An Updated Review on Nelumbo Nucifera Gaertn: Chemical Composition, Nutritional Value and Pharmacological Activities.

Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn is a recognised herbal plant in ancient medical sciences. Each portion of the plant leaf, flower, seed and rhizome is utilised for nutritional and medicinal purposes. The chemical compositions like phenol, alkaloids, glycoside, terpenoids and steroids have been isolated. The plant contains various nutritional values like lipids, proteins, amino acids, minerals, carbohydrates, and fatty acids. Traditional medicine confirms that the phytochemicals of plants give significant benefits to the treatment of various diseases such as leukoderma, smallpox, dysentery, haematemesis, coughing, haemorrhage, metrorrhagia, haematuria, fever, hyperlipidaemia, cholera, hepatopathy and hyperdipsia. To verify the traditional claims, researchers have conducted scientific biological in vivo and in vitro screenings, which have exhibited that the plant keeps various notable pharmacological activities such as anticancer, hepatoprotective, antioxidant, antiviral, hypolipidemic, anti-obesity, antipyretic, hypoglycaemic, antifungal, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial activities. This review, summaries the nutritional composition, chemical constituents and biological activities substantiated by the researchers done in vivo and in vitro.

Nelumbo nucifera leaves extract ameliorated scopolamine-induced cognition impairment via enhanced adult hippocampus neurogenesis.

In this presentation, we explored the molecular mechanisms of N. nucifera leaf water extracts (NLWEs) and polyphenol extract (NLPE) on scopolamine-induced cell apoptosis and cognition defects. The administration of NLWE and NLPE did not alter the body weight and serum biomarker rs and significantly ameliorated scopolamine-induced cognition impairment according to Y-maze test analysis. In mice, treatment with scopolamine disrupted normal histoarchitecture in the hippocampus, whereas the administration of NLWE and NLPE reversed the phenomenon. Western blot analysis revealed that scopolamine mitigated the expression of doublecortin (DCX), nestin, and NeuN, and cotreatment with NLWE or NLPE significantly recovered the expression of these proteins. NLWE and NLPE upregulated DCX and NeuN expression in the hippocampus region, as evidenced by immunohistochemical staining analysis of scopolamine-treated mice. NLWE and NLPE obviously elevated brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and enhanced its downstream proteins activity. NLWE and NLPE attenuated scopolamine-induced apoptosis by reducing Bax and increased Bcl-2 expression. In addition, scopolamine also triggered apoptosis in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells whereas co-treatment with NLWE or quercetin-3-glucuronide (Q3G) reversed the phenomenon. NLWE or Q3G enhanced Bcl-2 and reduced Bax expression in the presence of scopolamine in SH-SY5Y cells. NLWE or Q3G recovered the inhibitory effects of scopolamine on neurogenesis and BDNF signals in SH-SY5Y cells. Overall, our results revealed that N. nucifera leaf extracts and Q3G promoted adult hippocampus neurogenesis and prevented apoptosis to mitigate scopolamine-induced cognition dysfunction through the regulation of BDNF signaling pathway.

Recent advances on bioactive compounds, biosynthesis mechanism, and physiological functions of Nelumbo nucifera.

Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn, commonly known as lotus, is a genus comprising perennial and rhizomatous aquatic plants, found throughout Asia and Australia. This review aimed to cover the biosynthesis of flavonoids, alkaloids, and lipids in plants and their types in different parts of lotus. This review also examined the physiological functions of bioactive compounds in lotus and the extracts from different organs of the lotus plant. The structures and identities of flavonoids, alkaloids, and lipids in different parts of lotus as well as their biosynthesis were illustrated and updated. In the traditional medicine systems and previous scientific studies, bioactive compounds and the extracts of lotus have been applied for treating inflammation, cancer, liver disease, Alzheimer's disease, etc. We suggest future studies to be focused on standardization of the extract of lotus, and their pharmacological mechanisms as drugs or functional foods. This review is important for the lotus-based food processing and application.

The Inhibition of Autophagy and Pyroptosis by an Ethanol Extract of Nelumbo nucifera Leaf Contributes to the Amelioration of Dexamethasone-Induced Muscle Atrophy.

