Resources of Nuphar lutea (L.) Sibth. & Sm. in mid-eastern Poland as a potential source of herbal raw material

Abstract

The aim of this study was to characterize the phytocoenoses with a share of Nuphar lutea (L.) Sibth. & Sm. and to evaluate the area of patches of Nupharo-Nymphaeetum albae Tomaszewicz 1977 as well as resources of the yellow water lily that can be used as a source of valuable medicinal raw material. The field investigations were carried out in the summer seasons of 2009–2018, and fifty-eight lakes were included in this study. Nuphar lutea is a very interesting plant species due to considerable concentration of secondary metabolites and their biological activity. Therefore, under conditions of eastern Poland, it can be a valuable raw material for pharmaceutical purposes. The largest Nupharo-Nymphaeetum albae phytocoenoses with N. lutea as the main floristic component are localized especially in retention reservoirs connected with the Wieprz-Krzna Canal and other lakes of a natural character. They are often very shallow basins. Therefore, removal of a biomass, especially in the case of small lakes that overgrow at a very rapid rate, can significantly slow down their shallowing and they will remain and function in the landscape over a longer time. Harvesting the N. lutea leaves can decelerate the process of shallowing of water bodies, especially in the case of retention reservoirs, and may contribute to their better functioning. Collected raw material can be a source of valuable secondary metabolites suitable for the pharmaceutical industry.