Species of the genus Kalanchoe have a long history of therapeutic use in ethnomedicine linked to their remarkable healing properties. Several species have chemical and anatomical similarities, often leading to confusion when they are used in folk medicine. This review aims to provide an overview and discussion of the reported traditional uses, botanical aspects, chemical constituents, and pharmacological potential of the Kalanchoe species. Published scientific materials were collected from the PubMed and SciFinder databases without restriction regarding the year of publication through April 2023. Ethnopharmacological knowledge suggests that these species have been used to treat infections, inflammation, injuries, and other disorders. Typically, all parts of the plant are used for medicinal purposes either as crude extract or juice. Botanical evaluation can clarify species differentiation and can enable correct identification and validation of the scientific data. Flavonoids are the most common classes of secondary metabolites identified from Kalanchoe species and can be correlated with some biological studies (antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial potential). This review summarizes several topics related to the Kalanchoe genus, supporting future studies regarding other unexplored research areas. The need to conduct further studies to confirm the popular uses and biological activities of bioactive compounds is also highlighted.

Species of the genus Kalanchoe have a long history of therapeutic use in ethnomedicine linked to their remarkable healing properties. Several species have chemical and anatomical similarities, often leading to confusion when they are used in folk medicine. This review aims to provide an overview and discussion of the reported traditional uses, botanical aspects, chemical constituents, and pharmacological potential of the Kalanchoe species. Published scientific materials were collected from the PubMed and SciFinder databases without restriction regarding the year of publication through April 2023. Ethnopharmacological knowledge suggests that these species have been used to treat infections, inflammation, injuries, and other disorders. Typically, all parts of the plant are used for medicinal purposes either as crude extract or juice. Botanical evaluation can clarify species differentiation and can enable correct identification and validation of the scientific data. Flavonoids are the most common classes of secondary metabolites identified from Kalanchoe species and can be correlated with some biological studies (antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial potential). This review summarizes several topics related to the Kalanchoe genus, supporting future studies regarding other unexplored research areas. The need to carry out further studies to confirm the popular uses and biological activities of bioactive compounds is also highlighted.

The widespread medicinal use of Kalanchoe daigremontiana and Kalanchoe × houghtonii, both popularly known as “mother-of-thousands”, often leads to their interchangeable use in folk medicine despite their distinct species status. This research aims to delineate the histochemical, chemical, and biological characteristics of these two Kalanchoe species to aid in their accurate identification. Through a comprehensive evaluation of histochemical markers (reaction patterns in hypodermis), alongside in vitro assessments (correlation of antioxidant activities and phenolic content), and metabolomic profiles (using HPTLC and UPLC-MS/MS^E), this study has identified significant differences between K. daigremontiana and K. × houghtonii. The findings reveal distinct variations in all evaluated parameters, underscoring the importance of proper species identification to ensure the safety and efficacy of their medicinal use. These results contribute valuable insights into the phytochemical and pharmacological bases for the traditional uses of these plants and highlight the need for distinguishing between species to avoid potential therapeutic inefficacies or adverse effects in folk medicine practices.