Objective: The first aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of Echinacea purpurea-containing drug (Immunal forte tablets) on neovascular response induced in mice skin by human lung and kidney cancer cells, 3 days after their intracutaneous grafting. The second aim was to evaluate the effect of Immunal forte tablets, administered for seven days to healthy human volunteers, on the proportion of natural killer (NK) cells in their blood and on the activity of their blood granulocytes, tested by chemiluminescence test.
Results: Echinacea preparation caused inhibition of angiogenesis induced by human lung and kidney cancer cells, as evaluated 3 days after intradermal cells injection. In human volunteers Immunal forte administration resulted in the stimulation of granulocytes metabolic activity and have increased the incidence of CD16+ and CD56+ NK cells in their blood.