Abstract

Echinacea is a popular herbal supplement that is often promoted to support immune system function and reduce the incidence of colds and flu, but scientific evidence supporting the effectiveness and safety of this supplement is still inconclusive. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of taking echinacea extract on physiological and biochemical indicators in male Wistar rats. The samples were randomly distributed into three groups: a control group that ate the standard feed, a low-dose group that received 50 mg/kg body weight per day of Echinacea purpurea extract, and a high-dose group that received 500 mg/kg per day. After four weeks, blood samples were collected to analyze the immune and hematological indicators, and the weights of the organs were checked and histopathological examinations were performed after slaughter. To determine the amounts of alkylamides and essential phenolic compounds in the extracts, high-performance liquid chromatography was used. The results showed that the mice treated with the high dose recorded a significant increase in the number of white blood cells, an increase in the levels of liver enzymes, in addition to an enlarged spleen compared to the control group. Histological examinations also revealed the presence of slight liver toxicity in this group. In contrast, no significant effects were observed associated with the lower dose. The study concluded that the high dose of echinacea extract was associated with immune activation, but was also associated with signs of hepatotoxicity in mice, while HPLC analysis provided an accurate visualization of the phytochemical compounds in the extract. These results underscore the need for more research to determine the safe therapeutic range of these supplements when used in humans.