T cells was significantly increased for subjects ingesting Echinacea at 24 h with notable increases in activation from Astragalus and Glycyrrhiza. CD25 expression remains elevated with daily use of Echinacea for at least 7 days. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.