Kalanchoe daigremontiana, a succulent herbaceous plant in the Crassulaceae family from Madagascar, has gained global popularity as an ornamental and medicinal species. This review examines the traditional uses, phytochemical composition, biological properties, toxicological aspects, and regulatory challenges of K. daigremontiana. The traditional medicinal uses of its leaves and roots include treating burns, rheumatic disorders, hypertension, diabetes, kidney pain, diarrhea, cough, fever, gastric issues, anxiety, inflammation, and cancer. Chemical compounds identified include phenolic acids, flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids, glycosides, saponins, sterols, terpenes, and fatty acids, with phenolic compounds and bufadienolides being predominant. In vitro studies of the crude extracts, bufadienolide-rich fractions, and isolated compounds have shown antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antiparasitic, anthelmintic, anti-inflammatory, anticoagulant, anti-aging, cytotoxic, antitumoral, and antiproliferative properties. In vivo studies have demonstrated hepatoprotective, skincare, and cardiac-glycoside-like effects. While crude extracts and bufadienolide-rich fractions have shown toxic effects in 2-week-old chicks, guinea pigs, and Artemia salina, no toxicity has been reported in goats, broiler chickens, laying hens, or human erythrocytes. Although K. daigremontiana-based products are commercially available as dietary supplements with various health claims, these lack scientific validation. Despite the potential pharmaceutical applications of K. daigremontiana, further research is needed to determine its effects, dosage, mechanisms, long-term safety, and side effects, with clinical studies essential to validate its therapeutic potential.

The genus Serjania (family Sapindaceae) comprises more than 240 species, primarily distributed in Brazil and Mexico, and it exhibits considerable ethnobotanical and therapeutic potential. Ethnobotanical evidence documents the widespread use of decoctions prepared from the leaves, stems, and roots of Serjania species for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders, renal pain, inflammatory conditions, and infections. Among the most extensively studied species are S. marginata, S. erecta, S. lethalis, S. caracasana, S. goniocarpa, S. schiedeana, S. yucatenensis, S. triquetra, and S. racemose. Phytochemical research has identified a diverse array of bioactive secondary metabolites, including saponins, flavonoids, phenolic acids, tannins, and terpenoids. Significant experimental evidence supports the broad spectrum of biological activities of these Serjania species, including antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, gastroprotective, antihypertensive, analgesic, antivenom, cytotoxic, antimutagenic, anti-ulcer, photoprotective, antiparasitic, and vasorelaxant effects, as demonstrated in both in vitro and in vivo models. Although preliminary toxicity assessments of extracts from some Serjania species in murine models, Oreochromis niloticus (Nile tilapia), and Artemia salina suggest a favorable safety profile, significant research gaps remain. Additionally, several Serjania species have shown potential as natural pesticides and bioherbicides, highlighting their relevance in agricultural applications. Future studies should prioritize the isolation and structural characterization of individual bioactive compounds, as well as the elucidation of their molecular mechanisms of action, moving beyond crude extract-based screening approaches. Overall, this review summarizes current knowledge on traditional uses, phytochemical composition, biological activities, and biotechnological applications of Serjania species.