Echinacea was the remedy of the Native American Indians from the Plains for wounds, infections, and insect and snake bites. The purple Coneflower is a member of the sunflower family. The three most common species are Echinacea angustifolia, E. Purpurea, and E. Pallida. In the United States, the roots of E. Angustifolia have been used traditionally. Europe has performed more studies with fresh plant extracts of E. Purpurea. 

Echinacea is rich in polysaccharides and phytosterols which have potent non-specific stimulatory actions on the immune system. Research has indicated that they stimulate the Alternative Complement pathway which helps activate general immune cells to scavenge for bacteria and cellular debris. The roots of E. Angustifolia contain significant amounts of the glycoside echinacoside. Echinacoside has mild antibiotic activity. Other components in echinacea, such as the polysaccharide echinacin, also have antibiotic and antifungal activity. E. Purpurea contains components, mainly echinacin, with cortisone-like activity and which help with wound healing by inhibiting inflammatory hyaluronidase enzyme. E. Purpurea also contains the sesquiterpene esters which have immunostimulatory activity.