Muscle atrophy is characterized by a decline in muscle mass and function. Excessive glucocorticoids in the body due to aging or drug treatment can promote muscle wasting. In this study, we investigated the preventive effect of Nelumbo nucifera leaf (NNL) ethanolic extract on muscle atrophy induced by dexamethasone (DEX), a synthetic glucocorticoid, in mice and its underlying mechanisms. The administration of NNL extract increased weight, cross-sectional area, and grip strength of quadriceps (QD) and gastrocnemius (GA) muscles in DEX-induced muscle atrophy in mice. The NNL extract administration decreased the expression of muscle atrophic factors, such as muscle RING-finger protein-1 and atrogin-1, and autophagy factors, such as Beclin-1, microtubule-associated protein 1A/1B-light chain 3 (LC3-I/II), and sequestosome 1 (p62/SQSTM1) in DEX-injected mice. DEX injection increased the protein expression levels of NOD-like receptor pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3), cleaved-caspase-1, interleukin-1beta (IL-1ß), and cleaved-gasdermin D (GSDMD), which were significantly reduced by NNL extract administration (500 mg/kg/day). In vitro studies using C2C12 myotubes also revealed that NNL extract treatment inhibited the DEX-induced increase in autophagy factors, pyroptosis-related factors, and NF-κB. Overall, the NNL extract prevented DEX-induced muscle atrophy by downregulating the ubiquitin-proteasome system, autophagy pathway, and GSDMD-mediated pyroptosis pathway, which are involved in muscle degradation.

Anthocyanin metabolism in Nelumbo: translational and post-translational regulation control transcription.

BACKGROUND: Lotus (Nelumbo Adans.) is used as an herbal medicine and the flowers are a source of natural flavonoids. 'Da Sajin', which was firstly found in the plateau area, is a natural mutant in flower color with red streamers dyeing around white petals. RESULTS: The LC-MS-MS results showed that eight anthocyanin compounds, including cyanidin 3-O-glucoside, cyanidin 3-O-galactoside, malvidin 3-O-galactoside, and malvidin 3-O-glucoside, were differentially enriched in red-pigmented tissues of the petals, whereas most of these metabolites were undetected in white tissues of the petals. Transcriptome profiling indicated that the relative high expression levels of structural genes, such as NnPAL, NnF3H, and NnANS, was inconsistent with the low anthocyanin concentration in white tissues. Members of the NnMYB and NnbHLH transcription factor families were presumed to play a role in the metabolic flux in the anthocyanin and proanthocyanidin biosynthetic pathway. The expression model of translational initiation factor, ribosomal proteins and SKP1-CUL1-F-box protein complex related genes suggested an important role for translational and post-translational network in anthocyanin biosynthesis. In addition, pathway analysis indicated that light reaction or photo destruction might be an important external cause for floral color determination in lotus. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, it is supposed that the natural lotus mutant 'Da Sajin' may have originated from a red-flowered ancestor. Partial loss of anthocyanin pigments in petals may result from metabolic disorder caused by light destruction. This disorder is mainly regulated at post translation and translation level, resulting in a non-inherited phenotype. These results contribute to an improved understanding of anthocyanin metabolism in lotus, and indicate that the translational and post-translational regulatory network determines the metabolic flux of anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins under specific environmental conditions.

Extraction, purification, structural characteristics, biological activities, and application of the polysaccharides from Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn. (lotus): A review.

Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn. (lotus) is a widely distributed plant with a long history of cultivation and consumption. Almost all parts of the lotus can be used as foodstuff and nourishment, or as an herb. It is noteworthy that the polysaccharides obtained from lotus exhibit surprisingly and satisfying biological activities, which explains the various benefits of lotus to human health, including anti-diabetes, anti-osteoporosis, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, etc. Here, we systematically review the recent major studies on extraction and purification methods of polysaccharides from different parts (rhizome, seed, leaf, plumule, receptacle and stamen) of lotus, as well as the characterization of their chemical structure, biological activity and structure-activity relationship, and the applications of lotus polysaccharides in different fields. This article will give an updated and deeper understanding of lotus polysaccharides and provide theoretical basis for their further research and application in human health and manufacture development.

