Southern Africa is one of two world centres of diversity in the Hyacinthace
ae, harbouring approximately half the world's family representatives. Some
368 species in 27 genera are locally represented. Plants are well distribut
ed throughout the region, with a predominance in the Western Cape of South
Africa. Some 23 species in nine genera have been phytochemically investigat
ed, revealing compounds belonging to a diverse range of chemical classes. T
he chemical constituents from plants of this family have been divided into
four classes, namely, homoisoflavanones, steroidal compounds, bufadienolide
s and miscellaneous compounds. A single report on the occurrence of Amaryll
idaceae alkaloids in Urginea altissima is questioned following a reinvestig
ation of this species. Plants are employed for traditional medicinal purpos
es ranging from the treatment of hangovers, rheumatic fever, sprains and sy
philis to cancer. A number of species have been toxicologically assessed fo
llowing human deaths and livestock losses after ingestion. The bioactivity
and ethnobotany of southern African hyacinthacs is reviewed, as is the phar
macology of isolated constituents and crude extracts.