Definition:

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herbgreey®Echinacea extract Health Benefits:

herbgreey®Echinacea extract is a multifunctional medicinal component derived from the entire Echinacea purpurea plant, which belongs to the Asteraceae family. Its primary active compounds include cichoric acid, polysaccharides, polyphenols and derivatives of caffeic acid. The extract exhibits various biological activities, including immune modulation and anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antiviral effects. As a natural immune enhancer, it can alleviate cell damage and inflammatory responses caused by lead toxicity when formulated into products. It is processed into a powder using techniques such as spray drying, and is widely used in the pharmaceutical, health supplement and food additive industries.

Particularities of herbgreey®Echinacea extract:

Product Specifications:

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Product quality standards:

● USP, Food grade, In-house

▶Boosting immunity

herbgreey®Echinacea extract Applications:

herbgreey®Echinacea extract is best known for its ability to boost immunity. The polysaccharides and phenolic acids (such as cichoric acid) found in echinacea can stimulate the activity of macrophages, T cells and natural killer (NK) cells, enhancing their ability to identify and eliminate pathogens such as bacteria and viruses. herbgreey®Echinacea extract can also induce immune cells to release cytokines, such as interleukins and interferons. This regulates the intensity and duration of immune responses, helping the body to activate its defence mechanisms more quickly.

■ Source

herbgreey®Echinacea extract is derived from the perennial herbaceous plant Echinacea purpurea, belonging to the Asteraceae family. Specifically, it is primarily extracted from the stems, leaves, roots, or entire plant of Echinacea purpurea. Echinacea purpurea is native to North America. Echinacea is a perennial herbaceous plant of the Asteraceae family native to the Americas, now widely cultivated in northern China and around the world. Echinacea has a flower head shaped like a pinecone, with two main medicinal varieties: purple coneflower and narrow-leaved coneflower. Its aboveground parts (flowers, stems, leaves) and roots are rich in active components, which are extracted using an ethanol-water mixed solvent to form a standardized extract. It is named for its flower heads resembling pine cones, possessing both ornamental value and being one of the most widely used herbs internationally.

herbgreey®Echinacea extract is available in the following specification and contents:

☑  herbgreey®Echinacea extract powder 6:1/10:1/20:1

herbgreey®Echinacea extract is primarily used in the health and dietary supplement sector to enhance immunity and promote health protection. Immune-modulating products commonly come in the form of capsules, tablets, oral liquids and granules. These products are primarily intended for individuals with weakened immune systems, with the aim of enhancing the body's resistance and reducing the risk of infection. Some products are combined with ingredients such as vitamin C and zinc to enhance the immune effects synergistically. Anti-fatigue and health maintenance products utilise the antioxidant properties of echinacea extract, sometimes blending it with other natural ingredients such as ginseng and goji berries to alleviate mild fatigue and support overall health.

In the pharmaceutical industry, echinacea extract is commonly used as an additional ingredient to alleviate specific symptoms or encourage local healing. Some over-the-counter compound preparations, such as lozenges and syrups, contain echinacea extract for its anti-inflammatory and immune-modulating properties, which help to alleviate the discomfort of colds, such as a sore throat and nasal congestion. When added to mouthwashes and gels for oral ulcers, it alleviates inflammation of the oral mucosa, promotes ulcer healing and reduces pain.

herbgreey®Echinacea extract is a common ingredient in natural skincare products thanks to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and skin-repairing properties. When used in products for sensitive skin, it reduces redness and itching caused by external stimuli, such as UV rays and environmental pollution, while strengthening the skin's barrier function. Echinacea extract is found in products such as antioxidants and anti-ageing products. It helps slow down the ageing process by neutralising free radicals and reducing oxidative damage, thereby improving issues such as a dull complexion and fine lines.

