N/A
Completed N=67
Three Arm Trial of Immune Effects of Echinacea
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01129128 ↗Enrolled (actual)
67
Serious AEs
0.0%
Results posted
Jun 2012
Primary outcomePrimary: Peak Level of TNF Alpha — 436; 1467; 721 pg/ml — p=0.87
Summary
The goal of this study is to determine if either of two, commercially available, Echinacea purpurea products stimulate the immune system. For the study, 60 healthy adults will be randomized to receive one of the two Echinacea purpurea products or placebo for 10 days. Blood will be drawn to assess immune markers just before beginning the study medication, during the 10 day course of medication and after completing the course of medication. It is postulated that adults receiving either of the Echinacea products will have evidence of immune stimulation and those receiving placebo will not.
Outcome Measures
| Outcome | Result | p-value |
|---|---|---|
| PRIMARY Peak Level of TNF Alpha |
436; 1467; 721 | 0.87 |
| SECONDARY Peak Level IL-6 |
16296; 44901; 28526 | 0.82 |
| SECONDARY Peak Level Interferon Gamma |
74; 146; 121 | 0.90 |
| SECONDARY Peak Level IL-2 |
82; 148; 68 | 0.98 |
| SECONDARY Number of Participants With Adverse Events as a Measure of Safety and Tolerability |
14; 18; 16 | — |
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria
- Healthy adult (based on a screening health questionnaire)
- Speaks and reads English.
- If female of child-bearing potential, willing to use contraception to prevent pregnancy during the study.
- No use of any medication (other than multivitamins, essential fatty acids, oral contraceptives and probiotics) for 2 weeks prior to first dose of study.
- Willing to abstain from ingesting edible mushrooms for 2 weeks prior and throughout study.
- Willing to eat less than 2 garlic cloves per day for 2 weeks prior and during the study period
Exclusion Criteria
- Pregnancy or currently breastfeeding.
- History of autoimmune disease or immune disorders.
- History of asthma.
- History of allergic rhinitis.
- History of physician diagnosed eczema, psoriasis or other skin condition that could mask an Echinacea-induced rash.
- Known allergic reaction to Echinacea or related species, specifically ragweed (Ambrosia), chamomile (Matricaria), goldenrod (Solidago), and sunflower (Helianthus).
- Known allergic reaction to xylitol sweetener, glycerine, citric acid, or citrus fruits
Data sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT01129128). Outcome figures and adverse-event rates are extracted automatically from the registry's posted results and are provided for clinician reference, not as a substitute for the primary publication. Informational only — not medical advice.