POSTHARVEST ALTERATIONS OF ECHINACEA PURPUREA HERB

There is a long tradition in the use of Echinacea preparations in the adjuvant therapy of inflammations, skin damage, and, more typically, infections. The pharmacological activity of this species has been ascribed to various compounds, such as cichoric acid, isobutylamides (alkylamides), certain high-molecular-weight polysaccharides (arabino-rhamnogalactan, heteroxylan), etc. The processing of the fresh (not dehydrated) aerial parts of Echinacea purpurea is widely accepted, but as with other horticultural crops, once the plants have been harvested, senescence and decay set in, bringing about changes in the quality of the herb. The objective of our research was to identify the main alterations in this plant following its harvest and a period of cold storage.