Waterlily leaf
Chinese Name: He ye
Medical Name: Flos Nelumbinis
Latin Name: Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn. of the water-lily order (Nymphaeales)
Origin: Leaf, sun-dried
Taste: Bitter in flavor
Quotes from Chinese historical sources
RI HUAZI MATERIA MEDICA: "Alleviates thirst, especially after birth; treats fluid deficiency in the cardiopulmonary system; and assuages unhappiness."
COMPENDIUM OF MATERIA MEDICA: "Promotes vitality; helps the spleen and stomach; astringes turbid sperm; disperses blood stasis, edema, carbuncles and smallpox."
A FRESH APPROACH TO THE MATERIA MEDICA: "Its cool and refreshing nature allays heatstroke; it stops thirst and promotes the secretion of saliva or body fluid; it cures diarrhea due to dysentery; and dispels burning heat from the internal organs."
Western Research
Am J Chin Med. 2003;31(5):687-98
Antioxidant activity of methanol extract of the lotus leaf (Nelumbo nucifera Gertn.)
Wu MJ, Wang L, Weng CY, Yen JH.
Institute of Biotechnology, Chia-Nan University of Pharmacy and Science, Tainan, Taiwan 717, ROC.
In this study, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-mediated Caco-2 cytotoxicity was employed to investigate the potential antioxidant activity of the methanol extract from the lotus leaf (Nelumbo nucifera Gertn.). A dose-dependent protective effect against reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced cytotoxicity was observed when Caco-2 cells were treated with 10 mM H2O2 in combination with the methanol extract of the lotus leaf (0.1-0.3 mg/ml). However, no significant effect was found when co-treating Caco-2 cells with 10 mM H2O2 and alpha-tocopherol. In vitro assay revealed that the extract exhibited scavenging activities on free radicals and hydroxyl radicals, and metal binding ability as well as reducing power, which may explain in part the mechanism behind the extract's ability to protect cells from oxidative damage. In addition, the extract also exhibited concentration-dependent antioxidant activities against hemoglobin-induced linoleic acid peroxidation and Fenton reaction-mediated plasmid DNA oxidation.
Acta Pharmacol Sin 2002 Dec;23(12):1086-92
Cardiovascular pharmacological effects of bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid derivatives.
Qian JQ.
Faculty of Pharmacology, Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China.
Tetrandrine, dauricine, daurisoline and neferine are bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid derivatives isolated from Chinese traditional medicine and herbs. The antiarrhythmic effect of daurisoline and neferine which is an alkaloid isolated from Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn, and their mechanisms of actions have also been studied. The antiarrhythmic effect of daurisoline is more potent than that of dauricine.
J Ethnopharmacol 1995 May;46(2):125-9
Traditional Chinese medicine in treatment of hyperlipidaemia.
la Cour B, Molgaard P, Yi Z.
Guangxi College of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
In the search of new products for treatment of hyperlipidaemia with a low frequency of side effects a decoction of Crataegus cuneata, Nelumbo nucifera and Gynostemma pentaphylla has been tested. A reduction of triglyceride and cholesterol was seen.
Acta Pharmacol Sin 2002 Dec;23(12):1086-92
Cardiovascular pharmacological effects of bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid derivatives.
Qian JQ.
Faculty of Pharmacology, Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China.
Tetrandrine, dauricine, daurisoline and neferine are bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid derivatives isolated from Chinese traditional medicine and herbs. The antiarrhythmic effect of daurisoline and neferine which is an alkaloid isolated from Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn, and their mechanisms of actions have also been studied. The antiarrhythmic effect of daurisoline is more potent than that of dauricine.
