Echinacea purpurea (root)

Nomenclature

Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench   Asteraceae  
Standardized common name (English): Echinacea purpurea

Botanical Voucher Specimen

Source: MOBOT, Tropicos.org	Source: Botanical Voucher Specimen Library, Alkemists Laboratories	Source: Botanical Voucher Specimen Library, Alkemists Laboratories

Source: Botanical Voucher Specimen Library, Alkemists Laboratories	Source: Botanical Voucher Specimen Library, Alkemists Laboratories	Source: Botanical Voucher Specimen Library, Alkemists Laboratories

Source: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Microscopic Characteristics

Oleoresin found in Echinacea purpurea root viewed under 400x with Acidified Chloral Hydrate Solution. Source: Elan M. Sudberg, Alkemist Laboratories	Fiber showing the lack of phytomelanin in Echinacea purpurea root viewed under 400x with Acidified Chloral Hydrate Solution. Source: Elan M. Sudberg, Alkemist Laboratories

Supplementary Information

HPTLC method, Schicke, et al., 2014

A sensitive TLC method to identify Echinaceae pallidae radix.

Abstract. In this work a fast, simple and sensitive qualitative TLC method was developed to identify Echinaceae pallidae radix and to distinguish this drug from similar ones. The TLC method is based on the lipophilic compounds of E. pallida. Three mobile phases provided good separation, e.g. toluene/ethylacetate 7 + 3 (v/v). A marker substance was found which shows a blue fluorescence at an excitation wavelength of 366 nm after detection with a spray agent containing 95 volume parts ethanol 96%, 5 parts trifluoroacetic acid 99% and zinc ions in 0.15 molar concentration. After spraying the chromatogram was heated at 110 degrees C for 7 min. This method is superior to HPLC methods to characterise mixtures of Echinacea extracts in terms of selectivity due to this post-chromatographic derivatisation and subsequent fluorescence detection.