PhD scholar, Head Pharmacognosy Department, ITRA, Jamnagar.361008.
Background: Nymphaea alba commonly known as white water lily, an aquatic flowering plant. It contains the active alkaloids nupharine and nymphaeine, and flowers possess sedative and acts as an aphrodisiac. Roots and stalks are used in traditional herbal medicine along with the flower, the petals and other flower parts are the most widely used for medicinal purpose. In modern herbal practice it is used as a remedy for dysentery. The aim of the article is to update the pharmacological actions of the plant for the basis of future research. Kumud is described in Charaka Samhita, Susruta Samhita, Astanga Sangraha and Astanga Hridaya, Nigahntu, Pushpayurveda etc. Objective: Our present study was undertaken to give review on kumud with the help of classical references. Material & method: Regarding the plant reviewed from various research article, review article, various nighantu, samhita & API. Result: This review article helpful for all the Ph.d researcher because all the references are used in this review article from API, Text books of Darvya guna & pharmacognosy and some of previous review & research article. Conclusion: The current review focused on ethanobotanical, photochemistry, and pharmacological study on kumud flower. The detailed review of Kumud (Nymphaea alba) was compiled from ancient as well as recent study Kumud so it was concluded that the (Nymphaea alba) had many properties and it’s very useful in many diseases as it reviewed in detailed in many researches. Kumud used in different disorders anti-depressant, antidiabetic, antioxidant, analgesic, anxiolytic, antifertility, contraceptive, uv blockade activity. Although different research has been done on Nymphaea alba, still there is huge scope to explore its hidden potentials. Nymphaea alba extrat also found to have a certain degree of anti- cancer and anti- bacterial activity etc.
Shivani Sharma* Harisha CR, Scientific Review on Kumud – Nymphaea alba linn., Int. J. in Pharm. Sci., 2023, Vol 1, Issue 9, 208-216. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.8332277