Structures and antiosteoclastogenic activity of compounds isolated from edible lotus (Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn.) leaves and stems.

One new 1,4-bis-phenyl-1,4-butanedione glycoside (14), one new eudesmane-type sesquiterpenoid (16), and 16 known compounds were isolated from the leaves and stems of Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn. The structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated by interpretation of their 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic and HRESIMS data. Time-dependent density functional theory calculations and Electronic Circular Dichroism (ECD) spectroscopy was used to determine absolute configurations of the new eudesmane-type sesquiterpenoid (16). All the isolated compounds were examined for their antiosteoclastogenic activity. Preliminarily results of the TRAP staining on RAW 264.7 cells indicated that compounds 1 and 11 possess potential inhibitory effects on RANKL-induced osteoclast formation. Further bioassay investigation was carried out to reveal that compounds 1 and 11 suppressed RANKL-induced osteoclast formation in a concentration-dependent manner with the inhibition up to 55% and 78% at the concentration of 10 µM, respectively. In addition, the structure-activity relationship analysis showed that the 1,3-dioxole substitute and the double bond at C-6a/C-7 in the aporphine skeleton may be responsible for the antiosteoclastogenic activity. The findings provided valuable insights for the discovery and structural modification of aporphine alkaloids as the antiosteoclastogenic lead compounds.

Inhibition of Three Diabetes-Related Enzymes by Procyanidins from Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn.) Seedpods.

The inhibitory effects of procyanidins from lotus (Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn.) seedpods on the activities of α-amylase, α-glucosidase and protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B), were studied and compared with those of (+)-catechin, (-)-epicatechin, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), procyanidin dimer B2 and trimer C1. The results showed that Lotus procyanidin extract (LPE) significantly inhibited α-amylase, α-glucosidase and PTP1B with IC50 values of 5.5, 1.0, and 0.33 µg/mL, respectively. The inhibition increased with the degree of polymerization and the existence of galloyl or gallocatechin units. Kinetic analysis showed that LPE inhibited α-glucosidase activity in a mixed competitive and noncompetitive mode. Fluorescence quenching revealed that α-glucosidase interacted with LPE or EGCG in an apparent static mode, or the model of "sphere of action". The apparent static (K) and bimolecular (kq) constants were 4375 M-1 and 4.375 × 1011 M-1 s-1, respectively, for LPE and 1195 M-1 and 1.195 × 1011 M-1 s-1, respectively, for EGCG. Molecular docking analysis provided further information on the interactions of (+)-catechin, (-)-epicatechin, EGCG, B2 and C1 with α-glucosidase. It is hypothesized that LPE may bind to multiple sites of the enzyme through hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions, leading to conformational changes in the enzyme and thus inhibiting its activity. These findings first elucidate the inhibitory effect of LPE on diabetes-related enzymes and highlight the usefulness of LPE as a dietary supplement for the prophylaxis of diabetes.

Research Advances in Lotus Leaf as Chinese Dietary Herbal Medicine.

Lotus leaf (Heye), the dry foliage of Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn, has been valuable as a dietary herbal medicine for thousands of years. Phytochemical studies indicated that alkaloids and flavonoids are the main components of Heye. Polysaccharides, terpenes, and amino acids are also active ingredients. The drug properties of Heye are mild and bitter. Meridian tropism is mainly distributed in the liver, spleen, and stomach meridian. In the Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) theoretical system, it is in many formulas for the therapy of various symptoms, including wasting-thirst induced by summer heat, diarrhea caused by summer heat-dampness and spleen deficiency, hematochezia, flooding and spotting, among others. Nowadays, the extracts and active components of Heye demonstrate multiple bioactivities, for instance anti-obesity, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, cardiovascular protective, anticancer, hepatoprotective, hypoglycemic, antiviral, antimicrobial, as well as hemostatic activities. This review will provide an overview of Heye serving as a typical plant with functions of both medicine and food, including its practical applications in terms of TCM and healthy diet, phytochemistry, pharmacological activity, together with its toxicity. Besides, the new points and prospects of Heye in the overview are also outlined straightforwardly.

