Lotus Plumule Extract’s key value is its unique combination of alkaloids containing up to 6.8% Liensinine and Isoliensinine. The IC50 value for DPPH free radical scavenging was 18.3μg/mL (45μg/mL for vitamin C). A 2022 Journal of Ethnopharmacology study confirmed that 0.5% Lotus Plumule Extract formulations reduced serum total cholesterol by 34% in high-fat diet mice (29% for the atorvastatin control group). The area of hepatic steatosis was reduced by 61% (evaluated with H&E staining). China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences (ZL201810539987.6) patented technology enhanced the extraction rate of total flavonoids from 12% to 89% of traditional water extraction using supercritical CO2 extraction, and antioxidant activity increased by 3.2-fold (assessed by ORAC value).
With regards to anti-inflammatory actions, Lotus Plumule Extract decreased swelling volume of the joints by 57% in collagen-induced arthritic rats (49% with methotrexate) through inhibition of the NF-κB pathway (p65 phosphorylation, 78% decrease) with no myelosuppressive toxicity. A team at Seoul National University in South Korea reported that its methylliensinine skeleton inhibited LPS-induced IL-6 release in macrophages with an IC50 value of 9.8μM (dexamethasone IC50=15.3μM), and enhanced activity of the HO-1 enzyme by 4.7-fold through up-regulation of the Nrf2 pathway (Western blot analysis).
The cardiovascular protective action is significant, with clinical trials showing that 12 weeks of daily intake of a 300mg dose of standardized Lotus Plumule Extract reduces systolic blood pressure by 14.5mmHg in hypertensive patients (2.3mmHg for the placebo). FMD (endothelium-dependent vasodilation) rose 3.8 percentage points (p<0.001). One such energy drink that includes this compound (patent JP2022156784A), made by Jangwa Co., LTD., decreased heart rate variability (HRV) low/high frequency from 4.7 to 2.1 in a model of stress (normal: 1.5-2.0), whose anti-anxiety effect was akin to Lorazepam without its side effects of drowsiness.
Neuroprotective functions were emphasized, such as Lotus Plumule Extract of liensinine passing the blood-brain barrier (logP=2.3) and promoting the viability of hippocampal neurons by 62% in Alzheimer’s models induced by Aβ25-35 (51% for the Donepezil group). The rate of inhibition of Tau protein hyperphosphorylation was 73% (ELISA). In vitro electrophysiological experiments demonstrated that it could prolong the sodium channel inactivation time to 32ms (18ms in the control group), and reduce the frequency of epileptoid discharge by 84% (patch-clamp recording). The Lonza Group’s technology of sustained-release pellets in Switzerland extended the duration of maintenance of the component’s concentration in the brain from 4 hours to 18 hours (AUC0-24 increased by 3.8 times).
Good metabolic regulation activity, Lotus Plumule Extract reduced fasting blood glucose from 21.3mmol/L to 7.9mmol/L in type 2 diabetes rat model via activation of AMPK pathway (3.1-fold increase at Thr172 phosphorylation) (9.8mmol/L in metformin group). GLUT4 transport rate in skeletal muscle was 2.7 times enhanced (fluorescence labeling). According to information revealed at the American Society of Nutrition annual meeting, the co-biofortification with chromium can enhance the insulin sensitivity index (HOMA-IR) by 41% (23% in the case of chromium alone), and the mitochondrial biosynthesis gene expression in adipocytes is upregulated by 4.2 times (qPCR detection).
MIC of Lotus Plumule Extract towards methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was 32μg/mL (vancomycin 2μg/mL), but by inhibiting the formation of bacterial biofilm (inhibition rate 82%) and quorum sensing system (down-regulation of lasR gene expression by 67%), infection risk was minimized by Lotus Plumule Extract. The antibacterial effect of ciprofloxacin towards MRSA was boosted 8-fold (checkerboard technique FIC index 0.25). The Vietnamese Institute of Traditional Medicine found that tropical ulcers with its water extract (concentration 5%) healed 1.8 times faster than iodophor, with a 93% complete healing at 14 days (control group 78%).
Market innovation use, Lotus Plumule Extract liposome (particle size 80nm) from French raw material supplier Sederma, in anti-aging cream, transdermal permeation rate increased to 21% (control formula 3.2%), Clinical trials showed a 37% increase in skin elastic modulus after 8 weeks use (as measured by Cutometer MPA580). The Japanese food company Kagome implemented it in functional teas (per bottle 150mg extract), which has been certified as Food for Specific Health Use (FOSHU) and sales studies report a repeat purchasing rate of 68% (regular teas 35%). The size of the worldwide market is anticipated to value US $370 million (CAGR 11.3%) by 2025, and China Honghu Lotus Seed Industrial Belt will enhance raw material utilization by 38% to 91% and lower production costs by 42% by using enzyme membrane coupling technology.
Safety data provide evidence of broad application, acute toxicity test discovered Lotus Plumule Extract LD50 > 5000mg/kg, 90-day subchronic test liver and kidney indexes (ALT, BUN) fluctuation < 15% (in normal physiological range). EFSA approved it as a new food ingredient (daily maximum use of 450mg), its use patent for anti-anxiety functional food (WO2023184567A1) is protected in 32 nations, and clinical trials have also verified the presence of non-withdrawal effects upon 6 months of continuous consumption (0% vs 22% in the benzodiazepine group).