REVIEW ARTICLE The article was published by ACG Publications http://www.acgpubs.org/journal/records-of-natural-products May-June 2021 EISSN:1307-6167 DOI: http://doi.org/10.25135/rnp.208.20.10.1833 Rec. Nat. Prod. 15:3 (2021) 148-168 Phytochemistry, Pharmacological Potency, and Potential Toxicity of Myoporum spp. Arafa Musa 1,2* 1 Department of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, Jouf University, 72341, Sakaka, Saudi Arabia 2 Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, 11371, Egypt (Received October 03, 2020; Revised October 23, 2020; Accepted October 24, 2020) Abstract: Genus Myoporum family Myoporaceae, includes approximately 32 species of woody small trees or shrubs, most of them are native to Australia and surrounding territories. Only certain species have been thoroughly studied and rich in flavonoids, phenylethanoids, Phenylpropanoids, terpenoids, iridoids, essential oil, and trace alkaloids. The essential oils are characterized by sesquiterpenes type components, either in ketone or alcoholic forms usually combined to a furanoid moiety. Myoporum spp. have been utilized in folk medicine for treatment of various diseases and were used as antidermatitis, antibacterial, antipyretic, anti-pulpitis, antipsychotic, anti-inflammatory, detoxicant, and others. Despite all these benefits, Myoporum spp. must be cautiously employed due to their potential toxicities, which arise from the presence of furanosesquiterpenoid contents, particularly in their essential oil. The toxicity influences liver and can extend to kidney and lung causing injury. The present review aims to explore the phytochemistry, beneficial uses and the toxic potentials of Myoporum spp. Keywords: Myoporum; Myoporaceae; secondary metabolites; furanosesquiterpenoids; biological activities; toxicity. © 2020 ACG Publications. All rights reserved. 1. Introduction Family Myoporaceae is slightly a small family, consisting mainly of three genera; Bontia, Eremophila, and Myoporum. Myoporaceous plants are shrubs or small trees widely endemic to Australia. Genus Myoporum was discovered in 1786 by George Foster [1-3]. It is a widely distributed genus including approximately 30 species as reported by Chinnock and Grady [4-7], 31 species as stated by Richmond and Ghisalberti [8], or 32 species as claimed by Laurence [9-11]. It is distributed mainly in Australia, extended to Melanesia, the Pacific and Indian Ocean areas, New Guinea, Mauritius, New Zealand, and Eastern Asia. About 18 species of Myoporum are native and endemic to Australia, while the others are distributed to various regions and territories. For example, M. boninense Koidz. and M. bontioides (Sieb. et Zucc.) A. Gray is native to Japan, where they are regarded as endangered plants [12,13]. Like all Myoporaceous members, Myoporum species are rich in flavonoids; and phenylethanoids; terpenoids, iridoids and alkaloid contents [3,12-19]. Besides these secondary metabolites, most of myoporum species are characterized by secretory ducts that secrete essential oil mixture. The best known of which are the sesquiterpenes with or without furanoid moiety in their structures, which may be of ketone or alcohol. Although Myoporum spp. have been reported for their toxicity, most plant members have acquired a good reputation by aborigines [20]. The essential oil of * E-Mail: arafa_1998@yahoo.de