6.15%), biciclogermacrene (33.32 14.27%), spathulenol (25.04- 1.06%), eremophilene (20.64-1.93%), valecene (33.70-0.84%), viridiflorene (19.46%) and 1,10-di-epi-cubenol (27.93-21.32). The different result found here indicates the existence of different chemotypes of L. camara¹¹.

TRADITIONAL MEDICINAL USES:

Lantana camara is considered antiseptic, antispasmodic, carminative and diphoretic. Antiinfflamatory, antipyretic and analgesic properties of extracts of Lantana camara leaves has been reported. Lantana camara is used in herbal medicine for the treatment of skin itches, as an antiseptic for wounds, and externally for leprosy and scabies. Major natural products investigated in Lantana camara belong to the group of triterpinoides, flavonoides and other compounds.

In herbal medicine, infusions of the leaves and other plant parts are used as an anti-inflammatory¹², a tonic and expectorant, and added to baths as an antirhumatic. Lantana extracts have also been shown to be a powerful febrifuge¹³. Because the leaves and some other parts of lantana are poisonous, care must be taken when it is used medicinally. The ripe fruit is benign and heavily consumed by birds and frequently eaten by humans in some countries¹⁴. Extracts of lantana leaves have shown strong insecticidal and antimicrobial activity in numerous experiments. Storing potatoes with lantana leaves nearly eliminates damage by Phthorimaea operculella Zeller, the potato tuber moth¹⁵. Stems and leaves are used as mulch. Although of inferior quality because of size and form, lantana stems are widely used as fuel in less developed countries.

PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES:

Adulticidal activity of essential oil of Lantana camara leaves against mosquitoes:

Development of insect resistance to synthetic pesticides, high operational cost and and environmental pollution have created the need for developing alternative approaches to control vector-borne diseases.Essential oil was isolated from the leaves of L. camara using hydro-distillation method. Bioassay test was carried out by WHO method for determination of adulticidal activity against mosquitoes. Different compounds were identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis.LD50 values of the oil were 0.06, 0.05, 0.05, 0.05 and 0.06 mg/cm2 while LD90 values were 0.10, 0.10, 0.09, 0.09 and 0.10 mg/cm2 against Ae. aegypti, Cx. quinquefasciatus, An. culicifacies, An. fluvialitis and An. stephensi respectively. KDT50 of the oil were 20, 18, 15, 12, and 14 min and KDT90 values were 35, 28 25, 18, 23 min against Ae. aegypti, Cx. quinquefasciatus, An. culicifacies, An. fluviatilis and An. stephensi, respectively on 0.208 mg/cm2 impregnated paper. Studies on persistence of essential oil of L. camara on impregnated paper revealed that it has more adulticidal activity for longer period at low storage temperature. Gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric analysis of essential oil showed 45 peaks. Caryophyllene (16.37%), eucalyptol (10.75%), α-humelene (8.22%) and germacrene (7.41%) were present in major amounts and contributed 42.75 per cent of the total constituents¹⁶.

Antibacterial Activities of Lantana Camara:

Extracts of leaves and flowers obtained with ethyl acetate were studied for antibacterial activities. Leaf and flower ethyl acetate extracts exhibited considerable antibacterial activities against the bacteria used where the value of zone of inhibition ranged from 10-21 and 9-15 mm, respectively. For flower and leaf ethyl acetate extracts, the zone of inhibition (mm) measured ranged from 10-21 and 9-15 mm, respectively. Thus, the study of the biochemical parameters viz., lipids, carbohydrates and proteins has revealed similarity among the four different L camara. However, antibacterial activities vary from one L. camara to the other and also according to the type of tissue used.¹⁷

Efficacy of wild sage (Lantana camara) extracts against almond moth (Cadra cautella).

