A detailed view on the constituents of EPs® 7630

Extracts of Pelargonium sidoides, commonly known as EPs (R) 7630, are produced by extraction of milled roots with 11% (w/w) ethanol in water. This solvent leads to a spectrum of constituents which differs significantly from extracts obtained by extraction with non-polar solvents. EPs (R) 7630 is composed of six main groups of constituents, namely unsubstituted and substituted oligomeric prodelphinidins, monomeric and oligomeric carbohydrates, minerals, peptides, purine derivatives and highly substituted benzopyranones. The oligoprodelphinidins, frequently supposed to be compounds with unspecific tanning interactions, show, in contrast to other polyphenols, an amazing variety of substructures and connectivities which results in an uncommon diversity even at a low degree of polymerization. Three distinct purine derivatives, second messengers and probably intermediates of DNA synthesis, were identified and characterized by phytochemical means. The main benzopyranones of EPs (R) 7630 are highly oxygenated at the phenyl moiety (three to four oxygens) and in addition sulfated at distinct positions. A disulfate of 6,7,8-trihydoxybenzopyranone has been identified for the first time in plants. Taken together, these constituents amount to about 70 to 80% of the total weight of EPs (R) 7630, the active ingredient of the phytopharmaceutical Umckaloabo (R) (Iso Arzneimittel Ettlingen).