HERBAL MONOGRAPHS HERB ROBERT / 393

EFFECTS

The active agents are the saponins (which irritate mucous

membranes), paristyphnin, paridin, citric acid and pectin.

The parissaponins are local irritants as well as absorptive

when taken orally. The main toxin is paristyphnin, which,

when taken orally, leads to miosis and can consequently

cause paralysis of the respiratory system.

LITERATURE
Frohne D, Pfander HJ, Giftpflanzen - Ein Handbuch fiir
Apotheker, Toxikologen und Biologen. 4. Aufl.. Wiss. Verlags-

Ges. Stuttgart 1997.

Kern W, List PH, Horhammer L (Hrsg.). Hagers Handbuch der

Herb Robert

Geranium robertianum

DESCRIPTION

Medicinal Parts: The medicinal parts of the plant are the

fresh or dried aerial parts collected during the flowering

season, as well as the whole fresh or dried plant.

Flower and Fruit: The peduncles are usually distinctly

longer than the bracts and the 2.2 to 7 mm long, permanently

erect pedicles. The flowers are longer than their pedicles.

There are 5 separate sepals and 5 petals. The sepals are erect

when they first bloom and hang when the fruit matures. The

petals have long stems. There are 10 stamens and 5 ovaries

with long styles, which form an upward curve when mature.

The fruit is circular and 2 cm long, with 3 mm long

protruding, reticulate, glabrous or pubescent fruit lobes

which are upward horizontally wrinkled. These permanently

enclose the smooth, finely spotted seeds. The fruit lobes

burst off from the central column without the awn.

Leaves, Stem and Root: Geranium robertianum is a 20 to 40

cm high annual or hardy annual with a weak, branched tap

root and a long hypocotyl. The stems are heavily branched.

usually red, and glandular-haired. The leaves are 3- to 5-

sectioned compound leaves with petiolate. entire-margined

to double-pinnasect leaflets.

Characteristics: Herb Robert has an unpleasant smell often

associated with goats or bugs.

Habitat: The plant is indigenous to the area stretching from

Europe to China and Japan; to Africa southward as far as

Uganda; to the Atlantic seaboard of North America; and the

temperate areas of South America.

Production: Herb Robert is the aerial parts of Geranium

robertianum, which are gathered between May and October

in uncultivated regions, then dried in the open air in the

shade.

Not to be Confused With: The herbs of Geranium palustre

and Geranium pratense are frequently used as an

adulteration.

Other Names: Dragon's Blood, Storkbill, Wild Crane's-Bill

ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY

COMPOUNDS

Flavonoids: including rutin, quercetin-3-O-rhamnogalacto-

side, kaempferol-3-O-rhamnoglucoside, hyperoside

Tannins: geraniin, isogeraniin, beta-penta-O-galloylglucose

EFFECTS

The drug has the following effects:

Antiviral: The extract of the fresh herb, including rhizome,

has been shown to have a mild antiviral effect against the

vesicular stomatitis virus. In another study, however, the

aqueous solution of the ethanol extract was not shown to

have an antiviral effect against the polio virus Type 1,

measles, coxsachie-B2, adeno- or Semliki forest virus.

Antimicrobial: The fraction of an extract produced with 80%

ethanol was shown to have an inhibitory effect on the growth

of Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylo-

coccus aureus. In the serial dilution test, growth of Micros-

porum canis and Trichophyton mentagrophytes was

completely stunted.

INDICATIONS AND USAGE

Homeopathic Uses: Herb Paris is used as a homeopathic

remedy for headaches, neuralgia, nervous tension, dizziness,

palpitations and migraine.

PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS

The drug is considered poisonous. Symptoms of poisoning

following intake of the berries include nausea, vomiting,

diarrhea, miosis and headache. However, no serious poison-

ings have been recorded in this century.

DOSAGE

Mode of Administration: Herb Paris is available in homeo-

pathic dilutions.

Pharmazeutischen Praxis, 4. Aufl.. Bde. 1-8. Springer Verlag

Beilin. Heidelberg, New York. 1969.

Lewin L, Gifte und Vergiftungen, 6. Aufl., Nachdruck, Haug

Verlag, Heidelberg 1992.

Madaus G, Lehrbuch der Biologischen Arzneimittel, Bde 1-3,

Nachdruck, Georg Olms Verlag Hildesheim 1979.

Nohara T et al., Chem Pharm Bull 30:1851. 1982.

Roth L, Daunderer M, Kormann K, Giftpflanzen, Pflanzengifte,

4. Aufl., Ecomed Fachverlag Landsberg Lech 1993.
   Teuscher E, Lindequist U, Biogene Gifte - Biologie, Chemie,
   Pharmakologie, 2. Aufl., Fischer Verlag Stuttgart 1994.