ABSTRACT
This chapter highlights the beneficial uses of Eichhornia crassipes concerning their biological activities, industrial uses and chemical constituents that are responsible for its activities. Preliminary phytochemical screening of Eichhornia crassipes resulted in the identification of thiol group-containing compounds, flavonoids, alkaloids and anthocyanins in addition to phenols and saponins. Eichhornia crassipes exerted a potent behavioral neuro-pharmacological potential as evidenced by the notable anti-epileptic, anti-psychosis, anti-anxiety, sedative, and memory enhancing activities exerted by the ethanol extract of E. crassipes leaves, in combination with Nelumbo nucifera leaves ethanol extract, in a mouse model approaching that of diazepam, the standard drug. Regarding the wound healing potential, the methanol extract of water hyacinth leaves was formulated as an ointment, using 10 and 15% of leaf extract which exerted greater wound contraction potential compared to the control. The ethyl acetate extract of water hyacinth in combination with musk and lemon was formulated as cream and revealed 8 to 11% tyrosinase inhibition with skin whitening effect.
