Pelargonium Sidoides Extract Research Articles

The Effectiveness of a Dietary Supplement with Honey, Propolis, Pelargonium sidoides Extract, and Zinc in Children Affected by Acute Tonsillopharyngitis: An Open, Randomized, and Controlled Trial.

Physicians are currently finding products for pediatric respiratory diseases of viral etiology to reduce the inappropriate use of antibiotic therapy. This study evaluated PediaFlù (Pediatrica S.r.l.), a dietary supplement already on the market composed of honey, propolis, Pelargonium sidoides extract, and zinc (DSHPP), in children affected by acute tonsillopharyngitis (ATR). The open-label, randomized, and controlled study compared DSHPP + standard of care (SoC) versus SoC alone for six days. Children between 3 and 10 years with an ATR ≤ 48 h, a negative rapid test for beta-hemolytic Streptococcus, or a culture identification of nasal and/or pharyngeal exudates were included. A tonsillitis severity score (TSS) and the number of treatment failures (using ibuprofen or high-dose paracetamol as rescue medication) were the primary endpoints. DSHPP+ SoC showed better performance than SoC alone for TSS sub-scores: throat pain and erythema on day 6 (p < 0.001 and p < 0.05), swallowing (p < 0.01 on day 4), and TSS total score on days 4 and 6 (p < 0.05 and p < 0.001). Only one patient (SoC group) had treatment failure for ibuprofen administration. No adverse events were reported. DSHPP is an optimal adjuvant in the treatment of URTI and could potentially be useful in the daily clinical practice of paediatricians evaluating the correct antibiotic prescription.

Efficacy and safety of mixture of ivy leaf extract and coptidis rhizome in the treatment of acute bronchitis: multicenter, randomized, double-blinded, active-controlled, parallel, therapeutic confirmatory clinical trial

Background Acute bronchitis is the most common respiratory disease. Mixture of Ivy Leaf Extract and Coptidis rhizome syrup has shown good treatment efficacy against chronic bronchitis and acute respiratory infections. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Mixture of Ivy Leaf Extract and Coptidis rhizome compared with those of Pelargonium sidoides extract, for the treatment of acute bronchitis. Methods We performed a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, active-controlled, parallel phase III study in 220 patients with acute bronchitis. The participants were offered either Mixture of Ivy Leaf Extract and Coptidis rhizome syrup (AGS) and placebo of P. sidoides tablet or placebo syrup and active tablet of P. sidoides (AGU) for 7 days. The primary endpoint was the change in the Bronchitis Severity Score (BSS) from the baseline visit (visit 2) to day 7 (visit 3). Results For the primary outcome, there was no significant difference in the change of total BSS between visits 2 and 3 (−4.10 ± 1.93 vs. −4.24 ± 1.85, p = 0.5125), and since the upper limit of the confidence interval (1.00) was smaller than the predetermined non-inferiority margin (1.17), it was confirmed that the AGS group was non-inferior to the AGU group. The changes in each symptom in the BSS between visits 2 and 3 also showed no significant differences. The overall improvement rate measured by the investigator (91.7 vs. 89.7%; p = 0.3506) and the satisfaction rate of the participants at visit 3 also showed no significant differences (97.2 vs. 94.4%; p = 0.4388). Regarding safety issues, adverse reactions were noted in both groups similarly, with no serious adverse events (4.55 vs. 3.64%, p > 0.999). Conclusion Mixture of Ivy Leaf Extract and Coptidis rhizome syrup is as effective and safe as P. sidoides in controlling symptoms of acute bronchitis.

Effects of EPs 7630 on the duration of inability to work in acute bronchitis - a meta-analysis.

