In Vitro Effects of Echinacea and Ginseng
on Natural Killer and Antibody-dependent
Cell Cytotoxicity in Healthy Subjects
and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or Acquired
Immunodeficiency Syndrome Patients

FROM:   Immunopharmacology 1997 (Jan);   35:   229–235

See DM, Broumand N, Sahl L, Tilles JG

Department of Medicine,
U.C. Irvine Medical Center,
Orange 92668, USA

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Extracts of Echinacea purpurea and Panax ginseng were evaluated for their capacity to stimulate cellular immune function by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from normal individuals and patients with either the chronic fatigue syndrome or the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. PBMC isolated on a Ficoll- hypaque density gradient were tested in the presence or absence of varying concentrations of each extract for natural killer (NK) cell activity versus K562 cells and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) against human herpesvirus 6 infected H9 cells. Both echinacea and ginseng, at concentrations greater than or equal to 0.1 or 10 g/kg, respectively, significantly enhanced NK-function of all groups. Similarly, the addition of either herb significantly increased ADCC of PBMC from all subject groups. Thus, extracts of Echinacea purpurea and Panax ginseng enhance cellular immune function of PBMC both from normal individuals and patients with depressed cellular immunity.

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