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To the Editor: Dr Taylor and colleagues¹ did not provide any information about the chemical content of the echinacea they administered. The main pharmacological substances with immunostimulant activity in experimental^2-3 and clinical studies⁴ are purified polysaccharides that can be extracted only in small quantity from pressed E purpurea. Their extraction generally requires a solvent and not simple pressing of the fresh plant because they are a primary structural constituent of the plant and are more concentrated in the roots.⁵ Echinacea fresh-pressed juice preparations have been reported to be inactive as immunostimulants, although they may display anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.³

We are also concerned that the parents judged whether their children's symptoms were "mild," "moderate," or "severe." We think the ability of parents to judge correctly the severity of symptoms in their children is very limited, especially if they record the presence of fever by a tactile assessment or to evaluate . . . [Full Text of this Article]

Fabio Firenzuoli, MD
f.firenzuoli@usl11.toscana.it

Luigi Gori, MD
Centre of Natural Medicine
S. Giuseppe Hospital
Empoli, Italy

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