Abstract

WIDE BENEFITS OF SACRED PLANT NELUMBO NUCIFERA: A REVIEW ON LOTUS SEEDS

Padmaxi Bailpattar*, Deivam Sundarraju and Lavanya

ABSTRACT

Nelumbo Nucifera is the national flower of Bharat. It is considered as sacred plant in hindusim, Buddhism and in other religions. It is known as Lotus, kamala or Padma. It is not only the sacred plant of the nation but also known for its wide medicinal property and seen to be used in traditional medicines of china and Ayurdeva in India. The entire parts of the plant (flowers, leaves, seeds, stem, and rhizomes) are found either edible in some countries or widely used in medicinal purpose. There are two varieties of N. nucifera that are white lotus commonly known as “sweta kamala” or “pundarika” and reddish-pink flowers also known as “rakta kamala. The whole plant with flowers is known as “padmini”. In this article we have described the essential uses of N.nucifera, ethanobotany, phytochemistry, and pharmacological uses. Here we have focused on wide pharmacological uses of seeds of N.neucifera. And use of such study it could be helpful in the formulation of novel drug delivery system.

Keywords: Nelumbo Nucifera, pundarika, sweta kamala, rakta kamala, padma, padmini.