Human gene expression as a tool to determine horticultural maturity in a bioactive plant (Echinacea purpurea L. Moench). uri icon

abstract

  • A phenological study was conducted to determine the impact of harvest maturity on the immune-modulating properties of Echinacea purpurea. The aerial parts of this plant were collected during seven stages of development and were assayed for a common botanical marker for this species, cichoric acid. Plants of selected development stages were also assayed for total polysaccharides and compared for their immune-modulating effects on the THP-1 monocyte/macrophage cell line by means of a gene expression study. Although the concentration of cichoric acid did not change significantly during the course of the study, stage 1 (advanced vegetative) had the highest concentration of total polysaccharides and exhibited the most potent induction activity on immune-modulating cytokines such as interferon-gamma and tumor necrosis factor-alpha. These findings suggest that the use of gene expression may be an effective tool not only to standardize botanical extracts but also to optimize harvest time.

published proceedings

  • J Agric Food Chem

author list (cited authors)

  • Brovelli, E. A., Rua, D., Roh-Schmidt, H., Chandra, A., Lamont, E., & Noratto, G. D.

citation count

  • 14

complete list of authors

  • Brovelli, Ernesto Antonio||Rua, Diego||Roh-Schmidt, Haeri||Chandra, Amitabh||Lamont, Erin||Noratto, Giuliana Doris

publication date

  • October 2005