Indian Medicinal Plants

Nymphaea rubra Roxb. ex Salisb. 441
cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) in experimental
animals. The inhibition was
comparable to standard drugs used for
allergy and bronchial asthma.
Ethanolic extract of the leaves, flowers
and seeds demonstrated strong
stimulation of antigen specific and
non-specific immunity in mice.
The 50% ethanolic extracts of the
leaves, flowers, seeds and roots were
found effective in treating caecal amoebiasis
caused by Entamoeba histolytica
in rats. But the extracts did not exhibit
direct amoebicidal activity in vitro
against trophozoites of the parasite.
The iridoid glucosides showed antileishmanial
activity both in vivo and
in vitro.
Dosage ◮ Leaf—10–20 ml juice.
(CCRAS.)
Nymphaea alba Linn.
Family ◮
Habitat ◮
Nymphaeaceae.
Kashmir (in lakes).
English ◮ European White Water-lily.
Ayurvedic ◮ Kumuda, Utpala (whiteflowered
var.) (Mahotpla is the
synonym of Nelumbo nucifera.)
Unani ◮
Nilofar.
Siddha/Tamil ◮
Alli (water lilies).
Action ◮ Flowers and rhizomes—astringent,
demulcent, mild sedative,
spasmolytic, antiseptic, antimicrobial.
Used in the form of an infusion
internally for chronic diarrhoea,
as a douche for leucorrhoea and
vaginitis, as a gargle for sore throat.
Also given internally in prostatis.
Seeds—used in diabetes, also in
cutaneous diseases. Filaments—
astringent and cooling; prescribed
for bleeding piles and menorrhagia.
Plant—toxic on the nervous system.
The flowers contain flavonoids including
quercetin, kaempferol, apigenin.
Cardiac glucoside, nymphalin,
showed sedative action in small doses.
The petroleum ether extract of the
plant of Nymphaea species, given at
adoseof300mg/kgi.p. prevented
necrosis of the liver tissue and promoted,
to some extent, liver regeneration
in CCl4-induced toxicity.
Dosage ◮ Dried flowers—3–6 g (API,
Vol. III); seed—3–6 g. powder
(CCRAS.).
Nymphaea rubra Roxb. ex Salisb.
Synonym ◮ N. nouchali Burm. f.
N. lotus Hook. f. Thoms non L.
Family ◮
Nymphaeaceae.
Habitat ◮ Throughout the warmer
parts of India.
English ◮
Indian Red Water-lily.
Ayurvedic ◮ Kumuda, utpala
(red-flowered var.).
Alli-tamarai, Vellam-
Siddha/Tamil ◮
bal.
Action ◮ Flower—astringent, cardiac
tonic; used in palpitation of heart.
Rhizomes—used for dysentery and
dyspepsia.
See N. alba.
N