Acute bronchitis (AB) has an enormous economic impact through lost working time. We investigated whether treatment with Pelargonium extract EPs 7630 may reduce the time of inability to work. A meta-analysis of double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trials with adult patients suffering from AB was performed. The average number of days of inability to work and the proportion of patients who were still unable to work after one week's treatment were assessed. Four clinical trials with a total of 1,011 evaluable patients who received the marketed dosage of EPs 7630 (n=505) or placebo (n=506) for seven days were included in the meta-analysis. At baseline, 845/1,011 patients (83.6%) were unable to work. In the four trials, the proportion decreased to between 19 and 14% for EPs 7630 and to between 41 and 55% for placebo (meta-analysis risk ratio and 95% confidence interval: 0.35; 0.26-0.45; p<0.001). For the number of sick days, a weighted mean difference of 1.73 days (1.17-2.29 days; p<0.001) favoring EPs 7630 was observed. For adults suffering from AB, this meta-analysis demonstrates that seven days' treatment with Pelargonium sidoides extract EPs 7630 significantly reduces the average number of sick days and significantly increases the proportion of patients who are able to return to work.

Pelargonium sidoides extract mediates nephrotoxicity through mitochondrial malfunction and cytoskeleton destabilization.

We investigated the cytotoxic effect of Pelargonium sidoides extract on Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells. P. sidoides extract decreased the cell viability in a dose dependent manner (> 0.2%). The extract of P. sidoides decreased the mitochondrial action potential, increased the number of reactive oxygen species (ROS) inside the cell, and caused nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide hydride (NADH) to be released, all of which are signs of mitochondrial dysfunction. The results of unbiased mRNA sequencing showed that 0.3% P. sidoides extract upregulates the apoptosis-related gene (BBC3). This finding was supported by immunoblot analysis of apoptosis signal pathways, which included Bcl-2, Bax, cytochrome C (CytC), cleaved caspase 3 (CC3), cleaved caspase 7 (CC7), cleaved caspase 9(CC9) and cleaved PARP (CP). It is interesting to note that the elevated levels of Bax, CytC, CC3, CC7, and CC9, as well as CP, were suppressed by N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) pretreatment, which points to ROS-mediated apoptosis. The small GTPases, RhoA, and Rac1/cdc42-GTP-bound active form were all lowered when P. sidoides extract was used. Also, RhoA-related cytoskeleton signals (ROCK, p-LIMK1/2, p-cofilin) and Rac1/cdc42-related signals (N-WASP, WAVE-2) were inhibited by P. sidoides extract. NAC or RhoA/Rac1/cdc42 activator pretreatment reduced P. sidoides extract-induced actin destabilization. In this work, P. sidoides extract promotes apoptosis by causing mitochondrial dysfunction and cytoskeleton disassembly.

Treatment of sore throat and hoarseness with Pelargonium sidoides extract EPs 7630: a meta-analysis

Treatment of sore throat and hoarseness with Pelargonium sidoides extract EPs 7630: a meta-analysis

Evaluation of food effects on the pharmacokinetics of Pelargonium sidoides and Coptis with each bioactive compound berberine and epicatechin after a single oral dose of an expectorant and antitussive agent UI026 in healthy subjects.

UI026 is an expectorant and antitussive agent which is a new combination of Pelargonium sidoides extract and Coptis extract. The bioactive compounds of Pelargonium sidoides and Coptis extracts were identified as epicatechin and berberine, respectively. This study evaluated the effect of food on the pharmacokinetics (PKs) and safety of UI026. A randomized, open-label, single-dose, 2-treatment, parallel study in 12 healthy male subjects was performed. Subjects received a single oral dose of UI026 (27 mL of syrup) under a fed or fasted condition according to their randomly assigned treatment. Blood samples for the PK analysis were obtained up to 24 hours post-dose for berberine and 12 hours post-dose for epicatechin. The PK parameters were calculated by non-compartmental analysis. In the fed condition, the mean maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) and mean area under the plasma concentration-time curve from time zero to the last observed time point (AUClast) for berberine were approximately 33% and 67% lower, respectively, compared with the fasted condition, both showing statistically significant difference. For epicatechin, the mean Cmax and mean AUClast were about 29% and 45% lower, respectively, compared to the fasting condition, neither of which showed a statistically significant difference. There were no drug-related adverse events. This finding suggests that food affects the systemic exposure and bioavailability of berberine and epicatechin.Trial RegistrationClinical Research Information Service Identifier: KCT0003451

