A new high-speed counter-current chromatography method for semi-preparative separation and purification of alkaloids from embryo of the seed of Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn was developed by using pH-gradient elution mode. Diethyl ether was used as the stationary phase of the two-phase solvent system and Na(2)HPO(4)/NaH(2)PO(4) buffer solution with pH values of 7.5 and 7.2 in gradient mode as the mob...

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease which has a complex etiology that encompasses immunologic responses. The study was carried out to examine the effect of Nelumbo nucifera (Gaertn.) leaf (NL) on the AD-like skin lesion induced by repeated epicutaneous application of 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) on the dorsal skin of NC/Nga mice. Three different doses of NL (5, 25, ...

BACKGROUND Alkaloids extracted from lotus leaves (AELL) can relax vascular smooth muscle. However, whether AELL has a similar relaxant role on airway smooth muscle (ASM) remains unknown. This study aimed to explore the relaxant property of AELL on ASM and the underlying mechanism. METHODS Alkaloids were extracted from dried lotus leaves using the high temperature rotary evaporation extraction...

We present a stepwise optimal genome halving algorithm designed for large eukaryote genomes with largely single-copy genes, taking advantage of a signature pattern of paralog distribution in ancient polyploids. This is applied to the genome of Nelumbo nucifera, the sacred lotus, which is the descendant of a duplicated basal eudicot genome. In concert with the reconstructed ancestor of the grape...

Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn. (Nymphaeaceae) is a potential aquatic crop grown and consumed throughout Asia. All parts of N. nucifera have been used for various medicinal purposes in various systems of medicine including folk medicines, Ayurveda, Chinese traditional medicine, and oriental medicine. Many chemical constituents have been isolated till the date. However, the bioactive constituents of lo...

In vitro direct regeneration of Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn. was successfully achieved from immature explants (yellow plumule) cultured on a solid MS media supplemented with combinations of 0.5 mg/L BAP and 1.5 mg/L NAA which resulted in 16.00 ± 0.30 number of shoots per explant and exhibited a new characteristic of layered multiple shoots, while normal roots formed on the solid MS basal media. The...

Angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) is known to catalyze the conversion of angiotensin-I to angiotensin-II, which is the biologically active peptide elevating blood pressure, thereby being implicated in the pathogenic process of hypertension. Therefore, ACE inhibitory substances are expected to reduce the blood pressure in hypertensive patients. Then, the aqueous extracts were prepared from t...

Inhibition of Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) is still considered as the main therapeutic strategy against Alzheimer's disease (AD). Many plant derived phytochemicals have shown AChE inhibitory activity in addition to the currently approved drugs for AD. In the present study, methanolic extracts of 20 plants used in Indian Ayurvedic system of medicine for improving cognitive function were screened ...