Herbal Preparation May Prevent Respiratory Tract Infection in Children Yael Waknine March 2, 2004 — An herbal preparation containing echinacea, propolis, and vitamin C may be effective in preventive respiratory tract infections in children, according to results of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled multicenter study published in the March issue of the Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine. The herbal preparation (Chizukit) is made up of 50 mg/mL of echinacea, 50 mg/mL of propolis, and 10 mg/mL of vitamin C. Echinacea is thought to have cytokine-modulating, macrophage, and natural killer cell activity, according to Herman A. Cohen, MD, and colleagues, from the Pediatric and Adolescent Ambulatory Community Clinic in Petach Tikva, Israel. Propolis has been shown to have antimicrobial, anticancer, and general anti-inflammatory effects, as well as some antiviral effect on herpes simplex virus type 1 and the influenza virus. Vitamin C is thought to increase proliferative responses of T lymphocytes in vitro, and to induce production of interferon in cell culture. Because concentrations of vitamin C are up to 100 times greater in phagocytes and lymphocytes than in plasma, vitamin C may have a physiologic role in these immune system cells, according to the authors. [snip] "This decrease in upper respiratory tract infections in young children would have significant economic and social ramifications," comments Shilpa Sangvai, MD, from the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania, in an accompanying Journal Club report." [snip] Further info at link below. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2004;158:217-221, 222-224 Reviewed by Gary D. Vogin, MD Yael Waknine is a freelance writer for Medscape. www.medscape.com/viewarticle/470840?mpid=25713 ---------- Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2004 Mar;158(3):217-21. Effectiveness of an herbal preparation containing echinacea, propolis, and vitamin C in preventing respiratory tract infections in children: a randomized, double-blind, placebo- controlled, multicenter study. Cohen HA, Varsano I, Kahan E, Sarrell EM, Uziel Y. Pediatric and Adolescent Ambulatory Community Clinic, Petach Tikva, Israel. [email protected] OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of a preparation containing echinacea, propolis, and vitamin C in the prevention of respiratory tract infections in children during a 12-week winter period. DESIGN: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. SUBJECTS: Four hundred thirty children, aged 1 to 5 years, were randomized to an herbal extract preparation (n = 215) or a placebo elixir (n = 215). INTERVENTION: Administration of an herbal preparation (Chizukit) containing 50 mg/mL of echinacea, 50 mg/mL of propolis, and 10 mg/mL of vitamin C, or placebo (5.0 mL and 7.5 mL twice daily for ages 1 to 3 years and 4 to 5 years, respectively) for 12 weeks. RESULTS: Significant mean +/- SD reductions of illnesses were seen in the Chizukit group in the number of illness episodes, 138 vs 308 (55% reduction); number of episodes per child, 0.9 +/- 1.1 vs 1.8 +/- 1.3 (50% reduction, P<.001); and number of days with fever per child, 2.1 +/- 2.9 vs 5.4 +/- 4.4) (62% reduction, P<.001). The total number of illness days and duration of individual episodes were also significantly lower in the Chizukit group. Adverse drug reactions were rare, mild, and transient. CONCLUSION: A preventive effect of a product containing echinacea, propolis, and vitamin C on the incidence of respiratory tract infections was observed. http://tinyurl.com/2975r http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez- /query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=14993078
