White lotus

Overview

It is native to Egypt, Madagascar and central and western Africa. This plant, with all parts of the plant being used, was one of the most significant plants in ancient Egyptian art, ritual, food and medicine. The plant is still frequently used as a source of food and medicine, especially in China and India, while it is also widely grown as an ornamental plant.

Vernacular Names

Kumud (India), Nettai Suiren (Japan), Lotier d’Egypte (French), Ägyptische Lotosblume (German), Súng (Vietnam), Bua kin saai (Thailand).

Agroecology

It is present in rivers, streams, marshes, lakes and fresh and stagnant ponds that are slow-moving. Usually, all plants of the order Nymphaeles need cool, shallow (<2 m) water, maximum sunlight and neutral to slightly alkaline pH. It occurs in both mesotrophic and oligotrophic waters, receiving its nutrient requirements from the organic detritus in which it is rooted.

Morphology

• Root - rhizomes branched or unbranched, erect, ovoid; stolons slender.
• Leaves - 15–20 cm in diameter, green, floating petiole cylindrical, glabrous, long. Submerged leaves are reddish brown.
• Flowers - solitary, large, 5–8 cm across, with 4 outer green oblong, caducous sepals; petals 12–14 cm, elliptic–oblong, obtuse, white, occasionally pink; stamens with yellow anthers; opening nocturnally, many flowers not closing until late morning,
• Fruit - globose, compressed, 3.5–5 cm., fleshy, ripening under the water.
• Seeds - ellipsoid, 1–2 mm, numerous.

Cultivation

• Propagation by seeds or division of roots.
• Seeds need to be kept moist prior to sowing and sowed together with the surrounding pulp, in pots covered by about 25mm of water. Raise the water level as the floating leaves grow.
• Use the part of the rhizome with a sprouting eye.

Chemical Constituents

Amino acids, alcaloids, flavanols, tannins, saponins, lycopene, dipeptide, menthanolic and ethanolic.

Traditional Medicinal Uses

• A calming, astringent herb with diuretic and tranquilizing effects, the white lotus is a reputed detoxicant and aphrodisiac.
• Antimicrobial activity has been demonstrated in menthanolic and ethanolic extracts from the plant.
• The plant contains substances with antidiarrhoeal properties that are pharmacologically active.
• The fruit is used as a vermifuge in Senegal, for nausea, anxiety and nervous disorder.
• Leaf juice is recommended for tachycardia and for anxiety and nervous disorders in Brazzaville.
• Powdered ripe fruit is used in Niger for treating urogenital infections.
• A leaf decoction for cancer is used topically in Nigeria. Poultice is applied to the cuts and burns of the leaves.
• In Ghana, the fresh leaves are ground and then boiled.
• When treating palpitations, the flowers are taken internally. When opened and freshly used in infusions, the flowers are harvested. Crushed in water, the seeds are an ancient diabetes cure.