Echinacea and Neurodegenerative Diseases

There's been very little research of echinacea's effects on neurodegenerative brain conditions. However, lab studies indicate echinacea may warrant further investigation for benefits in patients with Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.

For example, lab tests show echinacoside compounds in echinacea have the following beneficial effects:

• Antioxidant cell protection.⁽⁵⁹⁾
• Protect mitochondrial function from damaging inflammation in brain cells.⁽⁸³⁾

In other lab studies, extracts from an echinacea blend promoted growth of epithelial cells. Research suggests these cells could help treat neurodegenerative conditions such as Parkinson's disease.⁽⁸²⁾

Alkamide compounds from echinacea readily cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Recently scientists have identified 4 of these compounds that could also help treatment drugs cross the BBB.⁽¹²²⁾