Sesbania grandiflora (Fabaceae) has been long used as food and traditional medicine. This study aims to explain the botany, benefits and bioactivity of S. glandiflora. The method is library research of various articles published online on Google Scholar using the keywords S. glandiflora, uses of S. glandiflora and bioactivities of S. glandiflora. In traditional medicine, S. glandiflora is used to treat diarrhea, snake bites, malaria, smallpox, fever, scabies, ulcers, and gastric disorders. S. glandiflora bioactivity includes anti-diabetes mellitus, anti-bacterial, antioxidant, anti-helminthic, anti-hyperlipidemic, anti-diarrheal and anti-cancer. The bioactivity of S. glandiflora is related to the content of its secondary metabolites. The tocopherols contained in S. glandiflora seeds showed potential as antioxidants while the phytosterols showed anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic potential. S. glandiflora has the potential to be developed as a natural food preservative because it has antimicrobial activity.