Sacred Lotus - NutraPedia

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Sacred Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera)

1) Studied Conditions

The Sacred Lotus has been studied for various conditions, including:

  • Diabetes
  • Obesity
  • Cardiovascular diseases
  • Inflammation and related disorders
  • Diarrhea and gastrointestinal issues
  • Stress and anxiety

2) Efficacy in Treating Conditions

While traditional usage and some studies suggest potential benefits, the efficacy of Sacred Lotus in treating these conditions is not conclusively proven. Further research is necessary to establish its effectiveness and optimal dosage.

3) Health Benefits

Sacred Lotus is believed to offer various health benefits, such as:

  • Antioxidant properties
  • Antidiabetic effects
  • Improvement in lipid metabolism
  • Antibacterial and antifungal activities
  • Anti-inflammatory properties
  • Soothing effects on the nervous system

4) Downsides

While Sacred Lotus is generally considered safe when used appropriately, some potential downsides include:

  • Allergic reactions in susceptible individuals
  • Potential interference with medications
  • Lack of standardization in supplements
  • Insufficient data on long-term use

5) Genetic Variations

There is limited research on the interaction between Sacred Lotus and specific genetic variations. Some studies suggest that genetic differences in metabolism may influence the effects of herbal remedies, but more research is needed to identify any specific genetic variations that would make Sacred Lotus particularly beneficial or harmful.

Research on Sacred Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera)

Medicinal Properties of Lotus Rhizome

The Nelumbo nucifera rhizome contains betulinic acid, a bioactive compound with medicinal properties such as antidiabetic, antidiarrheal, antimicrobial, diuretic, antipyretic, and psychotropic effects. A high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) method has been developed for estimating betulinic acid concentration in lotus rhizome extract, which is sensitive, reliable, and useful for herbal preparation quality control.

Antioxidant Activity of Lotus Seedpods

Lotus seedpods are rich in procyanidins, particularly procyanidin dimers, which exhibit strong antioxidant activities, suggesting their potential use in food preservation and health supplements.

Neferine's Anti-Cancer Properties

Neferine, found in lotus seed embryos, inhibits the growth of human osteosarcoma cells by causing cell cycle arrest and is associated with the stabilization of the protein p21 through the activation of the p38 MAPK pathway, hinting at potential cancer preventive and therapeutic benefits.

Flavonoids in Lotus Leaves

Optimized extraction methods reveal that lotus leaves contain thirteen flavonoids, some of which are identified for the first time, with the highest content found in the seed-producing 'Baijianlian' cultivar. These flavonoids vary across different tissues of the lotus plant and contribute to its antioxidant properties.

Lotus Root Extract and Obesity

A study shows that lotus root extract, combined with taurine, can protect against liver damage and oxidative stress in rats on a high-fat diet. Another study indicates that the hot water extract of lotus leaf combined with taurine has significant anti-obesity and lipid-lowering effects in obese rats.

Neferine's Antidepressant Effects

Neferine exhibits antidepressant-like effects mediated through the 5-HT1A receptor, positioning it as a potential natural antidepressant.

Lotus Seedpod Procyanidins and AChE Inhibition

Lotus seedpods contain valuable polyphenols with procyanidins, including a new acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitor, N-methylasimilobine, suggesting its potential in treating conditions like Alzheimer's disease.

Neferine for Neurodegenerative Disorders

Neferine could counteract memory loss and cognitive decline due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and inhibition of enzymes linked to neurodegeneration.

Nelumbo nucifera Alkaloids and Flavonoids

The study identifies various alkaloids and flavonoids in Nelumbo nucifera with various health benefits, including anti-diabetic effects, as seen in nuciferine's ability to stimulate insulin secretion.

Anti-HIV Activity of Lotus Compounds

Compounds isolated from the leaves of Nelumbo nucifera, particularly (+)-1(R)-Coclaurine and (-)-1(S)-norcoclaurine, show strong anti-HIV activity, providing leads for new treatments for AIDS.

Immunomodulatory Effects of Nelumbo nucifera Extracts

Extracts from Nelumbo nucifera plant parts positively affect the immune system by modifying immunological parameters, potentially stimulating the body's defense mechanisms.

Conclusions

Overall, the research on Nelumbo nucifera highlights the plant's significant therapeutic potential due to its wide range of bioactive compounds, supporting its traditional use in medicine and indicating potential for modern pharmaceutical applications.