■ Active ingredients

The main components of herbgreey®Echinacea extract are phenolic compounds, including echinacoside, cichoric acid, chrysanthemum glycoside, chlorogenic acid and caffeic acid. These are among Echinacea's primary active components. Polysaccharide and glycoprotein components mainly consist of arabinose, galactose, and glucosamine, while protein components primarily contain aspartic acid, glycine, glutamic acid, and alanine. Fatty amide compounds generally contain fatty amides with a carbonyl group and two conjugated double bonds, and are found in higher concentrations in the roots of narrow-leaved coneflower. They also contain essential oils, flavonoids, sesquiterpenes, alkaloids, polyene compounds and phytosterols.

herbgreey®Echinacea extract has anti-inflammatory properties that primarily target non-infectious inflammation. This makes it suitable for alleviating localised symptoms such as redness, swelling and pain. The alkylamide components can block inflammatory signalling pathways, reducing the synthesis of inflammatory mediators such as prostaglandins and thereby alleviating inflammatory responses. Antioxidant components such as chicoric acid can neutralise free radicals generated during inflammation, reducing oxidative stress-induced tissue damage and providing relief from the discomfort associated with chronic inflammation, such as that experienced with arthritis and skin inflammation.

▶ Anti-inflammatory

The phenolic acids (such as chrysanthemic acid and chlorogenic acid) and flavonoids found in herbgreey®Echinacea extract are powerful antioxidants. These compounds can directly neutralise excess reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the body, reducing oxidative damage to cellular DNA, proteins and lipids caused by free radicals and delaying cellular ageing. Echinacea extract also promotes the activity of endogenous antioxidant enzymes, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase, thereby enhancing the body's own antioxidant capacity.

▶ Antioxidant

■ Extraction process characteristics

The production process for herbgreey®Echinacea extract must consider the characteristics of the raw materials and the physical and chemical properties of the target active ingredients, such as chicoric acid, alkylamides and polysaccharides. A series of steps are taken to achieve effective extraction, purification and processing, ultimately producing a high-quality end product.

Richtek selects the roots, stems, leaves or whole plant of purple coneflower, depending on the product requirements (for example, the roots have a higher alkylamide content, while the above-ground parts are richer in chicoric acid). This ensures that the raw materials are fresh and free from mould and impurities. Low-temperature drying is employed to minimise the degradation of heat-sensitive components (e.g. chicoric acid). The dried raw materials are then ground into a coarse or fine powder to increase the specific surface area and enhance extraction efficiency in subsequent processes. Choose the right extraction solvents and methods based on the solubility of the active ingredients. The main goal is to maximise retention of the target components while removing impurities. Solvent extraction is the most commonly used method. Water-soluble components (such as polysaccharides and certain phenolic acids) are usually extracted with water or a dilute ethanol solution (30-50%).

Lipid-soluble components (such as alkyl amides and essential oils) are commonly extracted using organic solvents such as ethanol, methanol or ethyl acetate. In actual production, mixed solvents (such as ethanol-water mixtures) are often used to accommodate the solubility of multiple active components. The crude extract obtained after extraction contains large amounts of impurities, such as cellulose, starch and pigments, and must be purified to improve the purity of the active components. The first step is to remove residual impurities through plate-and-frame filtration and bag filtration. This is followed by centrifugal separation to remove fine particles and colloidal impurities, resulting in a clear filtrate. Purification methods include macroporous resin adsorption, extraction and membrane separation. Vacuum concentration is then employed to lower the solvent's boiling point and reduce degradation of the active components due to high temperatures. The filtrate is then concentrated to a paste-like consistency with a solid content of approximately 50-70%. The concentrated paste is then dried into a powder via spray drying, hot air drying or vacuum freeze drying. The appropriate method is selected based on the characteristics of the components and the application requirements.

General Information:

☑  herbgreey®Echinacea extract powder 4% (Total polyphenols)

herbgreey®Echinacea extract has traditionally been used to treat skin injuries, and modern research has confirmed its positive effects on skin repair. It stimulates fibroblast proliferation and collagen synthesis, promotes wound granulation tissue formation and shortens healing time. It inhibits some pathogenic bacteria on the skin's surface while protecting mucosal tissues (such as those in the oral and respiratory tracts) and reducing external irritation.

▶ Skin health