Development and application of a chemical profiling method for the assessment of the quality and consistency of the Pelargonium sidoides extract

The evaluation of chemical similarity is very significant for the evaluation and standardization of the quality of herbal medicines as the biological activity of herbal medicines depends on the composition and proportion of many individual components. Many health organizations have recommended chemical profiling for the quality and consistency evaluation of herbal medicines. In this study, chemical profiling was performed to evaluate the similarity between batches of Pelargonium sidoides maltodextrin mixture (PMM) from EPs® 7630, a Pelargonium sidoides extract preparation. For chemical profile analysis, 7 common peaks were selected from 27 different PMM batches and specificity, linearity, accuracy, and precision tests were performed to develop the analytical method. The Pearson correlation coefficients of the similarity for all 27 batches manufactured over the years were higher than 0.90, indicating that quality consistency is well ensured over the years. This profiling method confirms the chemical profile of various commercial products using not only PMM but also Pelargonium sidoides extract and shows that it can be applied to standardization of quality.

Pelargonium Extract EPs 7630 in the Treatment of Human Corona Virus-Associated Acute Respiratory Tract Infections - A Secondary Subgroup-Analysis of an Open-Label, Uncontrolled Clinical Trial.

Background: Experience in treating human coronavirus (HCoV) infections might help to identify effective compounds against novel coronaviruses. We therefore performed a secondary subgroup-analysis of data from an open-label, uncontrolled clinical trial published in 2015 investigating the proanthocyanidin-rich Pelargonium sidoides extract EPs 7630 in patients with the common cold. Methods: 120 patients with common cold and at least 2 out of 10 common cold symptoms received one film-coated 20 mg tablet EPs 7630 thrice daily for 10 days in an uncontrolled, interventional multicentre trial (ISRCTN65790556). At baseline, viral nucleic acids were detected by polymerase chain reaction. Common cold-associated symptoms and treatment satisfaction were evaluated after 5 days and at treatment end. Based on the data of patients with proof of viral nucleic acids, we compared the course of the disease in patients with or without HCoV infection. Results: In 61 patients, viral nucleic acids were detected. Of these, 23 (37.7%) were tested positive for at least one HCoV (HCoV subset) and 38 (62.3%) for other viruses only (non-HCoV subset). Patients of both subsets showed a significant improvement of common cold symptoms already after 5 days of treatment, although the observed change tended to be more pronounced in the HCoV subset. At treatment end, more than 80% of patients of both groups were completely recovered or majorly improved. In both subsets, less than 22% of patients took concomitant paracetamol for antipyresis. The mean number of patients’ days off work or school/college was similar (0.9 ± 2.6 days in HCoV subset vs 1.3 ± 2.8 days in non-HCoV subset). In both groups, most patients were satisfied or very satisfied with EPs 7630 treatment. Conclusion: EPs 7630 treatment outcomes of common cold patients with confirmed HCoV infection were as favourable as in patients with other viral infections. As this trial was conducted before the pandemic, there is currently no evidence from clinical trials for the efficacy of EPs 7630 in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Dedicated non-clinical studies and clinical trials are required to elucidate the potential of EPs 7630 in the early treatment of HCoV infections.

Influence of EPs 7630 on Antipyretic Comedication and Recovery from Acute Tonsillopharyngitis in Children: A Meta-analysis of Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Clinical Trials

AbstractObjective Acute tonsillopharyngitis (ATP) is a common, seasonal infection of predominantly viral origin. Management is aimed at shortening the course of the disease and restoring the comfort of the patient. We performed a meta-analysis to investigate whether treatment with the Pelargonium sidoides extract EPs 7630 reduces the use of antipyretic comedication (i.e., acetaminophen) in children suffering from ATP.Methods Studies were identified from clinical trial registries and medical literature. Randomized, placebo-controlled, clinical trials investigating EPs 7630 in children with ATP and reporting the coadministration of paracetamol were eligible. Based on the raw data of eligible trials, we analyzed cumulative paracetamol use, as well as the ability to attend school at the end of treatment. Three trials including a total of 345 children aged 6 to 10 years and suffering from non-β-hemolytic streptococcal ATP were identified and eligible. Children were administered EPs 7630 or placebo for 6 days.Results Compared with placebo, EPs 7630 reduced the cumulative paracetamol dose by an average of 449 mg (95% confidence interval [CI]: 252–646 mg; p &lt; 0.001). A total of 19.1% (EPs 7630) and 71.5% (placebo) of children were still unable to attend school at the end of the treatment (risk ratio = 0.28; 95% CI: 0.16–0.48; p &lt; 0.001).Conclusion Our meta-analysis demonstrates that EPs 7630 reduced the use of antipyretic comedication and accelerated recovery.

