Despite significant progress, certain inflammation related to chronic disorders, including cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and cancer, still present high mortality rates. Thus, further study is needed to address such pathologies more appropriately. Apart from classic therapeutics, natural bioactives with less toxic side effects have gained attention, including those with potential pharmaceutical properties derived from several plants. Within this article, the potential utilization of freshwater aquatic plants as sources of bioactives with antithrombotic, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties is outlined. Emphasis is given to a well-established aquatic plant with known but not fully clarified and overviewed bio-functional and pharmaceutical properties, the Chinese lotus (Nelumbo nucifera), as well as to a so far neglected aquatic plant, Lemna minor, which has not yet been thoroughly reviewed for such applications. The latent usually grows naturally in large numbers at the surface of stored water basins of retrieved water from the last stages of wastewater treatment facilities. The continuous growth of this aquatic plant in such conditions further suggests that it can be a sustainable source of natural bioactives, if appropriately valorized, with an economic benefit and in a friendly environmental approach. The abundant content of both freshwater aquatic plants in bioactive components with potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antithrombotic activities is thoroughly outlined, while their applications as functional ingredients in several functional products (functional foods, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals) are also discussed. The outlined outcomes urge further study of both aquatic plants and especially of Lemna spp. to fully elucidate their potential as alternative sustainable sources of bioactive ingredients for functional foods, supplements, nutraceuticals, nutricosmetics, cosmeceuticals, cosmetics and pharmaceutical products with health-promoting properties against inflammation and thrombosis related manifestations and their associated chronic disorders.

Background-Objectives: Chronic diseases linked to inflammation, such as cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cancer, continue to pose major public health challenges due to their high mortality rates. There is growing interest in natural bioactive compounds, particularly those derived from plants, as potential therapeutic or preventive agents due to their low toxicity profiles. This study aimed to explore two freshwater plants—Nelumbo nucifera (Indian lotus) and Lemna sp.—as potential sources of bioactive compounds with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antithrombotic properties. While N. nucifera has established but incompletely characterized biofunctional properties, Lemna sp. remains largely unexplored in this context. Methods: Amphiphilic extracts from both plant species were analyzed for phenolic and lipid constituents, including unsaturated fatty acids, polar lipids, and carotenoids. Antioxidant capacity was evaluated using DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP assays. Anti-inflammatory and antithrombotic activities were assessed via platelet aggregation assays using PAF and ADP agonists. Structural characterization was performed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and liquid chromatography–mass spectroscopy (LC-MS) to support structure–activity relationship (SAR) analysis. Results: Extracts, particularly from Lemna sp., showed potent antiplatelet activity against PAF and ADP. LC-MS revealed the presence of polar lipids rich in monounsaturated and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, with a favorable omega-6/omega-3 ratio, especially in Lemna sp., correlating with strong anti-inflammatory potential. High levels of total phenolics and carotenoids were observed, aligning with substantial antioxidant capacity in both species. Conclusions: These findings suggest that N. nucifera and Lemna sp. are promising sources of bioactive compounds with potential applications in functional foods, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals targeting inflammation- and thrombosis-related chronic diseases. Further studies are warranted to confirm their safety and efficacy.