Nymphaea stellata Willd. (NILOTPALA)

Utpala is most extensively used herb compared to Kamala in Ayurveda. Generally utpala (Nymphaea alba) the white variety is the synonym for kumuda. Raktotpala (Nymphaea rubra Roxb.OR N. pubescens Willd) is the red variety of water lily.  N. stellata Willd. Which is known as N¶lotpala (blue flowers).  Ayurvedic texts separately mention the properties of sveta and nila utpala in different contexts.  Caraka mentioned ‘Utpala’ and ‘Kumuda’ which are blue and white varieties.

Botanical Description – It is an aquatic plant with white coloured flowers famous as ‘water lilys’.

Major Chemical Constituents–

Flowers– nymphalin (glucoside), quercetin, kaempferol etc.

Roots– luteolin

Therapeutic Usage–

Medhya- Ghee prepared with four parts of Nilotpala (tuber, stalk, leaf, & stamens) is taken alongwith Hiranya patra (goldflakes OR Nagakesara leaf) (A.H.Ut.39).

Part Used- Rhizome, flower, seeds, whole plant

Dosage- Fresh juice of rhizome–10-20ml, seed powder 3-6g.

Research–

The alcoholic extract of defatted fruits of N. stellata produced mild sedation and ataxia, potentiated hexobarbitone- induced hypnosis in mice and also produced by pretreatment with atropine. The extract has a significant analgesic activity also (Singh et al., 1977).