Nelumbo nucifera, known by a number of names including Indian Lotus, Sacred Lotus, Bean of India, or simply Lotus, is a plant in the monotypic family Nelumbonaceae.The Linnaean binomial Nelumbo nucifera (Gaertn.) is the currently recognized name for this species, which has been classified under the former names, Nelumbiumspeciosum (Willd.) and Nymphaea nelumbo, among others.
The flavonol miquelianin (Quercetin 3-O-glucuronide), as well as the alkaloids (+)-1(R)-coclaurine and (-)-1(S)-norcoclaurine, can be found in the leaves of N.nucifera. Ethanol extracts from Nelumbo nucifera (ENN) seeds were studied for possible antioxidative and hepatoprotective effects. Antioxidative effects were measured spectrophotometrically by reduction of 2,2′-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals.
Native to Tropical Asian nations and Queensland, Australia, it is commonly cultivated in water gardens. The lotus is national flower of India and Vietnam.