Background: The
Geranium
genus is taxonomically classified within the family Geraniaceae Juss, which includes 5-11 genera and nearly 750
species in total. The best-known genera of this family are
Geranium, consisting largely of wild plants, and Pelargonium, consisting largely of
ornamental plants. Traditional uses include as an antiseptic in wounds and as an antipyretic by infusion of the plant.
Methods: This paper summarized previous and recent reports of the hepato-protective activities of
Geranium genus used in traditional medicine.
Results: Currently, eight different species of
geraniums
belonging to the family Geraniaceae have been identified in Hidalgo
State in Central
Mexico, and no chemical or pharmacological studies have been carried out
in any of these eight species. All phytochemical studies on these
species
indicate the presence of polyphenolic compounds, including tannins,
which are characterized as water-soluble compounds with molecular
weights
between 500 and 30,000 g/mol.
Conclusion: These and other compounds warrant the exploration of the Germanium genus for uses related to ethanol-induced hepatotoxicity.
