Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Description: It is an erect annual herb, growing to a maximum size of 50 cm.
The stem is stout pink and succulent. Leaves (15 cm long) are stalkless,
alternately arranged, lance shaped, and pointed. Flowers are white and
tubular with ive linear petals.
Compounds and activities: The essential oil of this species exhibited free
radical scavenging activity also recorded by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl
assay, and its IC
50
value was found to be 18 µl/ml (Mishra et al., 2012).
Further, it showed a broad spectrum of fungi toxicity against fungi-caus-
ing postharvest deterioration of herbal raw materials. At 1.0 µl/ml, the oil
showed complete inhibition of fungal growth, and alatoxin B
1
production
was inhibited at 0.8 µl/ml.
NELUMBO NUCIFERA
GAERTN
Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Proteales Family: Nelumbonaceae
Common name: Sacred water lotus, Indian lotus
Distribution: India, China, Japan, Eastern Europe, Australia
Habitat: Ponds, rivers
Description: This perennial plant (maximum 1.5 m height) roots in soil at the
pond and river bottom. The leaves, measuring 60 cm diameter, loat on
top of the water surface. The white and pink lowers (20 cm diameter) are
hermaphroditic.
Compounds and activities: The ethanol root extracts of this species have yielded
several bioactive compounds possessing antipyretic, anti-inlammatory,
analgesic, antioxidant, antiproliferative, anticonvulsant, antiparkinsonian,
hepatoprotective, hypoglycemic, and astringent properties. The highest lev-
els of antioxidant (by 2,2-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)
and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl assays) were noted in this species, and the
values were 54.27 ± 6.1 and 21.98 ± 2.5 µm trolox equivalents/g dw, respec-
tively (Park et al., 2009). Among the white and pink lowers, the former
has shown high activity. The lower extracts of this species have yielded
