March 27, 2024
Lotus ((Nelumbo nucifera G.) is also known as water lily, sacred lotus, and Kamala. It is an aquatic perennial flower with one aquatic genus Nelumbo which accommodates Nelumbo nucifera (cultivated) and Nelumbo lutea (Wild) species. The genus is found throughout the Asian continent (China, India, and Russia) and in Northern parts of Australia and North America. In Asia, lotus is cultivated for nutritious rhizomes, leaves, and seeds and is being used as a food for 7000 years. Due to its important nutritional properties, it is one of the important economic crops of China, producing 45,000 tons of lotus seed and 9 million tons of fresh rhizomes. Traditionally the extracts of the leaves, rhizomes, seeds, flowers, roots, and buds were used to treat diarrhea, cardiac ailments, depression, insomnia, cancer, and hypertension.