Styrax spp: Habitat, Phenology, Phytochemicals, Biological Activity and Applications

Styrax is the largest genus of the family Styracaceae, with about 130 species distributed across America, Europe, and Southeast Asia. The oleo-resin of these woody shrubs, called Styrax benzoin, has a long tradition of use as incense and in therapeutics, which is stimulating research and industrial applications. Many studies have been carried out on the biological activity of different Styrax species, but only a few reviews have been published, mainly focused on traditional uses in folk medicine. This review gathers updated and valuable information on the distribution and phenology of Styrax spp., considering their phytochemicals, biological activity, and current and possible applications in medicine, animal feeding, energy production, and the food industry. Overall, Styrax obassia and Styrax japonicus are the most studied, but Styrax officinalis has been thoroughly investigated for its phytochemicals. Recent literature highlights promising applications in oncology and as an energy crop. The data described in this review could be useful to upgrade the quantity and quality of Styrax benzoin, as well as to expand the knowledge on emerging applications, for example in the development of active packaging for the food industry.