Sustainable Valorization of Invasive Eichhornia crassipes Biomass: Ecological Management and Therapeutic Potential in Degenerative Diseases

Degenerative diseases including Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes mellitus and hypertension remain major global health challenges due to their increasing prevalence, multifactorial pathogenesis and associated socioeconomic burden. Oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, protein glycation and metabolic dysregulation are recognized as critical pathological mechanisms underlying the initiation and progression of these disorders. Consequently, increasing attention has been directed toward medicinal plants possessing multi-target pharmacological activities and sustainable therapeutic potential. Eichhornia crassipes (water hyacinth), an invasive aquatic macrophyte widely distributed in tropical and subtropical regions, has emerged as a promising source of bioactive phytochemicals including flavonoids, phenolic acids, alkaloids, tannins, terpenoids and saponins with diverse biomedical applications. This review critically evaluates the phytochemical composition, pharmacological activities and therapeutic relevance of E. crassipes in the management of degenerative diseases. Available evidence demonstrates that extracts and bioactive compounds derived from E. crassipes exhibit significant antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, antidiabetic and antihypertensive activities through multiple mechanisms including free radical scavenging, inhibition of acetylcholinesterase, α-glucosidase and angiotensin-converting enzyme, suppression of pro-inflammatory mediators and modulation of oxidative stress pathways. Preclinical studies involving in vitro antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory assays, cell-based investigations and animal models of oxidative stress, neurodegeneration and diabetes have further supported the therapeutic potential of the plant. The review also discusses the sustainable biomedical valorization of E. crassipes within a circular bioeconomy framework. Proposed strategies include invasive biomass harvesting, phytochemical extraction, bioactive compound isolation, nutraceutical and phytopharmaceutical development, environmental remediation and conversion into value-added functional products. Despite encouraging preclinical findings, important challenges remain regarding bioavailability, phytochemical standardization, toxicological profiling, pharmacokinetics, clinical validation and regulatory approval. Future studies integrating advanced extraction technologies, nanoformulation approaches, translational pharmacology and clinical investigations will be essential for transforming E. crassipes from an environmental nuisance into a safe, sustainable and clinically relevant biomedical resource.