Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Phylum: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Nymphaeles
Family: Nymphaeceae
Common name: Dwarf water lily
Distribution: Northern Europe, Southwest Asia, India, China, Siberia
Habitat: Quiet freshwater habitats, viz., ponds, lakes, and streams
Description: It is a perennial herb with erect, ascending, and unbranched rhi-
zomes. The leaf blade (10-25 cm diameter) is suborbicular and papery.
Floating lowers (10-20 cm diameter) are white and cup shaped with yellow
stamens and crimson stigmas. Fruit is semiglobose shaped.
Compounds and activities: A total of 13 phenolic compounds, such as
kaempferol, kaempferol 3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, kaempferol 3-O-2″-
O-galloylrutinoside, kaempferol 3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside, kaempferol-3-O-
α-L-rhamnopyranosylglucopyranoside, kaempferol-7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside
3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosylglucopyranoside, quercetin, quercetin-3-O-β-D-
xylopyranoside, myricetin, and myricetin-3′-O-β-D-xylopyranoside, which pos-
sess antioxidative properties, have been isolated from this species. The
ethyl acetate fraction of this species showed potent antioxidant capacity
with IC
50
values of 59.32, 24.48, and 86.85 µg/ml for O
2
-
, OH, and H
2
O
2
radicals, respectively (Zhao et al.,
2011). The ethyl acetate fraction of this
species has also shown hepatoprotective effects. This species has also been
employed in traditional medicines for problems such as headaches, cough,
hepatitis, and hypertension, as it possesses anaphrodisiac, anodyne, anti-
scrophulatic, astringent, cardiotonic, demulcent, and sedative characteris-
tics. A decoction of the root is used in the treatment of catarrh and kidney
pain. It can be used for sore throats and is also used as a poultice for boils.
The lowers have a sedative effect on the nervous system and are used for
treating insomnia and anxiety.
O H
HO
OH
O
HO
kaempferol
OH
O
HO
HO
H
HO
O
H
OH
H
O
H
O
O
OH
OH
H
1"
H
OH
HO
O
H
1"
OH
H
kaempferol 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside
