Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes)

Water hyacinth, Eichhornia crassipes (Pontederiaceae) is a perennial, herbaceous, aquatic plant, which can live and reproduce floating freely on the surface of waters or can be anchored in mud and originated in the Amazon Basin. Plant size ranges from a few inches to a metre in height. Its rate of proliferation under certain circumstances is extremely rapid and now spread to all tropical and subtropical countries. The mature plant consists of long, pendant roots, rhizomes, stolons, leaves, inflorescences and fruit clusters. This article reviews literature related to the utilization of Eichhornia crassipes and demonstrated that it clogs waterways making boating, fishing and all other water activities impossible. However, despite this problem the plants are controlled by physically, chemically as well as biologically and has the potential to be used as a medicinal plant. Qualitative analysis of the plant parts have revealed the presence of various components of importance including tannins, phoblatannin, steroid, terpenoid, alkaloid, flavonoid, phenolic contents, quinones, antraquinones and cardiac glycosides. Because of the rich diversity of this aquatic plant it is expected that screening and scientific evaluation of plant extracts may prove beneficial for the mankind along with the management of the weed. It is a useful source with amino acid supplementation or protein complementation for aquafeeds. It has an amazing ability to absorb and concentrate suspended solids, dissolved solids, nitrogen, P, Cu, Cd, Ni, Pb, Hg and Zn from aquatic environments. Water hyacinth has received much devotion in recent years due to its potential benefits as animal fodder, aquafeed, water purification, fertilizer, biogas production, paper, fibre board, even food for human and other products. It also used for treatment of blood disorders, emaciation and weakness, goiter, diarrhea, fevers, cholera, heals sore throat, snake bites, medicating the skin of horses, eczema, makes skin healthy, great fragrance to the hair. Water hyacinth have progressively been shown to provide rich source of natural bioactive compounds with antimicrobial, antitumoral, antiviral, and antioxidant activities. Recently much attention has been paid to extracts and biologically active compounds isolated from plants species.

1. Presentation
on
Phytoconstituents, Uses and
Pharmacological properties of Water
hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes)

Presented By:
Md. Mahbubol Alam
2
nd
Batch
Department of Pharmacy,
Jagannath University.

2. Content
Objectives of the study
Introduction
Taxonomical classification
Vernacular names
Botanical description
Ayurvedic application
Ethnopharmacology
Phytoconstituents
Pharmacological application
Toxicity
Conclusion

3. Objectives
•It is high time befriended rather than keeping it
away.
•To know the ayurvadic uses.
•To show the phytoconstituents from extract.
•To focus on the pharmacological activity.
•To know the toxicity study.

4. Introduction
• Water hyacinth, Eichhornia crassipes
• Perennial,
•Herbaceous,
• Aquatic plant,
•Floating freely
on the surface
of waters or
can be anchored
in mud.

5. Taxonomial classification
•Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Liliopsida
Order: Liliales
Family: Pontederiaceae
Genus: Eichhornia
Species: Eichhornia crassipes

6. Vernacular name
•Bengali-Kochuri Pana, Topa pana, Toka pana.
•English-Water hyacinth, Lilac devil, Nile lily,
Water orchid, Water violet, Water lettuce.
•Tamil-Akasa thamarai
•Japanese-Green plague, Hotei aoi
•Manipuri-Kabokkang.

7. Plant appearance
Parts of plant:

8. Geographical distribution
•Origin: The Amazon river basin (South America)
• Water weed rapid growth tropical and
subtropical regions worldwide-
USA :1884
Europe (Portugal) : 1930
Argentina to Florida :1972
Asia, Australia, North America,
Africa, New Zealand and so on.

9. Habital

•Rapidly colonises
•Acceptable growth temperature :
minimum : 12 °C (54 °F)
optimum : 25-30 °C (77-86 °F )
maximum : 33-35 °C (92-95 °F)
•Optimum pH: 6 to 8
•Leaves: killed by frost and salt water
•Tolerate salinity < 1.6%

10. Nutrient concentration

•Maximum growth of E. crassipes has been observed
at : N: 21 mg/L,
P: 62 mg/L,
Fe: 0.6 mg/L and
Ca :5 mg/L.
•Ca : vegetative reproduction.
•Nitrates : main nutrient accountable for the growth.

