Omnia SanaCommon names in 4 European languages →
The complete database record: 2 documented constituents, 2 pharmacological actions, 6 traditional / indicated uses, with 13 cited sources.
Botanical Description
Low-growing herbaceous perennial (Geraniaceae) with a thick, dark, tuberous rootstock. Long-stalked, heart- to kidney-shaped, greyish-green, softly hairy leaves form a basal rosette. Slender flowering stems bear small, dark red to almost black, five-petalled flowers. The thick tuberous root is the medicinal part, used as the standardised extract EPs 7630.
Habitat & Distribution
Native to the grasslands of the Eastern Cape and Free State regions of South Africa and Lesotho, growing on rocky, well-drained grassland slopes at moderate to high altitude.
Harvesting
The thick tuberous root is dug from mature plants - wild-harvested and increasingly cultivated - then cleaned and dried before being processed into the standardised ethanolic extract (EPs 7630) used commercially.
Key Constituents
Pharmacological Actions
Traditional & Indicated Uses
Acute bronchitis - reduces symptom severity and shortens illness
Common cold and acute respiratory tract infection
inferred from immunomodulator action
Common cold and acute respiratory tract infection
Rhinosinusitis (sinusitis) support
Traditional Use & History
Known locally as 'Umckaloabo', Pelargonium sidoides root has a long history of traditional use by South African indigenous peoples for respiratory and gastrointestinal complaints, and was popularised in Europe in the early 20th century as a tuberculosis remedy. Its modern use, now well supported by clinical trials, is as a standardised extract (EPs 7630) for acute bronchitis, the common cold and other upper respiratory tract infections.[2, 12]
Preparations
Dosage
Clinical trials have used the standardised commercial extract per product labelling for acute bronchitis and respiratory infections in both adults and children; dosing (drops or syrup) differs by age, so follow product-specific instructions. Educational reference only, not a prescription.
Safety, Cautions & Contraindications
Generally well tolerated; the main effects are mild gastrointestinal upset or, rarely, an allergic skin reaction. Rare reports of liver injury mean you should stop and seek advice if signs of liver problems occur.
The coumarin content gives a theoretical bleeding risk, so use caution with anticoagulant medicines; use in pregnancy and breastfeeding is not recommended.
Harvest Readiness
External Identifiers
References & Sources
- Moyo, M. and Van Staden, J (2014) 'Medicinal properties and conservation of Pelargonium sidoides DC', Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 152(2), pp. 243-255. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2014.01.009 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2014.01.009 - Careddu, D. and Pettenazzo, A (2018) 'Pelargonium sidoides extract EPs 7630: a review of its clinical efficacy and safety for treating acute respiratory tract infections in children', International Journal of General Medicine. doi:10.2147/IJGM.S154198 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.2147/IJGM.S154198 - Timmer, A., Gunther, J., Rucker, G., Motschall, E., Antes, G. and Kern, W.V (2008) 'Pelargonium sidoides extract for acute respiratory tract infections', Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (3), pp. CD006323. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD006323.pub2 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD006323.pub2 - Timmer, A., Gunther, J., Motschall, E., Rucker, G., Antes, G. and Kern, W.V (2013) 'Pelargonium sidoides extract for treating acute respiratory tract infections', Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2013(10), pp. CD006323. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD006323.pub3 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD006323.pub3 - Agbabiaka, T.B., Guo, R. and Ernst, E (2008) 'Pelargonium sidoides for acute bronchitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis', Phytomedicine, 15(5), pp. 378--385. doi:10.1016/j.phymed.2007.11.023 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phymed.2007.11.023 - Kayser, O., Kolodziej, H. and Kiderlen, A.F (2001) 'Immunomodulatory principles of Pelargonium sidoides', Phytotherapy Research, 15(2), pp. 122-126. doi:10.1002/ptr.785 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.785 - Kolodziej, H. and Kiderlen, A.F (2006) 'In vitro evaluation of antibacterial and immunomodulatory activities of Pelargonium reniforme, Pelargonium sidoides and the related herbal drug preparation EPs 7630', Phytomedicine, 14(Suppl 6), pp. 18-26. doi:10.1016/j.phymed.2006.11.020 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phymed.2006.11.020 - Gokce, S., Dortkardesler, B.E., Yurtseven, A. and Kurugol, Z (2021) 'Effectiveness of Pelargonium sidoides in pediatric patients diagnosed with uncomplicated upper respiratory tract infection: a single-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study', European Journal of Pediatrics, 180(9), pp. 3019-3028. doi:10.1007/s00431-021-04211-y Randomized trial
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-021-04211-y - Kolodziej, H (2011) 'Antimicrobial, Antiviral and Immunomodulatory Activity Studies of Pelargonium sidoides (EPs 7630) in the Context of Health Promotion', Pharmaceuticals, 4(10), pp. 1295-1314. doi:10.3390/ph4101295 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.3390/ph4101295 - Roth, M., Fang, L., Stolz, D. and Tamm, M (2019) 'Pelargonium sidoides radix extract EPs 7630 reduces rhinovirus infection through modulation of viral binding proteins on human bronchial epithelial cells', PLoS One, 14(2), pp. e0210702. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0210702 Clinical study
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0210702 - Willcox, M., Simpson, C., Wilding, S., Stuart, B., Soilemezi, D., Whitehead, A., Morgan, A., Wrixon, E., Zhu, S., Yao, G., Webley, F., Yan, R., Bostock, J., Bell, M., Griffiths, G., Leydon, G., Little, P., Butler, C., Hay, A.D. and Moore, M (2021) 'Pelargonium sidoides root extract for the treatment of acute cough due to lower respiratory tract infection in adults: a feasibility double-blind, placebo-controlled randomised trial', BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies, 21(1), pp. 48. doi:10.1186/s12906-021-03206-4 Randomized trial
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-021-03206-4 - Conrad, A., Kolodziej, H. and Schulz, V (2007) 'Pelargonium sidoides-extract (EPs 7630): registration confirms efficacy and safety', Wiener Medizinische Wochenschrift. doi:10.1007/s10354-007-0434-6 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10354-007-0434-6 - Koch, A.K., Klose, P., Lauche, R., Cramer, H., Baasch, J., Dobos, G.J. and Langhorst, J (2016) 'A Systematic Review of Phytotherapy for Acute Rhinosinusitis', Forschende Komplementarmedizin, 23(3), pp. 165--169. doi:10.1159/000447467 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1159/000447467
Selected studies & references
All 13 studies in the Knowledge Finder →
This profile is assembled automatically from the Omnia Sana plant database, which we curate by hand. How this site is built.