See, D M, Broumand, N, Sahl, L et al. · Immunopharmacology · 1997 · DOI
This study tested whether two herbal supplements—echinacea and ginseng—could boost immune cells taken from healthy people and patients with ME/CFS or HIV/AIDS. Researchers found that both herbs increased the activity of natural killer cells and antibody-dependent immune responses in blood samples from all three groups. While the results suggest these herbs may help activate certain immune functions, this was a laboratory experiment using cells in a dish, not a study of people taking the supplements.
ME/CFS is characterized by impaired cellular immune function, particularly natural killer cell dysfunction. This study suggests that echinacea and ginseng may have the capacity to enhance specific immune pathways that are often depleted in ME/CFS patients, providing a biological rationale for further investigation of these supplements as potential therapeutic agents.
This laboratory study does not prove that taking echinacea or ginseng supplements will help ME/CFS patients in real life. In vitro findings do not account for factors like absorption, metabolism, dosing, or whether these effects would occur in the human body. Clinical trials in living patients would be needed to determine if these supplements actually improve symptoms or immune function.
About the PEM badge: “PEM required” means post-exertional malaise was an explicit required diagnostic criterion for participant inclusion in this study — not that PEM was studied, observed, or discussed. Studies using criteria that do not require PEM (e.g. Fukuda, Oxford) are tagged “PEM not required”. How the atlas works →
The first block is for the primary paper and is the citation you should use in research work. The atlas-snapshot line only applies if you are specifically referring to this atlas’s reading of the paper on the date shown.
Primary citation
See, D M, Broumand, N, Sahl, L, & Tilles, J G (1997). In vitro effects of echinacea and ginseng on natural killer and antibody-dependent cell cytotoxicity in healthy subjects and chronic fatigue syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome patients.. Immunopharmacology. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0162-3109(96)00125-7
BibTeX
@article{mecfsatlas-see-1997-vitro-effects,
author = {See, D M and Broumand, N and Sahl, L and Tilles, J G},
title = {In vitro effects of echinacea and ginseng on natural killer and antibody-dependent cell cytotoxicity in healthy subjects and chronic fatigue syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome patients.},
journal = {Immunopharmacology},
year = {1997},
doi = {10.1016/s0162-3109(96)00125-7},
note = {PubMed: 9043936},
url = {https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/see-1997-vitro-effects},
}Atlas snapshot reference
ME/CFS Atlas. Generator v1 / Scanner v1.4 / policy v0.1. Accessed 2026-05-30. https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/see-1997-vitro-effects
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