Unraveling the ethnomedicinal uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacology of an under-investigated species, Scadoxus multiflorus (Martyn) Raf.

Abstract

Ethnomedicinal importanceThe Scadoxus multiflorus is an ornamental, ethnomedicinal plant of the genus Scadoxus (Amaryllidaceae family). The species has a large number of traditional practices such as in the treatment of fever, cough, gastrointestinal problems, and wound healing. Aim of the studyFinding studies that provide the scientific validation of the traditional uses, focusing on the geographical distributions to provide information on the global availability of this popular ornamental plant that is very common to Africa to increase the research interest, documenting the major phytoconstituents and their extraction procedures, various pharmacological activities, critical analysis of the research interest on the plant and current scenario with intense analysis of research gaps for future studies. Materials and methodsThe research was conducted through Google Scholar, PubMed, Web of Science, and ScienceDirect and included the scientific reports of 64 years (1958–2022). The entire process involved four phases in getting all the required information by using specific keywords (“Scadoxus”, “Scadoxus multiflorus”, “African poisonous plants”, and “South African herbal medicine”) without any boolean operators. The search strategy is explained through a PRISMA chart 2020. ResultsThere are no specific review reports available on the traditional uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacology of the plant, along with a critical analysis of the current research status. In most of the cases, scientific knowledge is unavailable regarding traditional uses. The phytochemical investigations explored the presence of alkaloids, tannins, saponins, flavonoids, terpenoids, glycosides, and carbohydrates from various parts of this plant. The pharmacological properties include antimicrobial, antioxidant, cytotoxic, acetylcholinesterase inhibition, and so on. ConclusionThe plant is found all over the world and possesses a variety of pharmacological properties. The toxicity profile of this plant necessitates an immediate scientific investigation of its traditional uses. Extensive studies are required on the phytochemistry of the plant to isolate the bioactive compounds. In-depth studies of various biological activities, including in vivo and in vitro studies, are also required to determine their mechanisms of action. Therefore, this article presents a comprehensive review of the ethnomedicinal uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacology of Scadoxus multiflorus and enlightens the new pathways for further study for the first time.