Обзор опыта применения растительных препаратов для лечения острого риносинусита с позиции доказательной медицины*

General background. The overuse of antibiotics, including for the treatment of uncomplicated acute rhinosinusitis (ARS), has contributed to the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains and has led to the need for alternative therapies. The review provides an assessment of the quality of evidence for the use of phytotherapy in ARS in order to determine its position among other therapies and future directions of research. The MEDLINE database was searched for randomized controlled studies of Sinupret®, Pelargonium sidoides extract (pelargonium), Cyclamen europaeum (cyclamen), cineole and GeloMyrtol®. We also searched for results from studies of a nasal spray with N-acetylcysteine and mometasone furoate (MF) in order to compare the effectiveness of herbal preparations with these traditional agents indicated for ARS. Main content. The strongest evidence was obtained for Sinupret®, followed by Pelargonium sidoides extract. Their use for treatment of ARS is supported by double-blind, placebo-controlled studies demonstrating both clinical efficacy and safety. Comparisons with traditional treatments such as topical glucocorticosteroids were found only for Sinupret® and they showed comparable efficacy, but in a small group of patients. For other herbal drugs, the pooled level of evidence was low. The search identified 2 small, placebo-controlled, randomized studies of cyclamen nasal spray. In two studies, it was impossible to make conclusions about the safety and efficacy of cyclamen nasal spray and reported no efficacy of cyclamen in reducing symptoms. We found only one randomized placebo-controlled study of GeloMyrtol® and cineol. The mention studies have showed a reduction in ARS symptoms with these two drugs, but larger studies are needed to confirm these findings. There are few studies that directly compared herbal drugs. In one randomized study, cineol was compared with Sinupret®, but the results need to be confirmed in further studies. Studies of N-acetylcysteine are limited to small clinical trials, while the use of MF nasal spray has been confirmed with results comparable in evidence to Sinupret® for the respective indications. Conclusions. There are modern studies that demonstrate the efficacy and safety of herbal drugs for ARS treatment. Given that the evidence for Sinupret® is the strongest and comparable to that for the widely available topical corticosteroid, MF, Sinupret could be considered for the treatment of uncomplicated ARS.

Physicochemical properties and in vitro stability studies of green synthesized gold nanoparticles using pelargonium sidoides

In the present study, Pelargonium sidoides (PS) extract was used in the green synthesis of AuNPs that was characterized by UV-Vis, TEM, SAED, EDS, XRD, FTIR, and DLS. UV-Vis showed a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) at λmax of 532 nm while TEM shows that the particles are predominantly spherical and monodispersed. DLS measurement indicated the particle size and the zeta potential to be 27.20 nm and -24.0 mV respectively. The in vitro stability of the hybrid particles in different solutions and buffers (pH 7 and 9) confirmed that the particles are stable over a given period. The method employed is simple, environmentally friendly, and inexpensive. Our studies suggest that the Pelargonium sidoides-gold nanoparticles (PS-AuNPs) may be safely used in biomedical applications such as drug delivery.&#x0D; Keywords: Pelargonium sidoides; biosynthesis; biomedicals; capping agent; zeta potential

Effects of Pelargonium sidoides extract on chemokine levels in nasal secretions of patients with non-purulent acute rhinosinusitis

