Abstract
This investigation examined the effects of Echinacea purpurea on mucosal immunity
and the incidence and duration of upper respiratory tract infection (URTI). 32 subjects
completed an exercise protocol known to affect mucosal immunity. Saliva was collected
prior to and five minutes after completion of exercise testing. Subjects then took
either a placebo (C) or Echinacea supplement (E) for 4 weeks and the testing procedure
was repeated. Each time, s-IgA concentrations and saliva flow rate were measured and
the secretion rate of s-IgA was calculated. In addition, standard logs indicating
symptoms of URTI were completed throughout the study. Both groups demonstrated significant
exercise induced reductions in s-IgA (C - 69 %; E - 43 %) and the secretion rate of
s-IgA (C - 79 %; E - 53 %) at the beginning of the study (p < 0.05). Following the
4-week intervention, only the control group experienced the post intervention decrease
in s-IgA (C - 45 %; E + 7 %) and the secretion rate of s-IgA (C - 45 %; E - 7 %).
Further, while there was no significant difference in the number of URTI between groups,
the reported duration was significantly different (C 8.6 days vs. E 3.4 days). The
results suggest that Echinacea may attenuate the mucosal immune suppression known
to occur with intense exercise and reduce the duration of URTI that subjects incur.
Key words
phytomedicine - immunoglobulin A - immune function - maximal effort exercise
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Dr. Heather Hall
Department of Kinesiology
Elmhurst College
190 S. Prospect Ave.
Box 112
60126 Elmhurst
United States
Phone: + 63 06 17 31 48
Fax: + 63 06 17 36 23
Email: heatherh@elmhurst.edu
