Unveiling the Enigmatic World of Parasitic Plants: An Exploratory on Ecological Aspects and Pharmacological Potentials

Abstract

Parasitic plants represent a distinctive group of flowering plants that obtain water, nutrients and, in some cases, organic compounds from host plants through haustorial connections. This manuscript examines their ecological attributes, host associations and pharmacological potential using field observations and literature-based evidence collected from January 2021 to December 2023. The study documents both aerial and terrestrial parasitic plants, including mistletoes, dodder, root holoparasites and selected members of families such as Loranthaceae, Santalaceae, Balanophoraceae, Rafflesiaceae and Orobanchaceae. The findings indicate that parasitic plants vary widely in morphology, host specificity and ecological behaviour, from broadly polyphagous species such as Cuscuta and Dendrophthoe to highly specialised forms associated with narrow host ranges. The manuscript also highlights their traditional medicinal uses and reported pharmacological activities, including antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic and hepatoprotective properties, which are linked to diverse secondary metabolites. At the same time, several parasitic plants threaten cultivated crops and forest trees by reducing host vigour, yield and survival, particularly where infestations remain unmanaged. Climate change, habitat loss and host decline further affect their distribution and conservation status. Overall, parasitic plants are ecologically complex organisms with both adverse agricultural impacts and potential medicinal value, requiring balanced documentation, conservation attention and further scientifically validated pharmacological investigation.