Echinacea Myrciaria Synergistic Composition for Flu Duration Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current anti-flu compositions are ineffective in significantly shortening the duration of flu infections and often come with undesirable side effects, limiting their use, especially in individuals with chronic conditions.

Innovation Solution

A synergistic composition of dry extracts from Echinacea purpurea and Myrciaria dubia, with a weight ratio of 4% to 40% Myrciaria dubia and 30% to 80% Echinacea purpurea, which includes metabolites like ellagic acid, cichoric acid, and quercetin, effectively reduces the duration of flu infections to 3-4 days without adverse effects.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Duration of action of moving object

If conventional anti-flu compositions are used, then immune response is stimulated, but the duration of flu infection is not significantly reduced and side effects occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveduration of flu infectionVSAvoidside effects
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines extracts from two different plant sources - Echinacea purpurea (providing alkylamides and phenolic compounds) and Myrciaria dubia (providing high concentration of vitamin C and ellagic acid). This synergistic combination achieves both significant reduction in flu duration (70% reduction to 3-4 days) and elimination of side effects, resolving the technical contradiction between efficacy and safety

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If higher concentration of active ingredients is used to improve efficacy, then immune stimulation increases, but harmful side effects increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimmune stimulation efficacyVSAvoidside effects
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the concentration parameters of active ingredients within specific ranges: alkylamides at 0.1-10 mg/g, phenolic compounds at 0.5-5.0 mg/g, and vitamin C at 50-500 mg/100g. These controlled parameter changes achieve potent immune stimulation while maintaining safety by avoiding toxic concentrations, thus resolving the contradiction between efficacy and harmful effects

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Loss of time

If traditional flu treatments are used, then symptoms are managed, but the duration of infection remains prolonged at 10-15 days

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveduration of flu infectionVSAvoideffectiveness of treatment
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs alkylamides from Echinacea purpurea which act as preliminary immunostimulants, activating immune defenses before the virus can establish full infection. This preliminary immune activation, combined with the antioxidant protection from vitamin C and ellagic acid, prevents viral progression and shortens infection duration to 3-4 days, significantly reducing the 10-15 day duration of traditional treatments

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2752194B1Natural antioxidant Anti-influenza composition
Publication Date: 2020.05.06 PHARMABRAND
  • EP2752194B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2752194B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The invention relates to a composition from the extract of Myrciaria dubia and Echinacea purpurea, which has a synergistic effect. The composition of the invention has potentiated antioxidant and anti-flu properties, as well as a high immuno-stimulating capacity.