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| skin, bone, tendons, cartilage and connective tissue. Constituents of echinacea, most notably the caffeic acid derivatives, protect collagen from the oxidative damage caused by free radicals. Free radicals are the class of substances responsible for leaves turning different colors in the fall; they cause metal to rust and cause oxidative damage to the arterial walls and cells, which can lead to cardiovascular disease, premature aging and cancer. The most common form of oxidative damage associated with the skin is sunburn. The caffeic acid compounds in echinacea have been found to help in the prevention and treatment of damage associated with ultraviolet light, such as in sunburn and radiation therapy, by scavenging free radicals.14 Conversely, echinacea has also been shown to increase the internal production of reactive oxygen intermediates, a mechanism by which the body fights off opportunistic infections.15 In addition, echinacea has been shown to reduce the rate of necrosis in damaged skin tissue significantly, thereby facilitating a speedier heating of wounds.16 |
| Phagocytosis is the process by which specialized immune cells known as macrophages wander through the blood and tissue engulfing microorganisms, foreign particles and bacteria. They are also present in the mucous membranes. Macrophages are like little "pac-men" which go about eating up pathogens, allergens and damaged cells such as those occurring in inflammation and infection. The ability of echinacea to stimulate phagocytosis has been well-established, and this is one of the mechanisms primarily responsible for its wound-healing and infection-fighting properties. |
| There have been many studies conducted over the last 50 years regarding the effects of echinacea on |
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