Specialized metabolites of the genus Zephyranthes Herb.: a critical review on taxonomy and phytochemistry

This article is a critical review of the taxonomy and phytochemistry of the genus Zephyranthes Herb., a group of plants known for their beautiful flowers and traditional medicinal uses. The present review summarizes the occurrence, isolation, and identification of specialized metabolites, which have recently been frequently studied because of their important biological activities. Among the accepted 203 species, only 27 have been phytochemically investigated. This paper provides an overview of the different types of specialized metabolites identified in these plants and considers problematic taxonomic evolution within this species. The differences between two internationally recognized databases, which classify only 41% of the species in the same way, are briefly summarized. In addition, there are many reports on their metabolites, especially alkaloids, but some of the data in the literature are occasionally inaccurate and sometimes even erroneous. This critical review aims to discuss, summarize, and evaluate up-to-date (up to July of 2023) information about metabolites of the genus Zephyranthes, focusing on phytochemistry and taxonomy.

Graphical abstract