Sacred Lotus

Scientific Name(s): Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn.
Common Name(s): Chinese water lily, Indian lotus, Kamala, Padma, Sacred lotus

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Sep 20, 2021.

Clinical Overview

Use

There are numerous reported pharmacologic investigations of sacred lotus, including antioxidant, hepatoprotective, immunomodulatory, anti-infective, hyperlipidemic, and psychopharmacologic activity. However, clinical trials are lacking.

Dosing

Commercial manufacturers offer sacred lotus in various dosage forms, including powder, tincture, dried petals, seeds, and leaves, and combination products in capsule form. Lotus root is also available as a health beverage and food. Cosmetic formulations are also available.

Contraindications

Avoid use if hypersensitivity exists to any constituents of sacred lotus.

Pregnancy/Lactation

Information regarding safety and efficacy in pregnancy and lactation is lacking.

Interactions

None well documented.

Adverse Reactions

Due to potential drug interactions, sacred lotus should be used cautiously by patients being treated for diabetes, high cholesterol, psychiatric or cardiac conditions, or erectile dysfunction.

Toxicology

No mortality or behavioral changes were observed in acute toxicity studies of an alcoholic seed extract in mice given a dose of up to 1,000 mg/kg body weight for 24 hours. The plant species may contain high levels of cadmium, copper, and lead.

Scientific Family

• Nymphaeaceae

Botany

N. nucifera is an aquatic plant native to eastern Asia and northern Australia.1, 2, 3 The plant has long stems with leaves and flowers, requires plenty of space and sun, and grows up to 5.7 m in height. The ovoid fruit is a collection of indehiscent nutlets growing 1 m long and 1.5 cm wide, with a brown to black pericarp. The seeds fill the innermost portion of the flower. The chemical composition of the fruit wall and seed coat enhances the longevity of the fruits.4 The leaves are either aerial and cup shaped or floating and flat, with the aerial leaves ranging from 24 to 33 cm in length, and the floating leaves ranging from 23 to 30 cm. The leaves are large in diameter, ranging from 20 to 90 cm.2 The white to pinkish flowers are solitary and range from 10 to 25 cm in diameter,5 with sepals, petals, and stamens grouped in a spiral pattern. The sacred lotus is the national flower of India and is cultivated for its elegant scent. The white to yellowish brown rhizome is 60 to 140 cm long and 0.5 to 2.5 cm in diameter, with a tough, fibrous outer layer, dense middle layer, and a spongy, inner layer.2, 4

History

The sacred lotus has been cultivated in eastern Asia for over 3,000 years and has been used as food and medicine, as well as in religious and cultural activities. The Egyptians worshiped the flowers, fruits, and sepals of the plant, commonly found along the banks of the Nile River. In addition to being consumed all over the world as a dietary staple, the plant is used ornamentally, and all parts have medicinal uses.2

The seeds and fruits have been used in Asia to treat GI ailments (eg, poor digestion, enteritis, chronic diarrhea), insomnia, cardiovascular disease (eg, heart palpitations, hypertension, arrhythmia), nervous disorders, skin conditions (eg, dermatopathy, leprosy, tissue inflammation), halitosis, cancer, and high fevers, as an antiemetic, poison antidote, and diuretic...