Phytochemical Diversity and Antioxidant Potential of Natural Populations of Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn. throughout the Floristic Regions in Thailand.

Asian lotus has long been consumed as a food and herbal drug that provides several health benefits. The number of studies on its biological activity is significant, but research at the population level to investigate the variation in phytochemicals and biological activity of each population which is useful for a more efficient phytopharmaceutical application strategy remains needed. This present study provided the frontier results to fill-in this necessary gap to investigating the phytopharmaceutical potential of perianth and stamen, which represent an important part for Asian traditional medicines, from 18 natural populations throughout Thailand by (1) determining their phytochemical profiles, such as total contents of phenolic, flavonoid, and anthocyanin, and (2) determining the antioxidant activity of these natural populations using various antioxidant assays to examine different mechanisms. The result showed that Central is the most abundant floristic region. The stamen was higher in total phenolic and flavonoid contents, whereas perianth was higher in monomeric anthocyanin content. This study provided the first description of the significant correlation between phytochemical contents in perianth compared with stamen extracts, and indicated that flavonoids are the main phytochemical class. This analysis indicated that the stamen is a richer source of flavonoids than perianth, and provided the first report to quantify different flavonoids accumulated in stamen and perianth extracts under their native glycosidic forms at the population level. Various antioxidant assays revealed that major flavonoids from N. nucifera prefer the hydrogen atom transfer mechanism when quenching free radicals. The significant correlations between various phytochemical classes and the different antioxidant tests were noted by Pearson correlation coefficients and emphasized that the antioxidant capability of an extract is generally the result of complex phytochemical combinations as opposed to a single molecule. These current findings offer the alternative starting materials to assess the phytochemical diversity and antioxidant potential of N. nucifera for phytopharmaceutical sectors.

Validation of a High-Performance Liquid Chromatography with Photodiode Array Detection Method for the Separation and Quantification of Antioxidant and Skin Anti-Aging Flavonoids from Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn. Stamen Extract.

Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn., or the so-called sacred lotus, is a useful aquatic plant in the Nelumbonaceae family that has long been used to prepare teas, traditional medicines as well as foods. Many studies reported on the phytochemicals and biological activities of its leaves and seeds. However, to date, only few studies were conducted on its stamen, which is the most important ingredient for herbal medicines, teas and other phytopharmaceutical products. Thus, this present study focuses on the following: (1) the application of high-performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array detection for a validated separation and quantification of flavonoids from stamen; (2) the Nelumbo nucifera stamen's in vitro and in cellulo antioxidant activities; as well as (3) its potential regarding the inhibition of skin aging enzymes for cosmetic applications. The optimal separation of the main flavonoids from the stamen ethanolic extract was effectively achieved using a core-shell column. The results indicated that stamen ethanolic extract has higher concentration of in vitro and in cellulo antioxidant flavonoids than other floral components. Stamen ethanolic extract showed the highest protective effect against reactive oxygen/nitrogen species formation, as confirmed by cellular antioxidant assay using a yeast model. The evaluation of potential skin anti-aging action showed that the stamen extract has higher potential to inhibit tyrosinase and collagenase compared with its whole flower. These current findings are the first report to suggest the possibility to employ N. nucifera stamen ethanolic extract as a tyrosinase and collagenase inhibitor in cosmetic applications, as well as the utility of the current separation method.

Nuciferine from Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn. attenuates isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction in Wistar rats.

The study explored the cardioprotective role of the methanolic leaf extract of Nelumbo nucifera and nuciferine against isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction (MI) in Wistar rats. Pretreatment with leaf extract and nuciferine (200 and 20 mg/kg body weight, respectively) against MI induced by isoproterenol (85 mg/kg body weight) significantly decreased heart weight; levels of cardiac markers such as lactate dehydrogenase and creatine kinase-MB were similar to those in controls. The treatment significantly increased the content of endogenous antioxidants and decreased lipid peroxidation in all treated groups. Treated groups showed a significant reduction in heartbeats per minute as compared with the MI-induced positive control. The MI-induced group showed pathological implications such as tachycardia, left atrial enlargement, and anterolateral ST-elevated MI, which were absent in treated groups. Histology confirmed that the leaf extract and nuciferine prevented structural abnormality and inflammation in heart and liver tissues of treated groups. On in silico analysis, nuciferine showed stronger binding interaction with both ß1 and ß2 adrenergic receptors than isoproterenol. Hence, the leaf extract of N. nucifera and nuciferine could be used as plant-based cardioprotective agents.