Objective Previous investigations suggest the use of extract from the roots of Pelargonium sidoides (EPs 7630) for improvement of the symptoms of uncomplicated upper airway inflammations, due to its antimicrobial and immunomodulatory actions. The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the effects of EPs 7630 on chemokine production in nasal mucosa and clinical parameters of patients with acute postviral rhinosinusitis (APRS). Methods Twenty-six (n = 26) APRS patients and 25 (n = 25) control subjects were included in this prospective study. We measured the concentrations of thirteen chemokines in nasal secretions of APRS patients and controls by flow cytometry. The patients with APRS were treated by EPs 7630 20 mg oral tablets, three times daily for 10 days. We compared the chemokine levels in nasal secretions, nasal symptoms and endoscopic findings in patients, before and after therapy. Results We found higher Total Symptom Score (TSS) and higher concentrations of MCP-1, MIP-1α, MIP-1β, MIP-3α, ENA-78 and IL-8 in nasal secretions of APRS patients than in controls. After therapy by EPs 7630, we found significant improvement in all symptoms and endoscopic findings of APRS. The concentrations of MCP-1, IP-10 and MIP-1β were significantly increased and levels of MIP-1α, ENA-78, GROα and IL-8 significantly decreased in nasal fluid samples after therapy. No adverse effects were reported during the treatment. Conclusion Our results suggest the presence of modulatory effects of EPs 7630 on production of chemokines regulating the function of neutrophils and monocytes in the site of inflammation of the nasal mucosa in patients with APRS.

HATRIC: a study of Pelargonium sidoides root extract EPs\xae7630 (Kaloba\xae) for the treatment of acute cough due to lower respiratory tract infection in adults\u2014study protocol for a double blind, placebo-controlled randomised feasibility trial

BackgroundAcute lower respiratory tract infection is a common acute infection managed in primary care. The current dominant management strategy in the UK is antibiotics, despite widespread publicity regarding antimicrobial resistance and evidence that the small benefits of antibiotics do not outweigh the harms. There is a need to address the rising problem of antibiotic resistance by providing credible alternative strategies, which reduce symptom burden. There is sufficient evidence to recommend the use of Pelargonium sidoides root extract in order to warrant undertaking an independent clinical trial.We propose a feasibility study to demonstrate our ability to recruit and retain patients and conduct a placebo-controlled trial of Pelargonium sidoides extract EPs®7630 in lower respiratory tract infection where pneumonia is not suspected. Both the tablet and liquid formulations will be included.MethodsThe HATRIC trial is a double-blind randomised placebo-controlled feasibility study aiming to determine the potential to conduct a fully powered trial of Pelargonium sidoides root extract as an alternative to the inappropriate use of antibiotics for acute bronchitis in UK primary care.Primary care sites will be equally randomised to one of two formulation groups (tablet or liquid preparation). Additionally, within each site, patients will be evenly randomised to active or placebo treatment. Antibiotic consumption will be monitored during the trial, but the use of a delayed prescription strategy is encouraged. The target sample size for this study is 160 patients overall or 40 per arm, recruited from approximately 20 primary care sites. The analysis will be descriptive focusing on estimation with no formal comparison of groups taking place.DiscussionIf this trial demonstrates the feasibility of recruitment and delivery, we will seek funding for a fully powered placebo-controlled trial of Pelargonium sidoides root extract for the treatment of lower respiratory tract infections in primary care.Trial registrationHATRIC was registered on the ISRCTN registry (ISRCTN17672884) on 16 August 2018.

Faster recovery and reduced paracetamol use \u2013 a meta-analysis of EPs 7630 in children with acute respiratory tract infections