References:


  1. Rapid validated HPTLC method for estimation of betulinic acid in Nelumbo nucifera (Nymphaeaceae) rhizome extract
  2. Isolation, characterization, and determination of antioxidative activity of oligomeric procyanidins from the seedpod of Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn
  3. Neferine, an alkaloid ingredient in lotus seed embryo, inhibits proliferation of human osteosarcoma cells by promoting p38 MAPK-mediated p21 stabilization
  4. Analysis of flavonoids from lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) leaves using high performance liquid chromatography/photodiode array detector tandem electrospray ionization mass spectrometry and an extraction method optimized by orthogonal design
  5. First isolation of tryptophan from edible lotus (Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn) rhizomes and demonstration of its antioxidant effects
  6. Simultaneous qualitative assessment and quantitative analysis of flavonoids in various tissues of lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) using high performance liquid chromatography coupled with triple quad mass spectrometry
  7. Antioxidant and hepatic protective effects of lotus root hot water extract with taurine supplementation in rats fed a high fat diet
  8. Antidepressant-like effects of neferine in the forced swimming test involve the serotonin1A (5-HT1A) receptor in mice
  9. Characterization of oligomeric procyanidins and identification of quercetin glucuronide from lotus ( Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn.) seedpod
  10. An aporphine alkaloid from Nelumbo nucifera as an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor and the primary investigation for structure-activity correlations
  11. Anti-amnesic activity of neferine with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capacities, as well as inhibition of ChEs and BACE1
  12. Bisbenzylisoquinoline Alkaloids from Nelumbo nucifera
  13. Nuciferine stimulates insulin secretion from beta cells-an in vitro comparison with glibenclamide
  14. Anti-obesity effect of Nelumbo nucifera leaves extract in mice and rats
  15. Polyphenolic extract of lotus root (edible rhizome of Nelumbo nucifera) alleviates hepatic steatosis in obese diabetic db/db mice
  16. In-vitro and in-vivo evaluations of cytochrome P450 1A2 interactions with nuciferine
  17. Antiobesity and hypolipidemic effects of lotus leaf hot water extract with taurine supplementation in rats fed a high fat diet
  18. The active ingredients of Jiang-Zhi-Ning: study of the Nelumbo nucifera alkaloids and their main bioactive metabolites
  19. Regulation of the 5-HT3A receptor-mediated current by alkyl 4-hydroxybenzoates isolated from the seeds of Nelumbo nucifera
  20. Constituents from the leaves of Nelumbo nucifera stimulate lipolysis in the white adipose tissue of mice
  21. Inhibitory Effect of Nelumbo nucifera (Gaertn.) on the Development of Atopic Dermatitis-Like Skin Lesions in NC/Nga Mice
  22. A new triterpenoid from the rhizomes of Nelumbo nucifera
  23. Simultaneous determination of liensinine, isoliensinine and neferine from seed embryo of Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn. in rat plasma by a rapid HPLC method and its application to a pharmacokinetic study
  24. Impaired nitric oxide synthase pathway in diabetes mellitus: role of asymmetric dimethylarginine and dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase
  25. Effects of Nelumbo nucifera rhizome extract on cell proliferation and neuroblast differentiation in the hippocampal dentate gyrus in a scopolamine-induced amnesia animal model
  26. Extract from the leaf of nucifera reduced the development of atherosclerosis via inhibition of vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation and migration
  27. A new lipid and other constituents from the rhizomes of Nelumbo nucifera
  28. Protective effect of neferine on endothelial cell nitric oxide production induced by lysophosphatidylcholine: the role of the DDAH-ADMA pathway
  29. Separation, identification and rapid determination of liensine, isoliensinine and neferine from embryo of the seed of Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn. by liquid chromatography coupled to diode array detector and tandem mass spectrometry
  30. Neferine induces reactive oxygen species mediated intrinsic pathway of apoptosis in HepG2 cells
  31. Purification, partial characterization and anti-inflammatory characteristics of lotus (Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn) plumule polysaccharides
  32. Anti-HIV benzylisoquinoline alkaloids and flavonoids from the leaves of Nelumbo nucifera, and structure-activity correlations with related alkaloids
  33. Nelumbo nucifera semen extract improves memory in rats with scopolamine-induced amnesia through the induction of choline acetyltransferase expression
  34. Immunomodulatory potential of rhizome and seed extracts of Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn
  35. Extract of lotus leaf ( Nelumbo nucifera ) and its active constituent catechin with insulin secretagogue activity
  36. Dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase (DDAH): expression, regulation, and function in the cardiovascular and renal systems
  37. Lotus leaf extract and L-carnitine influence different processes during the adipocyte life cycle
  38. Nelumbo nucifera leaf extract inhibits neointimal hyperplasia through modulation of smooth muscle cell proliferation and migration
  39. Quantitative determination of phenolic compounds in lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) leaves by capillary zone electrophoresis
  40. The sacred lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) - phytochemical and therapeutic profile
  41. Simultaneous determination of quercetin and its glycosides from the leaves of Nelumbo nucifera by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography
  42. Selective cholinesterase inhibitory activities of a new monoterpene diglycoside and other constituents from Nelumbo nucifera stamens
  43. Studies on the anti-inflammatory activity of rhizomes of Nelumbo nucifera
  44. Effects of extracts and neferine from the embryo of Nelumbo nucifera seeds on the central nervous system
  45. Synthesis and pharmacological activity of alkaloids from embryo of lotus, Nelumbo nucifera
  46. Whole body radioprotective activity of an acetone-water extract from the seedpod of Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn. seedpod
  47. Neferine inhibits cultured hepatic stellate cell activation and facilitates apoptosis: A possible molecular mechanism
  48. Acute and subchronic oral toxicity studies of Nelumbo nucifera stamens extract in rats


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