Aerial juice and root extracts have shown important antiviral actions. This characteristic is attributable to both the general immunostimulant effect and its ability to inhibit the enzyme hyaluronidase, which degrades hyaluronic acid in its fundamental constituents. As well as being an essential nutrient for joint cartilage, this polysaccharide is also part of the connective tissue composition, which regulates its permeability. Many pathogenic micro-organisms, as well as the poisons of snakes, bees and scorpion, contain large amounts of hyaluronidase. This facilitates tissue penetration and therefore pathogenic action. This is why echinacea, by inactivating this enzyme, protects the body from snake bites and certain viruses. As often happens, the benefits empirically attributed to it by indigenous peoples have been confirmed by science.
If we look at the results of other studies, we can see that the antiviral action is influenced by other properties of the plant, which are conferred by different substances: this confirms the importance of the phytocomplex. Thanks to these properties, echinacea is indicated in the treatment of colds, flu, herpes, bronchitis and as an adjuvant in the treatment of urinary tract infections.