11. Life cycle
Ripe fruit
Maturity
Burst Scarification
Germination

12. Cultivation
•Ripe fruit (requires 20 days)
•Bursts upon maturity
•Seeds sink to the bottom of the water
•Seed-coat acts as a physical barrier
•Tolerate submersion or desication for 15 years
•Scarification for germination
•Double the area : every 6 - 15 days
•Reproduction:
i.Asexually from stolons (major propagation)
ii. Sexually by seeds.

13. Ayurvadic application of water
hyacinth
Water hyacinth is a medicinal plant. Some of those
use are given below:
Blood disorders
Emaciation and weakness
Treatment of goiter
Skin Benefits of Hyacinth
Treats Eczema
Makes Skin Healthy
Hair Benefits of Hyacinth
Offer Great Fragrance to the Hair

14. Ayurvadic application of water
hyacinth
Health Benefits of Hyacinth
Treats Cholera
Heals Sore Throat
Treats Snake Bites
For Healthier Digestion
Controls Cholestrol
Specially for Women (lactation,
irregular periods )
Other Benefits: fever, obesity, sunstroke, low
immunity

15. Other uses

Biogas production
Fertilizers
Animal feed
Water purification








Edibility
Paper
Yarn and rope
Basket work

16. Ethnopharmacology
Country Used parts Purpose
Africa Leaves, flowers, petioles

Treats Eczema, make
skin healthy

Philipine Combination of lemon
juice and hyacinth juice
Treats abscesses


Kedah (Malaysia) Flowers Medicating the skin of
horses
Chaina Seeds Healthier digestion
Northern Nigeria

Inflated petioles Treat fevers
Tanzania Burn the herb and apply
ash
On wounds to promote
healing

17. Chemical composition

Plant type Extract Metabolites Reference
Dry Aqueous Alkaloid, flavonoids, steroid,
tannins, phenolic contents,
quinone and anthraquinone
(Thamaraiselvi et
al., 2012)
Dry Methanol Alkaloid, phenol, steroid,
tannin and saponin
(Thamaraiselvi et
al., 2012)
Dry Chloroform Saponin, glycoside and
anthraquinone
(Thamaraiselvi et
al., 2012)

Fresh

Ethanol Alkaloids, flavonoids, sterols,
terpenoids, anthroquinone,
proteins, and phenols

(Thamaraiselvi et
al., 2012)

Fresh Aqueous

Phenol and tannin (Thamaraiselvi et
al., 2012)

18. Some compounds structure




Querectin Astragalin Kaempferol





Gallic acid Sitosterol Ricinolic acid

19. Some compounds structure






Linolenic acid Coclaurine Oleic acid




Linoleic acid Eicosonoic acid

20. Pharmacological Activity
Work Result Reference
The aqueous, chloroform
fractionates and the ethanol
and ethyl acetate extracts
Antibacterial
activity
(Thamaraiselvi
et al., 2012)
Ethanol and chloroform
extracts
Antifungal
activity
(Thamaraiselvi
et al., 2012)

Aqueous and ethanol
extracts
Antifungal
activity
(Thamaraiselvi
et al., 2012)

Chloroform extract Antioxident
activity

(Enein et al.,
2011)

21. Pharmacological Activity
Work Result Reference
Alcoholic extract Antioxident
activity
(Shanaba & Shalaby ,
2012)
Ethyl acetate extract Antioxident
activity

(Jayanthi & Lalitha,
2011)
Extract of E. crassipes Anticorrosive
activity
(El-Mehalawy et al.,
2008)
Crude methanolic extract and the
fractionated compounds

Anticancer
activity

(Freshney, 2002)
Extract for arsenic
accumulation reduction in liver
Antiarsenic
accumulator
(Shaheen et al., 2007)

22. Toxicity
HCN, alkaloid, and triterpenoid : itching.
Prickly crystals.
May accumulate lethal doses of nitrates.
Dosage: not more then 5-10 gm/day (pills or powder)
Caution:
Seeds: ingested uncooked , considered toxic,
stomach problems.
Cold or flu : avoid using this plant.
Drug interactions : not known.

23. Conclusion

•Valuable resource for potent phytochemicals.
•Desirable medicinal properties.
•The output is ―”Best out of waste”.