ABSTRACT
Pistia stratiotes is a widespread monocotyledonous aquatic perennial plant. It is considered introduced or invasive in many countries and is native to north and central America. The plant is extensively used for medicinal purposes in India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Nigeria to treat numerous diseases, such as skin problems, piles, gastric ulcers, menstrual pains, and wounds. This chapter discusses the ethnomedicinal, proximate compounds, phytochemistry, pharmacological activities and potential toxicity/cytotoxicity of P. stratiotes. Published literature on P. stratiotes was sourced from databases such as Google Scholar, Medicine, PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, and SciFinder. The literature shows that P. stratiotes is used to cure many ailments, is rich in many compounds, and is potentially toxic if used in high doses. Furthermore, plants considered introduced or invasive species can be harvested and subjected to compound isolation or used in herbal medicine so that their invasiveness can be managed and humans can benefit from this plant. P. stratiotes is a valuable medicinal plant that can serve as a promising source of potential medicinal herbal remedies for human beings.
