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CLASS: CHEMOPROTECTANT
OVERVIEW:
EFFICACY: Adult, inconclusive
DOCUMENTATION: Adult, poor
SUMMARY:
- Polysaccharides from Echinacea purpurea may be
effective in reducing chemotherapy-induced
LEUKOPENIA
ADULT:
a. A slight decrease in leukopenia occurred in GASTRIC CANCER PATIENTS treated with
intravenous Echinacea polysaccharides during an open prospective pilot study. Patients
(n=15) with advanced gastric cancer were given daily intravenous injections of two
milligrams of a polysaccharide fraction isolated from Echinacea purpurea herb cell cultures
for 10 days, beginning three days prior to chemotherapy (etoposide, leucovorin, and
5-fluorouracil). Only thirteen patients completed the protocol.
Between 14 and 16 days after the start of chemotherapy, median leukocyte count was
higher in the Echinacea group, 3630/microliter (mcL) (1470 to 5770/mcL) than in a historical
control group, 2370/mcL (870 to 3950/mcL), (p=0.015). There was no statistically significant
difference between the Echinacea group and historical control group at days 7 to 9 and
days 21 to 23. Clinically applicable effects on lymphocyte subpopulations or phagocytosis
were not observed.
A post hoc analysis demonstrated a shorter survival time in the Echinacea group compared
with the historical control group (180 days vs 219 days, p=0.009). Many adverse effects
were reported but appeared to be associated with the chemotherapy or the cancer itself
rather than the treatment with Echinacea polysaccharides (Melchart et al, 2002).
b. In a controlled trial in 70 patients with advanced breast cancer, 35 patients received
Esberitox(R) and 35 served as controls. Compared to the control group, a drop in the
peripheral white blood cell count was prevented in the Esberitox(R) group. Hemoglobin and
hematocrit levels were also stabilized and the number and severity of intercurrent infections
was reduced with Esberitox(R) (Bendel et al, 1989).
OVERVIEW:
EFFICACY: Adult, inconclusive
DOCUMENTATION: Adult, poor
SUMMARY:
- Polysaccharides from Echinacea purpurea may be
effective in reducing chemotherapy-induced
LEUKOPENIA
ADULT:
a. A slight decrease in leukopenia occurred in GASTRIC CANCER PATIENTS treated with
intravenous Echinacea polysaccharides during an open prospective pilot study. Patients
(n=15) with advanced gastric cancer were given daily intravenous injections of two
milligrams of a polysaccharide fraction isolated from Echinacea purpurea herb cell cultures
for 10 days, beginning three days prior to chemotherapy (etoposide, leucovorin, and
5-fluorouracil). Only thirteen patients completed the protocol.
Between 14 and 16 days after the start of chemotherapy, median leukocyte count was
higher in the Echinacea group, 3630/microliter (mcL) (1470 to 5770/mcL) than in a historical
control group, 2370/mcL (870 to 3950/mcL), (p=0.015). There was no statistically significant
difference between the Echinacea group and historical control group at days 7 to 9 and
days 21 to 23. Clinically applicable effects on lymphocyte subpopulations or phagocytosis
were not observed.
A post hoc analysis demonstrated a shorter survival time in the Echinacea group compared
with the historical control group (180 days vs 219 days, p=0.009). Many adverse effects
were reported but appeared to be associated with the chemotherapy or the cancer itself
rather than the treatment with Echinacea polysaccharides (Melchart et al, 2002).
b. In a controlled trial in 70 patients with advanced breast cancer, 35 patients received
Esberitox(R) and 35 served as controls. Compared to the control group, a drop in the
peripheral white blood cell count was prevented in the Esberitox(R) group. Hemoglobin and
hematocrit levels were also stabilized and the number and severity of intercurrent infections
was reduced with Esberitox(R) (Bendel et al, 1989).
| Echinacea |
| Scott D Olson 257 W Delaware Circle Littleton, CO 80120 720-255-3188 |
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