Potential hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, and anti-inflammatory bioactive components in Nelumbo nucifera leaves explored by bioaffinity ultrafiltration with multiple targets.

Leaf of Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn. (N. nucifera) has been widely used as the main ingredient in lipid-lowering herbal teas and some prescriptions in China due to their excellent hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects. However, the active components responsible for these beneficial properties and their mechanisms remain unexplored. In this work, the N. nucifera leaf extracts significantly promoted the glucose consumption of HepG2 cells, and also exhibited remarkable inhibitory activities against α-glucosidase, pancreatic lipase, and COX-2. Furthermore, the top four potential active compounds (N-nornuciferine, Nuciferine, 2-Hydroxy-1-methoxyaporphine, and Isorhamnetin 3-O-glucoside) targeting the above three enzymes were screened out by bioaffinity ultrafiltration with multiple targets coupled with HPLC-MS/MS. The enzyme inhibitory activities of candidate compounds were verified by enzyme inhibition assay and molecular docking. In addition, molecular docking revealed the binding information between the candidate molecules and enzymes. The current study provided valuable information in discovering functional active ingredients from complex medicinal plant extracts.

Pectic polysaccharide from Nelumbo nucifera leaves promotes intestinal antioxidant defense in vitro and in vivo.

In this study, the Nelumbo nucifera leaf polysaccharide (NNLP) was isolated by hot water extraction and ethanol precipitation. DEAE anion exchange chromatography and gel filtration were further performed to obtained the purified fraction NNLP-I-I, the molecular weight of which was 16.4 kDa. The monosaccharide composition analysis and linkage units determination showed that the fraction NNLP-I-I was a pectic polysaccharide. In addition, the NMR spectra analysis revealed that NNLP-I-I mainly consisted of a homogalacturonan backbone and rhamnogalacturonan I, containing a long HG region and short RG-I region, with AG-II and 1-3 linked rhamnose as side chains. The biological studies demonstrated that NNLP-I-I displayed antioxidant properties through mediating the Nrf2-regulated intestinal cellular antioxidant defense, which could protect cultured intestinal cells from oxidative stress and improve the intestinal function of aged mice.

Seco-neferine A-F, three new pairs of benzyltetrahydroisoquinoline alkaloid epimers from Plumula Nelumbinis and their activity.

Three new pairs of benzyltetrahydroisoquinoline (BIQ) alkaloid epimers, Seco-neferine A-F (1-6), were isolated from an EtOH extract of Plumula Nelumbinis. The structures of these compounds were identified by a combination of NMR, HR-ESI-MS, circular dichroism, UV spectroscopic analyses and specific rotations. The structure of compounds 1-6 possesses high similarity with neferine, because these three pairs of epimers have the same skeleton as neferine. Compounds 1,2 and 5,6 are open-loop compounds of position 1' and 1 of neferine respectively. The H connects with position 2' N of compounds 1,2 is replaced by methyl, forming the structure of compounds 3,4. Moreover, six compounds were tested for cytotoxicity against MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell. Compound 6 displayed moderate inhibitory effects on breast cancer with IC50 of 38.96 µM, while compounds 2,3,4 show certain inhibitory effects.

