ANIMAL TOXICOLOGY

"Single oral or intravenous doses of the expressed juice of Echinacea purpurea(EP) proved virtually non-toxic to rats and mice. After 4 weeks of oral administration in doses amounting to many times the human therapeutic dose laboratory tests and necropsy findings gave no evidence of any toxic effects in rats. Tests for mutagenicity carried out in microorganisms and mammalian cells in vitro and in mice all gave negative results. In an in vitro carcinogenicity study EP did not produce malignant transformation in hamster embryo." ²⁷

• Usage of Echinacea for treatment of HIV is not recommended at this time. ^4/10

• Echinacea should not be used in cases of immune system dysfunction, autoimmune conditions (including systemic lupus) and progressive systemic conditions s.c. as multiple sclerosis, tuberculosis, leukosis, collagen disorders, and diabetes mellitus(injectable form of Echinacea). ^4/10
• Allergies to the composite family.

• "Patients with atopy should be cautioned about the risk of developing life-threatening reactions to complementary medicines, including echinacea." ⁵⁷
• If used beyond 8 weeks, Echinacea could cause hepatotoxicity and therefore should not be used with other known hepatoxic drugs, s.c. as anabolic steroids, amiodarone, methotrexate, and ketoconazole. ⁵⁸

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