Genus Pelargonium: General Aspects, Potential Pharmacological Applications, Extraction Methods and Applications in Industry

Pelargonium is a genus belonging to the Geraniaceae family, found within the Angiospermae division, the Dicotyledoneae class, and the Geraniales order. It is the second biggest genus of the family; it has about 280 taxa. In the past, Pelargonium species were characterized by presenting large and red roots, from which preparations were used in the treatment of diarrhea, dysentery, anemia, and weakness. This article is a bibliographic search carried out in different databases that focus on chemical and physical features of Pelargonium and also some of the extraction methods. Currently, there are a variety of studies that affirm the different properties of the species of the genus Pelargonium, among which the activities stand out: antituberculous, antioxidant, antitumor, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, and immunomodulatory. Therefore, they are used in both the pharmaceutical and food industries. The most relevant species of this genus is Pelargonium sidoides, which has a broad range of biological properties, from which a standardized hydroalcoholic root extract was formulated, known as EPs® 7630, which has been authorized by the EMA and is listed in the European Pharmacopoeia. It is important to continue with the clinical studies to be able to analyze the other properties that Pelargonium has in order to contribute to the pharmaceutical industry.