Pelargonium spp. were traditionally used to staunch bleeding, heal wounds, ulcers, uterine hemorrhage and skin disorders, as well as to treat diarrhea, dysentery and colic (Koheil et al., 2012).
Pelargonium grossularioides and Erodium cicutarium have been used as folk medicines in South Africa, mainly to procure abortions (Lis-Balchin and Hart, 1994).
Lao-guan-cao has long been used in Chinese traditional medicine.
It is used as an antirheumatic and circulation promoting drug for the treatment of acute and chronic rheumatalgia; also used as a detoxicant for enteritis and bacillary dysentery.
According to the literatures, the commercial drug Lao-guan-cao chiefly consists of the aerial parts of Erodium stephanianum Willd. (Zhang et al., 1995). The dried aerial parts of Erodium stephanianum Willd. and Geranium wilfordii Maxim. have been specified in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia (1990 ed.) The oil of the rose-scented geranium Pelargonium graveolens L’Hér. has been used for many years in traditional medicine as anti-asthmatic, anti-allergic, antioxidant, antidiarrheal, antihepatotoxic, diuretic, tonic, haemostatic, stomachic and antidiabetic (Boukhris et al., 2013).
Pelargonium graveolens L’Hér. ex Ait (known also as Geranium graveolens), is used traditionally for the treatment of hyperglycemia in multiple folk medicine systems. Geranium spp. are used as astringent, diuretic, antidiabetic, antispasmodic, and as gargle for throat and tonsils. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) classified geranium oils as GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) for food use (Afifi et al., 2014).
The root extract of Pelargonium sidoides DC. [Pelargonium reniforme Curtis var. sidaefolium (Thunb.) Harv.], showed in vitro antibacterial, antiviral, and immunomodulatory properties in several studies.
These activities seem to account for its therapeutic effect in patients suffering from acute bronchitis, tonsillopharyngitis, sinusitis and symptoms of the common cold. Efficacy has been proved in numerous clinical trials (Brendler and van Wyk, 2008).
Casting of the roots of Pelargonium sidoides DC. and Pelargonium reniforme Curt. have been used for coughs, chest problems including tuberculosis and gastrointestinal disorders such as diarrhea and dysentery.
Aside from these, plant materials alleged to accommodate a cure for hepatic disorders and dysmenorrheal (Ibrahim et al., 2018).

Methanol extracts of 9 species of Geraniaceae; namely Geranium sylvaticum L., Geranium sanguineum L., Geranium columbinum L., Geranium caeruleum Schur, Geranium pyrenaicum Burm. fill., Geranium lucidum L., Geranium marcorrhizum L., Geranium robertianum L. and Erodium cicutarium (L.) L’Hér. exhibited antioxidant activity (Nikolova et al., 2010). Significant antiwormal effect on fresh earthworms (Allolobophora caliginosa), remarkable antioxidant and strong antifungal activities were recorded on the extract, fractions and isolated compounds from roots of Pelargonium fragrans (Meselhy, 213).
Methanol extract of Pelargonium graveolens exhibited a significant antioxidant activity and has pronounced cytotoxic activity against MCF-7 cell line (Al-Saffar et al., 2017).
Taken together, Pelargonium graveolens leaves, as a nutraceutical modulating gastrointestinal carbohydrate and lipid digestion and absorption, maybe advocated as candidate for obesity-diabetes/metabolic syndrome management (Afifi et al., 2014).
The root extract of Pelargonium luridum (Andrews) Sweet exhibited strong antimicrobial with antidiarrheal activities, which validate its application in the management of infectious diseases in South Africa (Saheed and Tom, 2016). Root extracts of Pelargonium reniforme Curt. and Pelargonium sidoides DC showed antifungal activity.
The roots of Pelargonium reniforme showed antitubercular activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mativandlela et al., 2006). Extracts of in vitro callus cultures derived from leaf, root, and shoot tip explants (seeds of Pelargonium sidoides DC., obtained from an Egyptian Pharmaceutical company) have a clear impact as an antimicrobial agent with wide range effect (Ibrahim et al., 2018).
The essential oil and organic extracts of Pelargonium graveolens possesses antimicrobial and antioxidant properties (Ben Hsouna and Hamdi, 2012; Boukhris et al., 2013; Džamić et al., 2014). Pelargonium-derived essential oil is used in perfumery, cosmetics, soaps, creams, aromatherapy products exhibit good antioxidant activity and has potential immune modulating effects on natural killer cells (Saraswathi et al., 2011).
Pharmacological study of Pelargonium exstipulatum, Pelargonium odoratissimum and a hybrid, Pelargonium × fragrans, revealed that their essential oils could be used as relaxant agents in aromatherapy products and as novel antimicrobial agents in food preservation or household products (Lis-Balchin and Roth, 2000).
Pelargonium graveolens extracts and essential oil are important in drug development with many pharmacological properties in China and Middle East especially in Egypt and Morocco. Pelargonium graveolens has been used in traditional medicine for the relief of hemorrhoids, dysentery, inflammation and cancer, as well as in the perfumery, cosmetic and aromatherapy industries all over the world.
Pelargonium graveolens has been shown to have antioxidant, antibacterial,antifungal activities and acaricidal effects. Due to being widespread and the easy collection of this plant and also remarkable biological activities and containing a high amount of essential oil, this plant has become a medicinal plant in pharmacy especially in aromatherapy.
An overview presents comprehensive analyzed information on the phytochemical and clinical properties of Pelargonium graveolens (Asgarpanah and Ramezanloo, 2015). Geranium sanguineum L., has significant antioxidant activity and antiviral activity (Hammami et al., 2011).

1. Erodium
2. Geranium
3. Monsonia