Isolation of a New Furano-1,4-Naphthaquinone, Diodantunezone from Lanthana achyranthifolia1

A review of the hepatotoxic plant Lantana camara

Lantana (Lantana camara Linn) is a noxious weed that grows in many tropical and subtropical parts of the world. Ingestion of lantana foliage by grazing animals causes cholestasis and hepatotoxicity. Both ruminants and nonruminant animals such as guinea pigs, rabbits, and female rats are susceptible to the hepatotoxic action of lantana toxins. The hepatotoxins are pentacyclic triterpenoids called lantadenes. Molecular structure of lantadenes has been determined. Green unripe fruits of the plant are toxic to humans. Lantana spp. exert allelopathic action on the neighboring vegetation. The allelochemicals have been identified as phenolics, with umbelliferone, methylcoumarin, and salicylic acid being the most phytotoxic. In addition to phenolics, a recent report indicates lantadene A and B as more potent allelochemicals. Management of lantana toxicosis in animals is achieved by drenching with activated charcoal and supportive therapy. Recent reports on the bilirubin clearance effect of Chinese herbal tea Yin Zhi Huang (decoction of the plant Yin Chin, Artemisia capillaries, and three other herbs) or its active ingredient 6,7-dimethylesculetin, in jaundice are very exciting and warrant investigations on its, possible, ameliorative effects in lantana intoxicated animals. Research is being conducted on new drug discovery based on natural products in different parts of the lantana plant.

Lantana camara L. (Verbenaceae)

Lantana camara L. is regarded both as a notorious weed and a popular ornamental garden plant and has found various uses in folk medicine in many parts of the world. Some taxa of the widely variable L. camara complex are toxic to small ruminants and this effect has been associated with the types and relative amounts of some triterpene ester metabolites. However, L. camara also produces a number of metabolites in good yields and some have been shown to possess useful biological activities. All these aspects are considered in this review to allow an evaluation of the potential for utilisation of the large biomass of Lantana available. The phytochemistry of other members of the Lantana genus is included.