Alkylamide and cichoric acid levels in Echinacea purpurea grown in Australia

Sixty-two commercial dried root and aerial samples of Echinacea purpurea grown in eastern Australia were analysed for the medicinally active constituents, the alkylamides and cichoric acid. Total alkylamide concentration in root samples was 6.2±2.4 mg/g (range 1.2–12.1 mg/g), and in aerial samples was 1.0±0.7 mg/g (range 0.2–3.9 mg/g). The proportion of individual alkylamides in root samples was found to be consistent across all samples. The cichoric acid concentration in root samples was 13.2±5.0 mg/g (range 1.4–20.5 mg/g), and in aerial samples was 12.9±4.5 mg/g (range 4.9–21.4 mg/g). The large range in levels of alkylamides and cichoric acid suggests that medicinal quality standards for the marketing of dried raw material should be considered.