Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 30, 2025

Absorption of Nasal and Bronchial Fluids: Precision Sampling of the Human Respiratory Mucosa and Laboratory Processing of Samples
Published on: January 21, 2018
[Acute and chronic rhinosinusitis age characteristics]
S V Ryazantsev1, I M Kirichenko2,3, E L Savlevich4,5
1St. Petersburg Research Institute of Ear, Throat, Nose and Speech, St. Petersburg, Russia.
Insights
Pelargonium sidoides offers a safe and effective treatment for both acute and chronic rhinosinusitis in children and adults. This herbal medicine enhances the immune response and directly combats pathogens, aiding inflammation regression.
Area of Science:
- Otorhinolaryngology
- Immunology
- Pharmacology
Context:
- Rhinosinusitis is a common condition in both pediatric and adult populations, presenting distinct anatomical and etiological differences.
- Pediatric rhinosinusitis is often influenced by adenoid hypertrophy and viral infections, complicating diagnosis and treatment compared to adults.
- Adult rhinosinusitis is frequently linked to ostiomeatal complex occlusion.
Purpose:
- To evaluate the efficacy and safety of DysheLORz, a herbal preparation derived from Pelargonium sidoides roots, for treating acute and chronic rhinosinusitis (ARS and CRS) in children and adults.
- To elucidate the immunomodulatory mechanisms of Pelargonium sidoides in the context of rhinosinusitis treatment.
- To assess the direct antimicrobial effects of Pelargonium sidoides against common respiratory pathogens.
Summary:
- DysheLORz, based on Pelargonium sidoides, demonstrated high effectiveness and safety as monotherapy or adjunct treatment for ARS and CRS in both age groups.
- The herbal medicine exhibits broad immunomodulatory effects, including stimulating cytokine production (TNF-α, IL-1, IL-12, IFN-γ), enhancing macrophage and lymphocyte activity, and modulating chemokine synthesis.
- Pelargonium sidoides also possesses direct antimicrobial properties, inhibiting bacterial adhesion, stimulating phagocytosis, and exhibiting activity against key pathogens like Streptococcus pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus, while also inhibiting influenza virus.
- Additional benefits include increased ciliary beat frequency, enhanced antimicrobial peptide production, and reduced neutrophil activity at the inflammation site.
Impact:
- Provides a safe and effective therapeutic option for rhinosinusitis, particularly valuable for pediatric cases where conventional treatments may have limitations.
- Highlights the potential of phytomedicines in managing complex inflammatory conditions of the upper respiratory tract.
- Offers a mechanism-based understanding of how Pelargonium sidoides combats rhinosinusitis through combined immunomodulatory and antimicrobial actions.
Abstract:
Children's and adults' rhinosinusitis are two diseases that have both similarities and differences in anatomy, epidemiology, causes, pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment. At the same rhinosinusitis is one of the most common in otorhinolaryngology's practice, both in children and adults. The of adults paranasal sinuses (PNS) anatomy differs from children's PNS anatomy. Although ostiomeatal complex occlusion is recognized as a major cause of poor ventilation and drainage of the adult paranasal sinuses, it does not have a strong effect on pediatric rhinosinusitis, but adenoids play a key role. Adenoids are bacteria and biofilms reservoirs that cause chronic refractory rhinosinusitis regardless of pharyngeal tonsil size. The prevalence of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is lower in children than in adults. Diagnosis of children's rhinosinusitis is more difficult because nasal cavity endoscopic examination is performed rarely due to the occasional need of general anesthesia during the procedure. Moreover, it's necessary to take into account prevailing etiological role of viruses in ARS at children's age and chronic adenoiditis often accompanies pediatric CRS, which requires attention prescribing medical therapy as the basis of rhinosinusitis treatment. The DysheLORz based on Pelargonium sidoides roots is highly effective and safe for children's and adults ARS and CRS treatment, both as monotherapy and in combination with topical steroids and antibiotics. This herbal medicine immunomodulatory effect is mediated mainly by stimulating the production of TNF-α, IL-1, IL-12 and IFN-γ. It activates macrophages and improves their phagocytic activity. IL-12, together with TNF-α, enhances NK and cytotoxic CD8+ lymphocytes' activity against infected cells. IL-12 effect on Th1 lymphocytes maturation provides a link between innate and adaptive immunity. This is also increasing MCP-1, IP-10 and MIP-1β chemokines synthesis and decreasing MIP-1α, ENA-78, GROα and IL-8 production in PNS and nasal mucosa. This leads to decrease of neutrophils chemotaxis to the inflammation site, and decline of serine proteases concentration (neutrophils main enzymes), that increases mucous membrane epithelial barrier permeability, reducing bacterial infections risk. Additionally, Pelargonium sidoides increases epithelial cells beating cilia frequency and inhibits hemagglutinin and neuraminidase present on influenza virus surface. The drug increases antimicrobial peptides production as defensins, human neutrophil peptides (HNP) and bactericidal permeability-increasing protein (BPI), which is also important for rapid inflammation regression in rhinosinusitis. It causes bacterial adhesion to epithelial cells inhibition, phagocytosis stimulation, nitric oxide (NO) release and oxidative burst. The medicine had a direct effect on Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Neisseria, Moraxella catarrhalis and Haemophilus influenza. Based on these data, it is possible to explain the high effectiveness and safety of the drugs based on Pelargonium sidoides in ENT organs inflammation treatment, for both adults and children over 1 year old.
Related Concept Videos
Chronic Pharyngitis
Etiology
It often arises from persistent viral or bacterial infections affecting sinuses and tonsils.
Additional contributing factors include inadequate dental hygiene, mouth breathing, recurring tonsillitis, allergic rhinitis, laryngopharyngeal reflux, and exposure to smoke, chemicals, and other environmental pollutants. Allergic reactions to pollen, mold, and pet dander, chronic cough, excessive voice usage,...
Acute Pharyngitis
Acute pharyngitis is the inflammation of the back of the throat (pharynx), commonly resulting in a sore throat. It is a frequently encountered condition that prompts individuals to seek medical advice.
Classification
Acute pharyngitis can be categorized based on its underlying cause:
Anatomy of Respiratory System I: Upper Respiratory Tract
Nose and nasal cavity
The nose and nasal cavity represent the main external openings of the respiratory tract....
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-II: Pathophysiology
Chronic Inflammation
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-I: Introduction
Physical Assessment of the Respiratory Tract I: Health History
Subjective Data
Subjective data provides vital information about the patient's health history and symptoms. This data is typically collected through interviews in which patients describe their experiences, symptoms, and concerns.
Health history and...

