Observational studyComplementary medicine research2023
Reduction of Viral Load in Patients with Acute Sore Throats: Results from an Observational Clinical Trial with Echinacea/Salvia Lozenges.
Observational study in Complementary medicine research, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.
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Who cites it
6 citing papers in PubMed, 5 citations in OpenAlex.
- A Review of the Properties of Clinically Evaluated Plant-Derived Agents in the Treatment of Respiratory Infections.Nutrients · 2026Review
- Comparison of Selected Pro-Health Biologically Active Chemical Compounds inMolecules (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Debulking influenza and herpes simplex virus strains by a wide-spectrum anti-viral protein formulated in clinical grade chewing gum.Molecular therapy : the journal of the American Society of Gene Therapy · 2025Article
- Evaluation of Biologics ACE2/Ang(1-7) Encapsulated in Plant Cells for FDA Approval: Safety and Toxicology Studies.Pharmaceutics · 2024Article
- Reduction of Viral Load in Patients with Acute Sore Throats: Results from an Observational Clinical Trial with Echinacea/Salvia Lozenges.Complementary medicine research · 2023Observational
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Authors and funding
5 authors at 3 institutions in 3 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundAcute tonsillopharyngitis or sore throat is an initial sign of viral respiratory tract infection (RTI) and an optimal indicator for early antiviral and anti-inflammatory intervention. Both of these actions have been attributed to Echinacea purpurea and Salvia officinalis.
methods74 patients (age 13-69 years) with acute sore throat symptoms (<48 h) were treated with five Echinacea/Salvia lozenges per day (4,000 mg Echinacea purpurea extract [Echinaforce®] and 1,893 mg Salvia officinalis extract [A. Vogel AG, Switzerland] daily) for 4 days. Symptom intensities were recorded in a diary and oropharyngeal swab samples collected for virus detection and quantification via RT-qPCR.
resultsThe treatment was exceptionally well tolerated, no complicated RTI developed, and no antibiotic treatment was required. A single lozenge reduced throat pain by 48% (p < 0.001) and tonsillopharyngitis symptoms by 34% (p < 0.001). Eighteen patients tested virus positive at inclusion. Viral loads in these patients was reduced by 62% (p < 0.03) after intake of a single lozenge and by 96% (p < 0.02) after 4 days of treatment compared to pre-treatment.
conclusionsEchinacea/Salvia lozenges represent a valuable and safe option for the early treatment of acute sore throats capable to alleviate symptoms and contribute to reducing viral loads in the throat. <title>Hintergrund</title>Akute Tonsillopharyngitis oder Halsschmerzen/entzündungen sind ein erstes Anzeichen einer viralen Atemwegsinfektion (vAWI) und ein optimaler Indikator für eine frühzeitige antivirale und entzündungshemmende Intervention. Beide Wirkungen werden <italic>Echinacea purpurea</italic> und <italic>Salvia officinalis</italic> zugeschrieben.<title>Methoden</title>74 Patienten (Alter 13–69 Jahre) mit akuten Halsschmerzen/entzündungen (<48 h) wurden mit fünf <italic>Echinacea/Salvia</italic>-Lutschtabletten pro Tag (Tagesdosis: 4'000 mg <italic>Echinacea purpurea</italic>-Extrakt [Echinaforce®] und 1'893 mg <italic>Salvia officinalis</italic> Extrakt [A. Vogel AG, Schweiz]) behandelt für 4 Tage. Die Symptomintensität wurde in einem Tagebuch aufgezeichnet und Rachenabstrichproben wurden zum Virusnachweis und zur Quantifizierung mittels RT-qPCR entnommen.<title>Resultate</title>Die Behandlung wurde außergewöhnlich gut vertragen, es entwickelte sich keine komplizierten AWI und es waren keine Antibiotikabehandlungen erforderlich. Eine einzelne Lutschtablette reduzierte die akuten Halsschmerzen um 48% (<italic>p</italic> < 0,001) und die allgemeinen Tonsillopharyngitis Symptome um 34% (<italic>p</italic> < 0,001). Achtzehn Patienten wurden bei der Aufnahme viruspositiv getestet. Die Viruslast wurde bei diesen Patienten nach Einnahme einer einzigen Lutschtablette um 62% (<italic>p</italic> < 0,03), und nach 4-tägiger Behandlung um 96% (<italic>p</italic> < 0,02) reduziert im Vergleich zu vor der Behandlung.<title>Schlussfolgerungen</title><italic>Echinacea/Salvia</italic>-Lutschtabletten stellen eine sichere Option für die frühzeitige Behandlung akuter Halsschmerzen/entzündungen dar, die Symptome lindern, und zur Verringerung der Viruslast im Hals beitragen können.
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