Lotus

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• sacred lotus
• East Indian lotus
• lotus
• lotusroot
• Bean of India

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Nelumbo caspica
• Nelumbium indicum
• Nelumbium caspium
• Nelumbium turbinatum
• Nelumbo speciosa var. alba
• Nymphaea nelumbo
• Nelumbium speciosum var. tamara
• Nelumbium speciosum var. caspicum
• Nelumbium javanicum
• Tamara hemisphaerica
• Nelumbium speciosum f. caspicum
• Nelumbium asiaticum
• Nelumbo speciosa var. tamara
• Nelumbium album
• Nelumbo speciosa var. caspica
• Nelumbium speciosum roseum-plenum
• Nelumbium speciosum album-plenum
• Nelumbium nelumbo
• Nelumbium tamara
• Nelumbium speciosum
• Nelumbium rheedii
• Nelumbo komarovii
• Nelumbo indica
• Nelumbium transversum

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Proteales, it is classified under the family Nelumbonaceae. Finally, Nelumbo nucifera is identified by its genus, Nelumbo.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical range that spans across multiple continents and distinct climate zones. In Southeastern Europe, its presence can be documented in both Italy and Romania. Moving toward Eastern Europe, the species is found within the territories of Ukraine and South European Russia. Additionally, the distribution extends to West Tropical Africa, specifically within the borders of Benin. This wide-reaching spread highlights the plant's ability to adapt to various environmental conditions.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Nelumbo nucifera is defined by its preference for stagnant or slow-moving freshwater ecosystems, where it thrives in shallow, nutrient-rich muddy substrates. This aquatic perennial occupies a highly specific niche within its habitat, characterized by a specialized elevational range that remains constant at 1400 m AMSL, representing both its minimum and maximum altitudinal limits. It functions as a foundation species in wetland environments, utilizing large, floating leaves to create shade that influences the light availability and thermal regulation of the water column below. The plant's presence significantly impacts local biodiversity by providing structural complexity for aquatic fauna and stabilizing benthic sediments through its extensive rhizome systems.

Elevational range max:

1400 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Nelumbo nucifera is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons via its robust underground rhizomes. As a specialized hydrophyte, it is evolutionarily adapted to aquatic environments, thriving in shallow, still, or slow-moving waters where its roots remain submerged in the substrate while its foliage reaches toward the surface. Its structural classification as a cryptophyte further defines its survival strategy, as the vital regenerative organs are protected beneath the water or soil surface, ensuring the plant can endure seasonal fluctuations and unfavorable environmental conditions.

Life form :

hydrophyte

Life form :

cryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Nelumbo nucifera is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and specifically a forb. It is an aquatic plant that functions as a self-supporting organism, lacking any climber or vine-like tendencies. The plant is independent in its nutritional requirements, possessing no parasitic qualities, and is strictly terrestrial in its epiphytic status. In terms of physical dimensions, it typically reaches an average plant height of approximately 1 m.

Aquatic :

aquatic

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

1 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Nelumbo nucifera is characterized by a specialized metabolic framework adapted to its aquatic environment. The plant utilizes a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which is the primary mechanism for carbon fixation during the light-independent reactions, allowing it to convert atmospheric carbon dioxide into organic compounds through the Calvin cycle. Furthermore, Nelumbo nucifera does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the symbiotic relationship with diazotrophic bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into bioavailable forms and must instead rely on the uptake of nitrates and ammonium from its surrounding aquatic substrate.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Nelumbo nucifera is driven by a biotic pollination syndrome, primarily involving insects such as beetles to facilitate the transfer of pollen. The flowering period for this species is highly variable, with the flowering time spanning across almost every month of the year, including December, January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, and November. The flowers themselves are substantial in size, characterized by a length that ranges from a minimum of 10 cm to a maximum of 20 cm. Following successful pollination, the plant develops distinctive fruits; these fruits typically maintain a mean length of 2.15 cm, with individual dimensions ranging from a minimum of 1.8 cm to a maximum of 2.5 cm.

Flower length max:

20 cm

Flower length min:

10 cm

Flowering time :

Dec

Fruit length max:

2.5 cm

Fruit length mean:

2.15 cm

Fruit length min:

1.8 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

beetle

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Nelumbo nucifera has 6 reported plant parts identified across 26 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, rhizome, seed, flower, root.

Leaf

1. Foods (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. PloS one
4. Planta medica
5. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Rhizome

1. Natural product research
2. Planta medica
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology
4. Reproductive biology
5. Bangladesh Medical Research Council bulletin

Seed

1. International journal of molecular sciences
2. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
3. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Flower

1. Reproductive biology
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Root

1. Journal of biomedical science

Stem

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Chemicals

Nelumbo nucifera has 214 reported phytochemicals identified across 26 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, Neferine, Nuciferine, AFLATOXIN B1, quercetin.

