Final answer:
Echinacea Root Alcohol Glycerine Extract combines glycerine, a humectant that improves smoothness and lubrication, with alcohol, which preserves and extracts active plant components. It is used for its potential immune-boosting effects and to prevent or treat cold symptoms.
Step-by-step explanation:
Echinacea Root Alcohol Glycerine Extract is a preparation that often includes glycerine and alcohol as solvents. Glycerine, also known as glycerol, is a compound used widely in medical, pharmaceutical, and personal care products. It serves to improve smoothness, provide lubrication, and act as a humectant. In the context of Echinacea root extracts, glycerine helps to preserve the plant's properties and aids in the delivery of its potential therapeutic effects when used topically or ingested.
Echinacea is popularly used for its immune-boosting properties and is believed to potentially prevent or alleviate cold symptoms. The alcohol present in the extract acts as a preservative but can also enhance the extraction of the active components from the herb. Additionally, alcohols such as ethanol and isopropanol are known for their antibacterial and antiviral properties. They are common ingredients in hand sanitizers to kill bacteria and viruses while glycerine counteracts the drying effects of these alcohols on the skin.