99TRADITIONAL USE OF A SINGLE UNANI DRUG, NILOFER (NYMPHAEA ALBA LINN) - A REVIEWNymphaea alba (L.) commonly known as white water lily is an aquatic herb with perennial rhizomes or rootstocks anchored within the mud. It is rich in tannic acid, gallic acid, alkaloids, sterols, flavonoids, glycosides, hydrolyzable tannins and high molecular weight polyphenolic compounds (Eliana et al., 2008). All the parts of the plant have medicinal uses in traditional system of medicine. An infusion of the flower and fruit is given in diarrhoea and as a diuretic (Kang et al., 2006). Alcoholic extract of rhizome containing alkaloids has a mild sedative and spasmolytic action and do not significantly depress the heart in large doses but are reported to have a paralyzing action on medulla (Irvine et al., 1945). The present review will provide comprehensive information on phytochemical and therapeutic uses with special reference to Unani medicine which will help to knock its unexplored prospective with more scientific approach.dr.rajaram.md@gmail.comReview612016Nymphaea alba Linn,Water lily,Unani Medicine,HypnoticManumula Rajaram,Ghulamuddin Sofi,Manumula Komala,Naziya Sultana,Manchala AshokPG Scholar, Department of Ilmul Advia (Pharmacology), National Institute of Unani Medicine, Bangalore, Karnataka, India,Reader, Department of Ilmul Advia (Pharmacology), National Institute of Unani Medicine, Bangalore, Karnataka, India,PG Scholar, Department of Moalijat (Medicine), National Institute of Unani Medicine, Bangalore, Karnataka, India,PG Scholar, Department of Ilmul Advia (Pharmacology), National Institute of Unani Medicine, Bangalore, Karnataka, India,Intern, Dr. Abdul Haq Unani Medical College, Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh, India.