Eichhornia crassipes (Water Hyacinth) Multifaceted Potential due to Many Therapeutic and Value-added Aspects

Background: Eichhornia crassipes, more often known as the water hyacinth, a member of the Pontederiaceae family, is a notoriously invasive macrophyte that inhabits watery habitats. Areas in the tropics and subtropics are its native habitats. Despite its pejorative reputation, water hyacinth causes major ecological issues, such as the depletion of water supplies. It serves a variety of purposes. Animal feed, bioenergy, biofertilizer, and industrial wastewater treatment are only a few of its numerous societal and economic applications. Aim: To identify research gaps and highlight the need for more extensive pharmacological investigations on this medicinal plant. Methods: We performed a literature search on ScienceDirect and PubMed databases using various keywords, including “water hyacinth”. The search was refined by applying relevant filters to obtain the most pertinent articles for this review article’s objective. Results: Alkaloids, sterols, tannins, saponins, flavonoids, phenols, and water hyacinth are just a few of the many bioactive plant components found in abundance in this plant. Many different medicinal effects have been associated with these secondary metabolites. Among its many pharmacological effects are those of an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, neuroprotective, and hepatoprotective nature, among many others. Conclusion: The E. crassipes (Mart.) plant’s pharmacologically active components have been the subject of much study. It still needs to carry out an extensive investigation of the pharmacological properties of this medicinal plant. This review provides a thorough synopsis of the literature on E. crassipes, including its traditional usage, pharmacological and biological properties, and chemical composition. Major Findings: Eichhornia crassipes contains a rich spectrum of secondary metabolites, including alkaloids, sterols, tannins, saponins, flavonoids, and phenolic compounds. These phytochemicals demonstrate diverse pharmacological effects, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, neuroprotective, and hepatoprotective activities.