Secondary Metabolites of Eichhornia crassipes (Waterhyacinth): A Review (1949 to 2011)

Abstract

Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms (Waterhyacinth), an aquatic perennial herb present throughout the world, has a myriad of metabolites. Phenalenone compounds and sterols have been isolated from this plant. Extracts, as well as pure compounds isolated from this plant, have been demonstrated to possess pharmacological activities. An account of the phytochemistry, pharmacological activities and several applications of waterhyacinth are included in this review.

Pharmacological Analysis of Obnoxious Water Weed: Eichhornia Crassipes (Mart.) Solms

“…Considerable research efforts have been headed to evaluate and exploit the presence of such secondary metabolites in other aquatic weeds including E. crassipes (Rio et al, 1997;Okwu and Josiah, 2006;Vasu et al, 2009;Pepsi et al, 2012;Rajeshwari et al, 2014). Similar results were documented by many researchers for the presence of flavonoids, terpenoids, alkaloids and tannins and these are reported as a source of antioxidants in the weed water hyacinth (Nyananyo and Ogamba, 2005;Jayanthi et al, 2011;Lalitha et al, 2012Lalitha et al, , 2013Kurup et al, 2013;Tulika and Mala, 2015). In contrast to Lalitha et al (2012) our results showed absence of cardiac glycosides.…”

“…Similar results were documented by many researchers for the presence of flavonoids, terpenoids, alkaloids and tannins and these are reported as a source of antioxidants in the weed water hyacinth (Nyananyo and Ogamba, 2005;Jayanthi et al, 2011;Lalitha et al, 2012Lalitha et al, , 2013Kurup et al, 2013;Tulika and Mala, 2015). In contrast to Lalitha et al (2012) our results showed absence of cardiac glycosides. Beside Vasu et al (2009) reported the existence of saponins and absence of flavonoids likewise, Vasu et al (2009) also reported the absence of flavonoids whereof, presence of phenols, alkaloids, steroids, triterpenoids and tannins in the methanol extract of E. crassipes which is contradiction to our results where saponins were absent but flavonoids and terpenoids were present.…”

Eichhornia crassipes: An advantageous source of shikimic acid

“…Phytochemical studies on E. crassipes have led to the isolation and identification of more than thirty compounds, including sterols, flavonoids, and phenalenone-type compounds (Toki et al, 2004;Hölscher and Schneider, 2005;DellaGreca et al, 2009;Lalitha et al, 2012). In this paper we describe for the first time the presence of shikimic acid (1) in the Pontederiaceae family.…”

Utilization of Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) as Fish Feed Ingredient

“…In addition, Kiristos et.al [25] also found tannins and terpenoids in the ethanol extract and methanol extract of water hyacinth leaves. Phenolic compounds contained in water hyacinth include Quercetin, and Gallic acid [26], catechol, pyrogallol, vanillic, salicylic acids, syringic, resorcinol, and others [27]. Flavonoids contained in water hyacinth include apigenin, tricin, chrysoeiol, azaeleatin, gossypetin, luteolin, kaempferol, orientin, isovitexin, and others.…”