ObjectiveFever is a very common adaptive immune response in acute respiratory tract disorders during infancy. Antipyretic / analgesic drugs such as paracetamol (acetaminophen) are widely used to improve the comfort of the child but may cause medically unneeded antipyresis and rare but potentially serious side effects. We assess whether treatment with Pelargonium sidoides extract EPs 7630 reduces the administration of paracetamol in children with acute tonsillopharyngitis (ATP) or acute bronchitis (AB).DesignMeta-analysis of randomised, placebo-controlled clinical trials.MethodsWe searched clinical trial registries (ISRCTN, ClinicalTrials.gov) and medical literature (MEDLINE, EMBASE), for randomised, placebo-controlled trials investigating the administration of EPs 7630 to children with ATP or AB and reporting the co-administration of paracetamol. Based on the individual participant data of the eligible trials, study populations were characterized according to sex and age, and meta-analyses were performed for cumulative paracetamol use and ability to attend school at treatment end.ResultsSix trials including a total of 523 children aged 6–10 years (EPs 7630: 265; placebo: 258) and suffering from non-β-hemolytic streptococcal ATP (3 trials) or from AB (3 trials) were identified and eligible. Children received EPs 7630 or placebo for 6 (ATP) or 7 days (AB). Compared to placebo, EPs 7630 reduced the cumulative dose of paracetamol in 5 out of the 6 trials, by an average of 244 mg (Hedges’ g; − 0.28; 95% confidence interval: [− 0.53; − 0.02]; p < 0.03). At treatment end, 30.2% (EPs 7630) and 74.4% (placebo) of the children were still unable to attend school (risk ratio: 0.43; 95% confidence interval: [0.29; 0.65]; p < 0.001).ConclusionsIn children aged 6–10 years with AB or ATP, EPs 7630 alleviated the symptom burden and accelerated recovery. Although EPs 7630 has no known antipyretic effect, concomitant use of paracetamol was reduced.

The Effect of Suplementary Pelargonium sidoides Extract on Growth of the African Catfish (Clarias gariepınus (Burchell, 1822))

A preliminary study was conducted to evaluate the effect of dietary supplementation of the Pelargonium sidoides extract on African catfish, Clarias gariepinus growth performance, feed efficiency and body composition. The catfish (mean body weight 1.09±0.32 g) were fed with experimental diets prepared by using supplementation of P. sidoides extract (0, 5 and 10 ml 100 g-1) for 90 days. Growth rate significantly increased in catfish fed with P. sidoides extract-supplemented diets in comparison with the control groups (P&amp;lt;0.05). Specific growth rate (SGR) ranged from 2.29 ± 0.05 (control) to 2.54 ± 0.21 (5 ml P. sidoides extract 100 g-1 diet). Feed conversion ratio (FCR) and protein efficiency ratio (PER) were also significantly improved in group fed diet with 10 ml 100 g-1P. sidoides extract than that with control groups (P&amp;lt;0.05). These results demonstrate that P. sidoides extract may be used as a potential growth promoter in catfish culture.

Impact of Proven Viral Load on Common Cold Patients Treated with Pelargonium sidoides Preparation EPs 7630

The Common Cold (CC) is an acute respiratory tract disorder with viral etiology in at least 90% of the cases. Nevertheless, molecular diagnostic testing often confirms the presence of viral Nucleic Acids (NA) in only about half of the patients. Based on the results of a non-comparative, interventional multicenter study we compare the course of CC between patients with and without proof of viral NA, who were treated with Pelargonium sidoides extract preparation EPs 7630. 120 adults with CC and at least 2 out of 10 common cold symptoms received 3t1 film-coated 20 mg tablet EPs 7630 daily for 10 days. At baseline, tests for viral NA were performed. CC-associated symptoms and treatment satisfaction were evaluated after 5 days and at treatment end. Out of 119 patients with molecular nucleic acid based assessments, 61 (61.3%) were tested positive for viral NA. Patients with and without proof of viral NA showed a similar time course of recovery from CC associated symptoms and had a comparable global outcome. In both subsets, less than 20% of the patients received concomitant paracetamol for antipyresis and only 2 required antibiotic treatment. Independently of whether or not viral NA was confirmed at baseline the course of CC treated with EPs 7630 was comparable. The results do not support the necessity to measure the viral load in order to treat CC patients effectively.

Pelargonium sidoides extract EPs 7630: a review of its clinical efficacy and safety for treating acute respiratory tract infections in children.

