Abstract

In recent years, plants have shown potential as sources of antimicrobial agents due to their immense phytochemical constituents, and there is a need to continuously search and develop potent antimicrobial agents to combat the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance worldwide. The challenges facing the utilization of ethnomedicine are lack of sufficient studies to ascertain their therapeutic use. Sarcophyte is a holoparasite plant and trophic guild parasite. Its native ranges from Southern parts of Ethiopia to South Africa. It has a vital medicinal value in managing various disorders. This review article purposes to offer a complete rundown literature regarding Sarcophyte genus: Phylogeny, medicinal values, phytochemistry and toxicity that have been outlined in diverse journals and articles. This review has been developed with the aid of books, articles, peer reviewed articles, theses, Google Scholar, Science Direct and validated internet sources. Sarcophyte piriei has been utilized customarily to manage a variety of disorders among Africans for ages. It is employed to treat diseases but is not limited to sores, bruises, sore throat, swollen glands, toothache, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, shingles, cancer, snake bites and menstrual disorders. Alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols, saponins, terpenoids and tannins have shown to be the major phytochemical constituents correlated with the antimicrobial properties of the holoparasite and contributed to the antibacterial prospects of the plant against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Streptococcus pyogenes, Klebsiella pneumonia and Proteus mirabilis. Its safety and toxicity have not been well established hence the need for evaluation. More studies are required to elucidate more phytochemical composition, medicinal values, efficacy, potency, safety and toxicity measures. Sarcophyte genus will provide a novelty in new remedies for the emerging antimicrobial resistance to conventional antimicrobial agents.

Key words: Balanophoraceae, sarcophyte piriei, phylogeny, phytomedicines, phytochemistry, toxicity.