1 Lipid-lowering Effect

1.1 animal experiments

In a hyperlipidemic obese rat model, scientists observe the effects of lotus leaf total alkaloids on body weight, body fat and blood lipids, the results show that total alkaloids of lotus leaf significantly inhibited obese rats from rising body weight, which reduced the serum total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG) and atherosclerosis index (AI) in obese hyperlipidemic rats.

At the same time, the animals have normal activities, no obvious diarrhea and inhibition appetite occurred. However, the weight-loss and lipid-lowering pharmacological effects of lotus leaf total alkaloids is slow, after 3 weeks of administration the pharmacological effects appeared obvious.

1.2 human experiments

After observing the effects of lotus leaf extract capsules on lipid lowering on human hyperlipidemia. The results showed that lotus leaf extract on human hyperlipidemia has a significant lipid-lowering effect after treatment, the average serum TC, TG, LDL-C was significantly lower than before treatment, and HDL-C was significantly higher. The results also showed that TC, TG ratio increased significantly after lotus leaf extract treatment, LDL-C, HDL-C ratio decreased significantly, which indicates that the effect of lotus leaf extract lowering TG performs better than lowering TC, while increasing HDL-C. After treatment, the indexes of blood lipids all dropped to 58.07% which is acceptable, which suggests that lotus leaf has good lipid regulating effect.

2 Weight Loss

Lotus leaf extract contains a variety of alkaloids to burn body fat, including nunciferine. nunciferine can form a layer of fat isolation film to prevent fat absorption and fat accumulation, So lotus leaf extract has excellent weight loss and lipid-lowering effect.

2.1 Intestinal peristalsis promotion, toxins excretion

Lotus leaf extract contains a lot of fibers, which can promote intestinal peristalsis to help defecating toxins. Lotus leaf extract is also helpful in solving constipation troubles.

2.2 Experimental Research

Single lotus leaf treatment of obesity has been used by ancient physicians for centuries, which is widely used in the treatment of puffiness, simple obesity and hyperlipidemia obesity. To observe whether total alkaloids in lotus leaf have the effect of reducing weight, we used total alkaloids of lotus leaf as the index in our experimental research to investigate the effects of these substances on blood lipids and body weight of hyperlipidemic obese rats. The results showed that 2.14-10.7 mg·kg-1 total alkaloids of lotus leaf could reduce TC and TG in obese rats, significantly inhibiting weight gain and obesity degree dose-dependently, However the benefits of total alkaloids of lotus leaf is not obvious on HDL-C.

3 Clinical Application

After treating hyperlipidemia in 62 patients with lotus leaf extract capsules. The results showed that serum TC, TG and LDL-C levels were significantly decreased while HDL-C levels were significantly increased in lotus leaf group, and the level of serum lipids was significantly higher than treatment group (P (0.01)) after treatment. It was concluded that lotus leaf extract had better lipid-lowering effect on human body.

4 Conclusion

In summary, lotus leaf extract has better lipid-lowering effect, the active substance is mainly lotus leaf alkaloids. At the same time, toxic effects of lotus leaf alkaloids have not been reported.

Lotus leaf extract contains roemerine, nornuciferine and nunciferine, other alkaloids and flavonoids, vitamins and polysaccharides. Lotus leaf extract can be used for cooling blood and stopping bleeding. Modern research shows that alkaloids in lotus leaf extract can also be helpful in lipid-lowering, weight loss.