BackgroundIn numerous randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and systematic reviews such as those published by the Cochrane Collaboration, Pelargonium sidoides extract EPs® 7630 was shown to be effective in acute respiratory tract infections (aRTI) in all investigated age-groups. This narrative review focuses on recently published results from RCTs investigating the clinical efficacy and safety of EPs 7630 in children and adolescents with different manifestations of aRTI, in order to present a broader overview and to provide an update on the state of knowledge regarding the use of EPs 7630 in this age-group.MethodsThe Cochrane review on P. sidoides extract for aRTI published by the Cochrane Collaboration was searched for cited RCTs with EPs 7630 in children and adolescents suffering from aRTI. A PubMed and SCOPUS literature search was performed for publications issued before June 13, 2017 (search terms: children, Pelargonium sidoides, EPs 7630, respiratory). Reference lists of publications found were searched for relevant citations.ResultsEight RCTs investigating the application of EPs 7630 in acute bronchitis, acute tonsil-lopharyngitis, and aRTI in the context of chronic preconditions were identified. Results showed a statistically significant improvement of aRTI symptom severity for EPs 7630 as compared to controls. The investigation of EPs 7630 in asthmatic children and adolescents with aRTI demonstrated a significant symptom-alleviating effect and a possibly associated reduction of asthma attacks. In immunocompromised children with acute upper RTI, an alleviating effect of EPs 7630 was shown. All RCTs reviewed reported good safety and tolerability of EPs 7630.ConclusionThe P. sidoides extract EPs 7630 is effective and safe for those of pediatric age and may be regarded as an alternative option for the management of aRTI.

ЕРs7630 – current weapon against «old» disease

The article gives an overview of recent scientific works devoted to the unresolved problems of diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of acute bronchitis in children. The authors cover etiological, pathogenetic, diagnostic and therapeutic approaches of this nosology. A concise overview provide insight into the most recent results of highly reliable studies and meta-analyzes on the efficacy and safety of Pelargonium sidoides extract (EPs7630) – the drug Umkalor in the treatment of acute bronchitis in pediatric practice.

Phytotherapy today: prospects and implications in treatment schemes for children

The article discusses the current prospects for herbal medicines in treatment practice, specifically, in the therapy of acute respiratory infections (ARI). The authors highlight the properties, characteristic features, principles and objectives of the phytotherapeutic method. Based on their own experience and analysis of a number of experimental and clinical reports, the use of Umckalor, the Pelargonium sidoides extract (Pelargonium sidoides EPs 7630), is substantiated in the treatment of ARI and its complications in children.

The Pelargonium sidoides Extract EPs 7630 Drives the Innate Immune Defense by Activating Selected MAP Kinase Pathways in Human Monocytes.

Pelargonium sidoides is a medical herb and respective extracts are used very frequently for the treatment of respiratory tract infections. However, the effects of Pelargonium sidoides and a special extract prepared from its roots (EPs 7630) on human immune cells are not fully understood. Here we demonstrate that EPs 7630 induced a rapid and dose-dependent production of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-10 by human blood immune cells. This EPs 7630-induced cytokine profile was more pro-inflammatory in comparison with the profile induced by viral or bacterial infection-mimicking agents. The search for EPs 7630 target cells revealed that T-cells did not respond to EPs 7630 stimulation by production of TNF-α, IL-6, or IL-10. Furthermore, pretreatment of T-cells with EPs 7630 did not modulate their TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-10 secretion during subsequent activation. In contrast to lymphocytes, monocytes showed clear intracellular TNF-α staining after EPs 7630 treatment. Accordingly, EPs 7630 predominantly provoked activation of MAP kinases and inhibition of p38 strongly reduced the monocyte TNF-α production. The pretreatment of blood immune cells with EPs 7630 lowered their secretion of TNF-α and IL-10 and caused an IL-6 dominant response during second stimulation with viral or bacterial infection-mimicking agents. In summary, we demonstrate that EPs 7630 activates human monocytes, induces MAP kinase-dependent pro-inflammatory cytokines in these cells, and specifically modulates their production capacity of mediators known to lead to an increase of acute phase protein production in the liver, neutrophil generation in the bone marrow, and the generation of adaptive Th17 and Th22 cells.