Flavonoids

1. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis
2. Frontiers in nutrition
3. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
4. Reproductive biology
5. Critical reviews in food science and nutrition

Neferine

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
3. The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology
4. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
5. Environmental toxicology

Nuciferine

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology
4. Analytical and bioanalytical chemistry
5. Frontiers in pharmacology

AFLATOXIN B1

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
2. Journal of hazardous materials
3. Food chemistry: X
4. Analytical chemistry
5. Food research international (Ottawa, Ont.)

quercetin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry letters
3. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
4. Planta medica
5. Journal of traditional and complementary medicine

Isoliensinine

1. Dr. Duke
2. The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology
3. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
4. Electrophoresis
5. Journal of chemical information and modeling

Liensinine

1. Dr. Duke
2. Metabolic engineering
3. The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology
4. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
5. Electrophoresis

kaempferol

1. Dr. Duke
2. Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry letters
3. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
4. Nutrients
5. Archives of pharmacal research

N-Nornuciferine

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Frontiers in pharmacology
4. Chemistry & biodiversity
5. Food chemistry

Terpenoids

1. Chemistry & biodiversity
2. Frontiers in nutrition
3. Cancers
4. Critical reviews in food science and nutrition
5. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Activities

Nelumbo nucifera has 565 reported activities identified across 26 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Hepatoprotective, Hypolipidemic, Anticancer, Antiviral.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of medicinal food
3. Foods (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Chemistry & biodiversity
5. Journal of biomedical science

Hepatoprotective

1. Dr. Duke
2. Chemistry & biodiversity
3. Cancers
4. Critical reviews in food science and nutrition
5. Endocrine, metabolic & immune disorders drug targets

Hypolipidemic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Chemistry & biodiversity
3. International journal of biological macromolecules
4. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
5. Critical reviews in food science and nutrition

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke
2. Chemistry & biodiversity
3. Experimental dermatology
4. Critical reviews in food science and nutrition
5. BioFactors (Oxford, England)

Antiviral

1. Dr. Duke
2. Chemistry & biodiversity
3. The Journal of biological chemistry
4. Cancers
5. Critical reviews in food science and nutrition

Antidiabetic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of medicinal food
3. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
4. Omics : a journal of integrative biology

Astringent

1. Dr. Duke
2. Planta medica
3. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
4. Journal of nanobiotechnology

Diuretic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Planta medica
3. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
4. Phytochemical analysis : PCA

Hypoglycemic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Cancers
3. Critical reviews in food science and nutrition
4. Food chemistry

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Chemistry & biodiversity
3. Frontiers in nutrition

Conditions

Nelumbo nucifera has 107 reported investigations on conditions identified across 26 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include obesity, inflammation, cancer, Alzheimer's disease, depression.

Obesity

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Frontiers in pharmacology
3. Planta medica
4. Cancers
5. Critical reviews in food science and nutrition

Inflammation

1. ACS biomaterials science & engineering
2. Planta medica
3. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
4. In silico pharmacology
5. Cancers

Cancer

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
2. Critical reviews in food science and nutrition
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
4. BioFactors (Oxford, England)
5. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Alzheimer's disease

1. Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry letters
2. Experimental gerontology
3. Phytotherapy research : PTR
4. PloS one

Depression

1. Food & function
2. Archives of pharmacal research
3. The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology
4. Nutrients

Fever

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Chemistry & biodiversity
3. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
4. Cancers

Hyperlipidemia

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Frontiers in pharmacology
3. Cancers
4. Critical reviews in food science and nutrition

Hiv

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Biomedical chromatography : BMC
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Cardiovascular diseases

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
2. Cancers
3. Critical reviews in food science and nutrition

Diarrhea

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
3. Bangladesh Medical Research Council bulletin

Preparations

Nelumbo nucifera has 23 reported preparations identified across 26 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include rhizomes, 'Amrita Oil', 'Amrita-Prâsa clarified butter', 50% ethanol (EtOH) extract, Ethanol extracts.

Rhizomes

1. Natural product research
2. Journal of Asian natural products research

'amrita oil'

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

'amrita-prâsa clarified butter'

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

50% ethanol (etoh) extract

1. Planta medica

Ethanol extracts

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

He-ye

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Hydroalcohol extracts

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Kleeb bua daeng

1. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)

Kleeb bua daeng (kbd)

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Nnee

1. In silico pharmacology