Echinacea angustifolia background

Echinacea angustifolia is a herbaceous, flowering and perennial plant member of the Asteraceae family (fig.1).

Echinacea represents an important element of traditional medicine preparations in North America. The root of Echinacea is greatly valued by the ethnopharmacology and the sprouts and flowers activity was also known by American Indians. The most common species of Echinacea, in traditional remedies, are E. purpurea, E. pallida and E. angustifolia.

American Indians considered also Echinacea as a versatile herb that contributed to fight infections, increase appetite and strenghten the sexual male organ.
Echinacea angustifolia species is particularly well known nowadays for its anti-oxidant and scavenging properties. The most important active ingredient extracted from Echinacea angustifolia is the phenylpropanoid ECHINACOSIDE.

Echinacoside is a secondary metabolite produced by the plant as a difensive compound against pathogens. Echinacoside is a natural caffeic acid glycoside consisting of a trisaccharide formed by two glucose molecules and one rhamnose moiety (fig.2).
ABR developed a biotech platform for the production of Echinacoside using suspension cell culture of Echinacea angustifolia.