Les échinacées sont-elles efficaces pour prévenir le rhume banal ?

Details

Supervisors

Quetin-Leclercq, Joëlle

Faculty

Faculté de pharmacie et des sciences biomédicales

Degree label

Master [120] en sciences pharmaceutiques, à finalité spécialisée

Abstract

enThe common cold is an upper respiratory tract viral infection mainly caused by rhinoviruses. This pathology is common and can affect people of all ages and all over the world. It is a major cause of sick leave as well as absenteeism from school. Echinacea-based preparations could be used to prevent this infection. The goals of this thesis are to determine whether these preparations are useful to prevent the common cold and to try to refute myths and beliefs saying that ”what is natural is safe and ineffective”. Echinacea purpurea has a well-established use in the treatment and prevention of common colds. Several studies have shown that echinacea-based preparations tend to decrease the incidence of common colds. Although side effects were more common in the groups using the above-mentionned preparations than in the groups using a placebo. However, these results were not statistically significant. Several studies have been conducted on pregnant women but did not show an influence on pregnancy. However, these products can lead to a herb-drug interaction. Echinacea preparation could therefore be recommended but not for all patients.