Table 3 Chemical characteristics of Echinacea suspension (ES)

Liquid matrix

pH

4.01 ± 0.04

4.07 ± 0.12

Glucose (mM)

10.9 ± 0.5^b

5.5 ± 0.2^a

Fructose (mM)

11.84 ± 0.6^b

8.3 ±0.2^a

Sucrose (mM)

-

-

Total phenols ( mM gallic acid/ml)

9.4 ± 0.2^a

9.9 ± 0.1^b

Lactic acid (mM)

21.0 ± 2.3

20.0 ± 1.2

Acetic acid (mM)

-

3.2 ± 1.8

Free amino acids (mg/l)

122 ± 5^a

612 ± 11^b

Freeze dried matrix

Moisture (%)

2.28 ± 0.15^b

2.02 ± 0.05^a

Protein (% of d.m.)

15.9 ± 0.3

16.0 ± 0.2

Lipids (% of d.m.)

1.31 ± 0.11

1.30 ± 0.23

Ash (% of d.m.)

12.78 ± 0.21

12.82 ± 0.19