日本語版

lotus plumule

ingredient / ingredient-lotus-plumule

蓮子心

On this page (5 sections)
  1. Other names
  2. Follow the connections
  3. Related entries (5)
  4. Composition and content (1)
  5. Culture (1)
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Short definition

The green embryo of a mature lotus seed, called 「蓮子心」 (lianzi xin). In China it is treated as a strongly bitter material used both as food and medicine.

A reader-facing overview for this entry is in preparation. What has been checked, and its sources, can be followed from the claim cards below.

Other names: 莲子心 (zh), Plumula Nelumbinis (la)

Follow the connections

lotus plumule →contains→ bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloids

Structured claims — open a section to read each claim's confidence, evidence and limits

Composition and content (1)

lotus plumule contains bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloidssupported

Scope: The embryo of mature lotus seeds.

Note: This claim does not assert a causal connection to the strong bitterness of lianzi xin or identify which compound is bitter.

"Bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloids (nelumboferine, neferine, liensinine, and isoliensinine)...were the predominant compounds in lotus seed plumules". MSI also confirmed their concentrated distribution in the plumule.
Source: Visualization and identification of benzylisoquinoline alkaloids in various nelumbo nucifera tissues (Hao C; Yang W; Dong G; Yu Y; Liu Y; Zhang J; Zhu Y; Wei X; Chen S, 2023) · full text checked
A review summarizes that more than 130 compounds (alkaloids, flavonoids, polysaccharides, and essential oils) have been identified from lianzi xin.
Limitations: The abstract does not name individual alkaloids.
Source: Plumula Nelumbinis: A review of traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, pharmacokinetics and safety (Chen S; Li X; Wu J; Li J; Xiao M; Yang Y; Liu Z; Cheng Y, 2021) · abstract checked
Show dataingredient-lotus-plumule —contains→ compound-class-bisbenzylisoquinoline-alkaloids
claim: clm-plumule-bisbia / type: composition / updated: 2026-08-31

Culture (1)

lotus plumule is used as A traditional Chinese medicine material with a history of over 400 years of use as medicine, usually used as both food and medicine (the uses of clearing the heart, calming the spirit, and stopping bleeding were not confirmed in the abstract of the review it is based on).contextual

Scope: China

The source notes that Plumula Nelumbinis, the green embryo of the mature seeds of Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn, has a history of over 400 years of use as medicine and is usually used as both food and medicine.
Limitations: The abstract does not describe bitterness; the traditional properties and tastes in the full text have not been checked.
Source: Plumula Nelumbinis: A review of traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, pharmacokinetics and safety (Chen S; Li X; Wu J; Li J; Xiao M; Yang Y; Liu Z; Cheng Y, 2021) · abstract checked
Show dataingredient-lotus-plumule —is_used_as→ (the claim sentence above)
claim: clm-plumule-dual-use / type: cultural / updated: 2026-08-31

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