Lotus root is the fat root of a plant Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn.
Article Content:
- .Basic Botanical Info of Lotus.
- .Lotus Physical Characteristics and Description.
- .Phytochemicals and Constituents of Lotus.
- .Lotus Preparation and Edible Uses.
- .Medicinal Uses of Lotus Seed and Other Lotus Plant Parts.
- .Lotus Use in Magic and Personal Growth.
- .Research Update:Lotus.
- .Traditional Formulas with Lotus Seeds.
- .Lotus Origin and Tale.
- .Research Update:Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn,Lotus root,Lotus leaf.
Research Update:Lotus.
Antioxidant activity of Nelumbo nucifera (sacred lotus) seeds.:
Antioxidant activity of hydro alcoholic extract of Nelumbo nucifera seeds (HANN) was studied using in vitro and in vivo models. Total phenolic content in HANN was found to be 7.61 +/- 0.04% (w/w). Characteristic HPTLC fingerprints of HANN were also made using different solvent systems. The HANN exhibited strong free radical scavenging activity as evidenced by the low IC(50) values in both DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl) (6.12 +/- 0.41 microg/ml) and nitric oxide (84.86 +/- 3.56 microg/ml) methods. The values were found to be less than those of rutin, the standard used. Acute toxicity of HANN was evaluated in Swiss Albino mice, no signs of toxicity were observed up to the oral dose of 1,000 mg/kg body weight. Administration of HANN to Wistar rats at 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight for 4 days prior to carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4)) treatment caused a significant dose dependent increase (p less than 0.05 to p less than 0.001) in the level of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase and a significant decrease (p less than 0.05 to p less than 0.001) in the level of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), when compared to CCl(4) treated control in both liver and kidney. These changes observed at 100 mg/kg body weight treatment were comparable to those observed for standard Vitamin E at 50 mg/kg treatment. Nelumbo nucifera seeds contain alkaloids, saponins, phenolics and carbohydrates. The results support significant antioxidant nature of HANN.
Lotus Leaf is the dried leaf of Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn. (Fam. Nymphaeaceae).:
Action: To relieve summer-heat, to invigorate the spleen function of the spleen and arrest bleeding by reducing heat in blood.
Folium Nelumbinis (carbonized): To arrest bleeding, remove blood stasis.Various kind of bleeding and massive postpartion hemorrhage.
Indications: ummer-heat with dire thirst; diarrhea caused by summer-damp or hypofunction of the spleen; spitting of blood, epistaxis, hematochezia and abnormal uterine bleeding caused by heat in blood.
Modern Researches:
Nutritious: Lotus root is rich in starch, tannate protein, asparagine, pyrocatechol, d-gallic-catechin, neochlorogenic acid, leucocyanidin, leucodephinidin, peroxidase, vitamins B and C. The stem contains alkaloid, resin and tannate. The seeds and intersegmental parts (lotus nodes) are rich in asparagin, fat, protein, starch and tannin. The seed is sedative. It is used in the treatment of poor digestion, enteritis, chronic diarrhoea, insomnia, palpitations etc.
Astringent,cardiotonic,hypotensive:Whole Plant All parts of the plant are used, they are astringent, cardiotonic (increase the tonus of heart muscle), febrifuge (herb that reduces fever), hypotensive (lowering blood pressure), resolvent, stomachic, styptic (to contract or bind, astringent), tonic and vasodilator (widening of the lumen of blood vessels).
Diarrhoea and sunstroke treat:Leaves The leaves are rich in nuciferine, nornuciferine, roemerine and quarcetin. The leaf juice is used in the treatment of diarrhoea and is decocted with liquorice (Glycyrrhiza spp) for the treatment of sunstroke.
Premature ejaculation and cardiac tonic:Flower A decoction of the flowers is used in the treatment of premature ejaculation. The flowers are recommended as a cardiac tonic. A decoction of the floral receptacle is used in the treatment of abdominal cramps, bloody discharges etc.
Haemostatic:Flower stalk The flower stalk is haemostatic. It is used in treating bleeding gastric ulcers, excessive menstruation, post-partum haemorrhage.
Urinary problems:stamens The stamens are used in treating urinary frequency, premature ejaculation, haemotysis, epistacis and uterine bleeding.
Agitation, fever, heart complaints:Fruit A decoction of the fruit is used in the treatment of agitation, fever, heart complaints, etc.
Thirst The plumule and radicle are used to treat thirst in high febrile disease, hypertension, insomnia and restlessness.
Skin ailments,haemorrhages, excessive menstruation and nosebleeds: The root is tonic. The root starch is used in the treatment of diarrhoea, dysentery, etc., a paste is applied to ringworm and other skin ailments. It is also taken internally in the treatment of haemorrhages, excessive menstruation and nosebleeds.
Anticancer: The plant has a folk history in the treatment of cancer, modern research has isolated certain compounds from the plant that show anticancer activity.
Reference:
1.Lotus root is the fat root of a plant Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn.
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