#Nymphaea #stellata Willd. #Chair

05/06/2019

(Syn. Nymphaea nouchali Burman f.) (Nymphaeaceae)

Another interesting an powerful Blue Lady. And again showing that Bitters is one of the Main Calling Cards or Hints for 'Materia Medica'.

>>Nymphaea stellata Willd. (Syn. Nymphaea nouchali Burman f.) (Nymphaeaceae) is an important and well-known medicinal plant, widely used in the Ayurveda and Siddha systems of medicines for the treatment of diabetes, inflammation, liver disorders, urinary disorders, menorrhagia, blenorrhagia, menstruation problem, as an aphrodisiac, and as a bitter tonic. There seems to be an agreement between the traditional use and experimental observations, such as, hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, and particularly antidiabetic activity. Nymphayol, a steroid isolated from the flowers has been scientifically proved to be responsible for the traditionally claimed antidiabetic activity; it reverses the damaged endocrine tissue and stimulates secretion of insulin in the β-cells. However, taking into account the magnitude of its traditional uses, the studies conducted are still negligible. This review is an attempt to provide the pharmaceutical prospective of Nymphaea stellata.<< Ref.1

 >>N. stellata is commonly known as Indian blue water lily / Indian water lily in English and has different vernacular names in India [Table 1].[19] Sometimes this water lily is often referred as ‘blue lotus of India’, but it is not a lotus.[15] Many reports specify that ‘blue lotus of the nile’ and the ‘blue lotus of India’ are N. caerulea and N. nouchali, respectively, while others report ‘sacred blue lily’ as Nymphaea nouchali var. caerulea. In India the vernacular names used for N. nouchali, besides the correct local name ‘Nilotpalam’, include ‘Allithamarai’ and ‘Vellambal’ (Tamil), which are in fact applicable to N. pubescens.[20] Another name ‘Nilotpala’ refers to three plants – N. stellata, N. rubra, and Monochoria hastate. N. stellata alone has 17 names including Indivar, Nilakamala, Nilotpala, and Utpala.[21] Lotus has no blue colored flowers in India, the name ‘Neelathamara’ is applicable only to the water lily with bluish flowers, which is N. stellata. These vernacular names used for N. stellata in India are sometimes conclusive, but mostly diverge dramatically, making identification of the plant complicated.<< Ref.1

 I found this article so interesting, I felt it deserved a Study Chair.

Ref. 1
A comprehensive review on Nymphaea stellata: A traditionally used bitter

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