Discovery of eight alkaloids with D1 and D2 antagonist activity in leaves of Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn. Using FLIPR assays.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Dopamine receptors are long-standing primary targets in the treatment of mental diseases and there is growing evidence that suggests relationships between obesity and the dopamine system, especially dopamine D1 and D2 receptors. Leaves of Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn. (lotus leaves) have been medically used for helping long-term maintenance of weight loss. Whether and how components of lotus leaves function through the dopamine receptors remains unclear. AIM OF THE STUDY: This work aimed to discover dopamine receptor-active alkaloids isolated from the lotus leaves, to evaluate their potencies and to analyze their structure activity relationship. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Dried lotus leaves were prepared and total extract was divided into alkaloids and flavones. Eight alkaloids were separated and characterized by a combination of high-performance liquid chromatography, quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance, and assayed by a fluorometric imaging plate reader platform. Human embryonic kidney 239 cell lines expressing dopamine D1, D2 and serotonin 2A (5-HT2A) receptors, respectively, were cultured and used in the assay. RESULTS: Alkaloids in the lotus leaves were the bioactive phytochemicals and inhibited dopamine from accessing the D1 and D2 receptors. All eight compounds functioned as D1-receptor antagonists and except N-nornuciferine, seven alkaloids functioned as D2-receptor antagonists. (S)-coclaurine and (R)-coclaurine are optical isomers and antagonized both D1 and D2 with equivalent potencies, suggesting that the optical rotation of the methylene linker in the monobenzyl isoquinoline backbone did not influence their activity. Among the eight alkaloids, O-nornuciferine was the potent antagonist to both receptors (the lowest IC50 values, D1: 2.09 ± 0.65 µM and D2: 1.14 ± 0.10 µM) while N-nornuciferine was found to be the least potent as it moderately antagonized D1 and was inactive on D2. O-nornuciferine was also a 5-HT2A antagonist (IC50~20 µM) while N-nornuciferine had no activity. These hinted the importance of a methyl group attached to the nitrogen atom in the aporphine backbone. Armepavine showed a nearly 10-fold selectivity to D2. CONCLUSIONS: In this work, eight alkaloids were isolated from the leaves of Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn. and assayed on the D1 and D2 receptors. They were D1/D2 antagonists with IC50 values in the mid- to low-micromolar range and O-nornuciferine was the most potent alkaloid among the eight. This family of alkaloids was biochemically evaluated on the dopamine receptors by the same platform for the first time.

Neferine promotes the apoptosis of HNSCC through the accumulation of p62/SQSTM1 caused by autophagic flux inhibition.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), one of the most common malignancies worldwide, often has a poor prognosis due to the associated metastasis and chemoresistance. Hence, the development of more effective chemotherapeutics is critical. Neferine, a bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid isolated from the seed embryo of Nelumbo nucifera (common name: Lotus), exerts antitumor effects by regulating apoptosis and autophagy pathways, making it a potential therapeutic option for HNSCC. In our study, it was revealed that neferine inhibited the growth and induced the apoptosis of HNSCC cells both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, the results revealed that neferine activated the ASK1/JNK pathway by increasing reactive oxygen species production, resulting in the subsequent induction of apoptosis and the regulation of canonical autophagy in HNSCC cells. Moreover, a novel pro­apoptotic mechanism was described for neferine via the activation of caspase­8 following the accumulation of p62, which was caused by autophagic flux inhibition. These findings provided insights into the mechanisms responsible for the anticancer effect of neferine, specifically highlighting the crosstalk that occured between apoptosis and autophagy, which was mediated by p62 in HNSCC. Hence, the neferine­induced inhibition of autophagic flux may serve as the basis for a potential adjuvant therapy for HNSCC.

