Edible Alien Invasive Plants: Ecosystem Services for Health Benefits?

Invasive alien plants present severe global ecological challenges by disrupting native ecosystem equilibriums and threatening local biodiversity. However, many aggressive species possess extensive histories of traditional edibility and accumulate complex secondary metabolites, making them promising candidates for sustainable utilization. This comprehensive review evaluates six prominent edible invasive alien plant taxa—Amaranthus hybridus, Reynoutria × bohemica, Opuntia humifusa, Oxalis corniculata, Phytolacca americana, and Carpobrotus edulis—to assess their potential integration into risk-aware management frameworks. Following PRISMA guidelines, a comprehensive literature review was conducted across major databases (1990–2026) to summarize their distribution, ethnobotanical consumption practices, phytochemical profiles, preclinical bioactivities, and safety limits. The results show that these plants serve as vital nutritional or culinary resources globally and contain valuable bioactive compounds, including flavonoids, anthraquinones, stilbenes, and triterpenoids. Preclinical evaluations demonstrate potent anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antiproliferative properties. However, exploitation requires a strict evaluation of toxicity issues, such as the high calcium oxalate levels in Oxalis corniculata or high triterpenoid saponin content in Phytolacca americana. In conclusion, managing these species within a risk-aware framework transforms invasive concerns into valuable bioresources, supporting sustainable development and human health.