Developmental Variations in the Content of Active Substances and Nutrients in Echinacea purpurea

Abstract

Echinace from the Asteracea family has been among the top 10 marketed herbs in North America and Europe. So far, only a limited amount of Echinace originate from commercial cultivation. Echinacea purpurea has been commercially cultivated in the United States since the mid 1970s, in Russia since 1935, while in Europe since the 1960s. However, there has been no published information in the English language on methods of cultivation, expected yields, limiting factors, nutrient requirements, and the optimum plant development stage to obtain maximum yield and concentration of the biologically active substances for pharmaceutical and cosmetic processing. The objective of this investigation was, therefore, to study the general distribution of major nutrients and biologically active substances and the relationship between the two groups, and the pattern of the accumulation of cichoric acid, echnacoside, isobutylamides (tetraenes) and essential oil in commercially cultivated Echinacea purpurea. There was a significant variation in the content of essential oil, cichoric acid, and isobutylamides (tetraenes) in different organs and stages of the plant development. Similarly, the difference in the distribution of N, P, K, Ca, Mg, and Fe in different organs and developmental stages is demonstrated. The correlation between the content of the active substances and nutrients is demonstrated, while recommendations for an optimum harvesting stage and date are made.