Plumula Nelumbinis: A review of traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, pharmacokinetics and safety.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Plumula Nelumbinis, the green embryo of the mature seeds of Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn, has a medical history of over 400 years. It is widely used for clearing the heart and heat, calming the mind, and promoting astringent essence and hemostasis in traditional Chinese medicine. Moreover, it usually dual use as food and medicine. This review aimed to evaluate the therapeutic potential of Plumula Nelumbinis by summarizing its botany, traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, pharmacokinetics and safety. METHODS: This review summarized published studies on Plumula Nelumbinis in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia and literature databases including PubMed, Web of Science, Baidu Scholar, Wiley and China Knowledge Resource Integrated Database (CNKI), and limits the different research articles in botany, traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, pharmacokinetics and safety about Plumula Nelumbinis. RESULTS: Plumula Nelumbinis is used to treat hypertension, arrhythmia, severe aplastic anemia, insomnia, encephalopathy and gynecological disease in traditional Chinese medicine and clinical studies. More than 130 chemicals have been isolated and identified from Plumula Nelumbinis, including alkaloids, flavonoids, polysaccharides and volatile oil. In addition, pharmacological effects, such as protective effects against cardiovascular diseases, neurological diseases, lung and kidney injury, anti-inflammatory and anticancer activities, were also evaluated by in vitro and in vivo studies. Moreover, the potential signaling pathways regulated by Plumula Nelumbinis in cardiovascular and neurological diseases and perspectives on Plumula Nelumbinis research were discussed. CONCLUSION: Plumula Nelumbinis, a commonly used Chinese medicine, has a variety of traditional and modern therapeutic uses. Some traditional uses, especially the treatment of cardiovascular and neurological diseases, have been verified by pharmacological investigation. However, the pharmacological molecular mechanisms, pharmacokinetics and toxicology of Plumula Nelumbinis are still incomplete. In the future, a series of systematic studies on active compounds identification, pharmacological mechanism clarification, quality and safety evaluation are necessary.

Nelumbo nucifera promotes non-rapid eye movement sleep by regulating GABAergic receptors in rat model.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Nelumbo nucifera are used in folk medicine for anti-depressant, anti-convulsant, neuroprotective, and many other purposes. AIM OF THE STUDY: The present work evaluated the sleep potentiating effects of water extract from lotus seed in rat, and the neuropharmacological mechanisms underlying these effects. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Pentobarbital-induced sleep test and electroencephalogram (EEG) analysis were applied to investigate sleep latency, duration, total sleeping time and sleep quality of Lotus extract. In addition, real-time PCR and HPLC analysis were applied to analyze the signaling pathway. RESULTS: We found that the amounts of the possible active compounds GABA (2.33 mg/g) and L-tryptophan (2.00 mg/g) were higher than quinidine (0.55 mg/g) and neferine (0.16 mg/g) in lotus seed extract. High dose (160 mg/kg) administration of lotus extract led to a tendency towards decreased sleep latency time and an increase in sleep duration time compared to the control group in a pentobarbital-induced sleep model (p < 0.05). After high dose administration, total sleep and NREM were significantly increased compared to control, while wake time and REM were significantly decreased. Lotus extract-treated rats showed significantly reduced wake time and increased sleep time in a caffeine-induced model of arousal. The transcription level of GABAA receptor, GABAB receptor, and serotonin receptor tended to increase with dose, and lotus extract showed a strong dose-dependent binding capacity to the GABAA receptor. CONCLUSION: The above results strongly suggest that GABA contained in lotus seed extract acts as a sleep potentiating compound, and that sleep-potentiating activity involves GABAA receptor binding.

Nelumbo nucifera leaf polyphenol extract and gallic acid inhibit TNF-α-induced vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation and migration involving the regulation of miR-21, miR-143 and miR-145.

Nelumbo nucifera leaf water extract (NLE) attenuates high-fat diet (HFD)-induced rabbit atherosclerosis, but its mechanism of action and the relevant compounds remain unclear. Modulating the proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) may be an enforceable strategy for atherosclerosis prevention. Therefore, we investigated the potential mechanisms of N. nucifera leaf polyphenol extract (NLPE) and its active ingredient gallic acid (GA) in VSMC proliferation and migration. A7r5 rat aortic VSMCs were provoked using 50 ng mL-1 tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α; the NLPE or GA reduced the TNF-α-induced migration by inhibiting the transforming protein RhoA/cell division cycle protein 42 pathway. The NLPE or GA suppressed the TNF-α-induced VSMC proliferation by inhibiting the Ras pathway and increasing the expression of phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN), kinase suppressor of Ras 2, and inducible nitric oxide synthase. The NLPE or GA increased PTEN expression by downregulating microRNA (miR)-21 expression and reduced Ras and RhoA expression by upregulating miR-143 and miR-145 expression. The NLPE and GA use potentially prevents atherosclerosis by inhibiting the VSMC migration and proliferation. The mechanisms involve the regulation of the miRNA in PTEN, the Ras/extracellular-signal-regulated kinase pathway, and Rho family proteins.