EPs 7630 extract according to the preparation (e.g. 30 drops 3 times/day) during the acute illness.
Shortens and relieves acute bronchitis and the common cold versus placebo in systematic reviews.
View the study (meta-analysis) →⏱ 2 min read
Umckaloabo, also known as South African pelargonium, is Pelargonium sidoides, a plant native to South Africa whose root has traditionally been used by the Zulu for respiratory and digestive infections; in Europe, especially in Germany, a standardized ethanolic root extract (EPs 7630, marketed as Umckaloabo or Kaloba) is approved as an herbal medicine with a specific indication for acute bronchitis, pharyngitis, and other acute respiratory infections in adults and children, one of the few medicinal plants with a formal regulatory profile and solid clinical support in this family of indications.
The identified active principles are coumarins (especially umckalin), oligomeric proanthocyanidins, and phenolic compounds with antiviral, mild antibacterial, and mainly immunomodulatory activity; the mechanism of action is multiple and combines inhibition of pathogen adherence to respiratory epithelial cells, stimulation of bronchial ciliary activity, modulation of inflammatory cytokines, and a mild expectorant effect, a combination that explains the clinical effects observed in uncomplicated viral and bacterial respiratory infections.
The indication with the best evidence is acute bronchitis in adults: a Cochrane systematic review published in 2013 with several randomized trials confirmed that the EPs 7630 extract significantly reduces symptom severity, speeds the resolution of cough, and improves the general sense of well-being compared with placebo in uncomplicated acute bronchitis, with clinically relevant effect sizes and a favorable tolerability profile.
In non-streptococcal pharyngitis and acute rhinosinusitis, several randomized trials have shown significant reductions in symptom severity and faster recovery with standardized doses over 7-10 days, an indication consistent with the described antiviral and immunomodulatory mechanism and with regulatory backing in Germany for several upper respiratory infections.
In acute respiratory infections in children, especially non-pneumonic bronchitis, the EPs 7630 extract has shown significant efficacy with a favorable tolerability profile; several European pediatric trials have evaluated it in schoolchildren with recurrent colds and documented reductions in symptom duration and in use of symptomatic medication.
The doses studied are specific to the standardized EPs 7630 extract: in adults, 30 drops (1.5 ml) three times daily or 20 milligrams in tablet form three times daily, for 7-10 days in acute infections; in children, doses adjusted by age according to the regulated product's instructions; non-standardized products or those of non-pharmaceutical origin have highly variable efficacy and are not interchangeable with the EPs 7630 formulation, which has the documented clinical basis.
Generally well tolerated in short courses; the most common adverse effects are mild digestive discomfort (nausea, diarrhea), occasionally skin rash or, rarely, minor mucosal bleeding (nosebleeds, gums) from a mild antiplatelet effect at high doses; the most important pharmacological consideration is the sporadic reports of hepatotoxicity associated with prolonged use, enough for European regulatory agencies to recommend limiting use to short courses (typically no more than 3 continuous weeks) and stopping at any symptom suggestive of liver involvement (jaundice, abdominal pain, intense fatigue); people with chronic liver disease should avoid it; those taking anticoagulants should use caution because of the mild antiplatelet effect; in pregnancy and breastfeeding, data are limited and use is discouraged as a precaution; in children it should be used only with a specific pediatric formulation and with age-adjusted doses.
Information, not medical advice. Scientific evidence reflects the quality of the studies.