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QUALITIES OF ECHINACEA, METHODS OF IMPROVEMENT FOR INDUSTRIAL PROCESSING*

W. Letchamo1, O. D. Siderenko2, L.V. Pofydeonny2

O.FL

Gladisheva*. S. A. Kodash2 and T.J. Arnason3

1Horba Medica, P.O.Box 241 Trout Lake, WA S8S50 U.S.A. ^Timiriazev Agricultural

Academy, Mo«mw, Ri issia 3Dadariment of Biology, University of Ottawa, 30-Mane

Curie, Ontario, Canada

A bstract

The quality of the row material of Echinacea can be significantly Improved by

introducing

genetically

improved selections, advanced

cultural

methods, optimization of

harvesting time, and effective quality control measures. The therapeutic efficacy of the

product is one of the tools to build confidence of growers, manufacturers, marketers,

and consumers. Variations in yield and chemical quality of

E. purpurea

raw material

from various geographic origins are shown Furthermore, we demonstrate the

significance of plant selection and genetic improvement, growing healthy plants and

determining the optimum age of the plants, flower developmental stages and

harvesting seasons in the chemical content of

E. purpurea

and

E ongustifoiia.

Based

on cur practical field investigation, and results of numerous laboratory analysis

obtained from various sources, we recommend to establish a minimum of 2.2 %

achoric acid content for

E, p u rp u rea

raw material as a standard for industrial

processing and

therapeutic

applications.

Echinacea from the Asteracea is used to combat cold, flu, cough and sore throats,

E. purpurea

is among the most frequently utilized herbs with increasing popularity for

medicinal, cosmetic, and beverage preparations. The consumption of Echinacea

extracts has significantly increased with a market share of about 10 % of the whole

herbal industry in the United States. Many countries are trying to introduce Echinacea

for cultivation and marketing. However, most of the Echinacea products in the market

place originate from unknown cultivation, end processing practices, resulting in great

variations in the product quality and efficacy. The objectives of this report is to present

observations on genetic variations,

influence

of cultural methods, developmental

ecology, diseases end pests, harvesting time or stage in relation to the yield and quality

of Echinacea,

The w orld supply o f Echinacea and its quality

Until recently, commercial cultivation of Echinacea had been limited to northwestern,

U S . and Western Canada. Tho highest shoot yield (8500 kg/ha), with about 195 kg/ha

of cichoric acid was produced in California. However, higher cichoric add rich samples

were obtained mostly from Europe. Austria, Germany, Russia including Ukraine, and

Yugoslavia have well-established cultivation of Echinacea for quiet some time. The

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