Pelargonii sidoidis radix

Pelargonii sidoidis radix, also called African umckaloabo root or African pelargonium root, is a drug used in herbal medicinal roots for the treatment of, among other things, a banal infection and acute and chronic bronichitis.

HMPC monograph: Traditional-use: banal cold
approved, supported by clinical trials: acute bronchitis. under discussion: sinusitis
ESCOP monograph: respiratory infections, banal colds, sore throats and coughs.
Commission E: no monograph

Empirical medicine: acute and chronic bronchitis (admission indication!) sinusitis, tonsillitis, pharyngitis.

Umckaloabo root contains minerals (12 %), saccharides (12 %), proteins (10 %) and coumarins (2 %). Further ingredients are flavonoids, gallic acid, methyl gallate, silicic acid derivatives, phenolic carboxylic acid (40 %) and polyphenols.

The umckaloabo root has an immunostimulating, antiphlogistic, antibacterial, antiviral and secretolytic effect.

Extracts from the umckaloabo root are used for the symptomatic therapy of colds (recommended by HMPC), acute and chronic bronchitis, sinusitis, tonsillitis, and inflammation of the nasal and pharyngeal mucosa. For these indications 29 clinical studies with more than 10,000 patients (4,000 children) are available (Timmer A et al. 2013).

Cave: not suitable for children under 6 years according to EMA.

According to the package leaflet:

Solutions: children (1st and 5th year of age) take a maximum of 10 drops 3 x daily; children 6th and 12th year of age) take 20 drops 3 x daily; children (from 12th year of age and adults) take 30 drops 3 x daily.
Dry extract 20mg: children from the age of 12 and adults: 3 x daily one ED (e.g. as a tablet).

Juice: children between 1 and 6 years of age: 2.5 ml 3 x daily; children between 7 and 12 years of age 5 ml 3 x daily.

In some cases an increase in liver enzymes has been observed. Mild gastrointestinal symptoms (diarrhoea, upper abdominal discomfort, nausea or vomiting, dysphagia), mild nose and gum bleeding, allergic reactions.

Allergy to one of the ingredients, children under 6 years, insufficient data for pregnancy and lactation.

Cave liver disease.

When coumarin-type anticoagulants are taken in parallel, an increase in the anticoagulant effect is theoretically possible, but has not yet been established.

1. Schilcher H (2016) In: Leitfaden Phytotherapie, Urban & Fischer Verlag München, pp. 327 ff.
2. Timmer A et al. (2013) Pelargonium sidoides extract for treating acute respiratory tract infections.
   Cochrane Database Syst Rev.10:CD006323.
3. https://arzneipflanzenlexikon.info/kapland-pelargonium.php.
4. https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/herbal-monograph/final-european-union-herbal-monograph-pelargonium-sidoides-dc/pelargonium-reniforme-curt-radix-revision-1_en.pdf
5. Wenigmann M. (2017) Phytotherapy medicinal drugs, phytopharmaceuticals, application. Urban & Fischer, pp.168-169