Ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry and biological activity of Erodium species: A review

Erodium spp. is a genus that can be found in all continents that has been traditionally used in folk medicine to treat many diseases such as hemorrhage, dermatological disorders, indigestion, and inflammatory diseases. Moreover, Erodium leaves have been used for the preparation of salads, omelets, sandwiches, sauces and soups, among other food products. The objective of this review was to show the recent and relevant studies about extraction of bioactive compounds, the phytochemical characterization, the potential biological activities and toxicological evidence reported in both in vitro and in vivo studies from Erodium spp. In addition, the use of Erodium spp. as natural compounds against the development of diseases were also showed. This review highlights the traditional use of Erodium species in several countries as a therapeutic agent to treat several diseases (such as constipation, dermatological disorders, diabetes, indigestion, urinary inflammations, and as carminative agent), the factors influencing the extraction of bioactive compounds (mainly species and solvent composition on phenolic compounds) and phytochemical profile (presence of essential oils and alkaloids), the scientific evidence about its anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial (against both spoilage and pathogenic microorganisms), antiviral and other health-related activities (anti-protozoal and anti-viral activity) as well as the toxicological evidence. Erodium spp. is a relevant source of compounds with antioxidant, antimicrobial, and biological activity, which support its potential exploration in pharmacological and food area. Major efforts are necessary to advance the knowledge about Erodium genus regarding the relation between traditional use and scientific evidence, optimization of extraction conditions, the influence on biological mechanisms at animal and clinical levels, and bioaccessibility and bioavailability of bioactive compounds.