Immunologic Effects of Echinacea

Completed · Not applicable · Has a placebo group

Conditions studied: Upper Respiratory Tract Infections

In brief

The goal of this study is to determine if Echinacea purpurea stimulates the immune system. For the study, 20 healthy adults will be randomized to receive Echinacea purpurea or placebo for 10 days. Blood will be drawn to assess immune markers just before beginning the study medication, during the 10 day course of medication and after completing the course of medication. It is postulated that adults receiving the Echinacea will have evidence of immune stimulation and those receiving placebo will not.

Key facts

Study ID: NCT00860795
Run by: University of Washington
People needed: 20
Starts: 2009-03-01
Expected to finish: 2009-08-01
Last updated by the study team: 2018-05-01

Who can join

Age: 21 and older, up to 65. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.

You may qualify if…

Healthy adults 21-65 years old
If female of child-bearing potential, willing to use contraception to prevent pregnancy
Speaks and reads English
No use of any medication (other than multivitamins, essential fatty acids or probiotics)
Willing to abstain from ingesting edible mushrooms throughout study
Willing to eat less than 2 garlic cloves per day throughout study

You may not qualify if…

Positive pregnancy test or currently breastfeeding
History of autoimmune disease
History of allergic rhinitis
History of physician diagnosed eczema
Known allergic reaction to Echinacea or related species, specifically ragweed (Ambrosia), chamomile (Matricaria), goldenrod (Solidago) and sunflower (Helianthus)
Use of any medication within 30 days prior to first dose of study medication that is a known inhibitor or inducer of CYP34A

Where it is running

Bastyr University — Kenmore, Washington, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

Trial information comes from ClinicalTrials.gov and is refreshed daily. TrialsForMe does not provide medical care and does not run the studies it lists.