Impatiens glandulifera Royle: From ecological threat to biotechnological opportunity - A narrative review

Impatiens glandulifera Royle is an invasive alien plant species which poses substantial threat to biodiversity, ecosystems, and socio-economic stability globally. It has successfully colonised a wide range of habitats across Europe, North America, and other temperate regions of the world, facilitated by its aggressive seed dispersal mechanism, high adaptability, and competitive resource acquisition. Despite its ecological threats, I. glandulifera contains a wide variety of bioactive chemical constituents, presenting opportunities for novel biotechnological and therapeutic applications. This narrative review synthesises the existing scientific literature on the phytochemical composition, biological activities, ecological impacts, and management strategies associated with I. glandulifera. The plant is particularly rich in bioactive compounds, including naphthoquinones, flavonoids, phenolic acids, polysaccharides, essential oils, terpenoids, and steroids, which demonstrate significant antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antidepressant, and allelopathic properties in preclinical studies. Management approaches have traditionally focused on mechanical eradication, use of chemical herbicides, and experimental biological control measures; however, sustainable solutions involving the valorisation of harvested biomass could substantially mitigate environmental concerns. Based on the available evidence, this review introduces a novel concept positioning I. glandulifera as a sustainable source of valuable bioactive compounds with potential applications in the medicinal, cosmetic, food, feed, nutraceutical, and pharmaceutical sectors. Nevertheless, significant knowledge gaps persist, particularly concerning comprehensive toxicity assessments, clinical validation of bioactivities, optimized and scalable valorisation strategies, and detailed chemical characterisation across different plant tissues. Addressing these gaps through targeted interdisciplinary research will be essential for realising the commercial potential of I. glandulifera and converting its ecological burden into a valuable resource.