The almond moth [Cadra cautella (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Phycitidae)] is one of the most economically important stored product pests. If not managed properly, this insect causes serious damage directly from larval feeding on a variety of dried fruits and stored vegetables and wheat seeds. Jha (2003) observed 9.8-64.8% damage in different wheat cultivars due to release of C. cautella larvae after 70 days of its release. Control of C. cautella population world-wide is primarily dependent on repeated application of contact insecticide as space and structural treatment or as protectants.Global concern with the health and environmental impacts of synthetic pesticides, from both consumers and government agencies has led to heightened restrictions and limitations on the use of these products.Being compounds of natural origin, no problems with persistence in the environment are anticipated. Thus, products based on plant extracts, phyto-oils and purified substances of plant origin can be an alternative to the conventional pesticides. Lantana camara is an evergreen hairy shrub planted as an ornamental hedge, widely found in tropics and sub-tropics and coastal locations of Asia. It is also an important weed pest of tropical crops. Present investigation was aimed to study the effect of leaf extracts of L. camara against almond moth infesting ‘HS 420’ wheat seeds during storage¹⁸.

Biological Control of Lantana camara:

The insect species introduced into Australia and South Africa as potential biological control agents of Lantana camara (lantana) were reviewed to determine factors that may have contributed to the high proportion of candidates that failed to establish on the plant. Fourteen of the 25 candidates deliberately introduced into Australia and five of the 15 introduced into South Africa have established. A greater proportion of candidates that were collected from L. urticifolia or L. tiliifolia established in Australia and South Africa than those collected from other Lantana species. DNA studies suggest that L. urticifolia and L. tiliifolia are more closely related to L. camara than other species of Lantana and therefore a candidate’s natural host may influence its establishment on L. camara. Some preference towards different lantana phenotypes has been observed in eight species, while there appeared to be no preference towards phenotypes in three species. Climate appears to be an influencing factor in the distribution of agents with only two species in Australia and South Africa being found in all lantana regions. The remaining species have distributions ranging from very localised to more widespread. The release methods used and the numbers of individuals released may have contributed to at least five species in Australia and up to eight in South Africa not establishing. The main factors influencing the establishment of agents on lantana appear to be: (a) the identity of the plant from which the potential agent had been collected; (b) the phenotype of lantana on which it had been released; (c) the climate of the area where it had been released and; (d) the release procedures used. Future research into the biological control of L. camara should consider addressing these areas which may result in greater establishment rates of candidates and better control of lantana¹⁹.

Lantana camara for fuel ethanol production using thermotolerant yeast:

Lantana camara plant material was hydrolysed with 1% sulfuric acid for 18 h at room temperature, followed by heat treatment of 121_C for 20 min. Hemicellulosic hydrolyzate was separated and used for detoxification by ethyl acetate and overliming. Cellulosic fraction was hydrolysed with Aspergillus niger crude cellulase enzyme for 18 h at 55_C. Using 15% (dw ⁄ v) substrate 73 g l)1 total reducing sugars were obtained to give 78Æ7% hydrolysis of carbohydrate content. Acid and enzyme hydrolyzates were mixed equally and used for fermentation with thermotolerant Saccharomyces cerevisiae (VS3). Yeast fermented L. camara hydrolyzate well with a fermentation efficiency of 83Æ7% to give an ethanol yield of 0Æ431 ± 0Æ018 g ethanol pre g sugar and productivity of 0Æ5 ± 0Æ021 g l)1 h)1. Conclusions: Even though inhibitors were present in L. camara hydrolyzate, maximum sugars were utilized by thermotolerant yeast.

Significance and Impact of the Study: Use of L. camara for fuel ethanol production with improved strains and detoxification can be recommended²⁰.

Larvicidal Effect of Lantana Camara Linn against Mosquito:

Mosquito larvicidal activity and phytochemical screening of methanol and ethanol extract of leaves and flowers of Lantana camara Linn belongs to the family of Verbanaceae have been evaluated in. Larvicidal effect on 3rd and 4th instar larvae of mosquito species Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus have been investigated in a dose dependent manner for 24 h. With 1.0 mg/ml concentration of extracts of Lantana camara maximum mortality was observed in Aedes aegypti exposed for 24 h. In the case of Culex quinquefasciatus the mortality was seen maximised when the concentration increased to 3.0mg/ml. Presence of saponin, flavonoids, terpenoids and cardiac glycosides have also been observed and GC/MS analysis was carried out on methanol flower and leaf extract to find out the components²¹.

Treatment of bovine dermatophilosis with Lantana camara:

This study describes interesting preliminary results on the therapeutic effects of ointments prepared with extracts of medicinal plants on bovine dermatophilosis. Our results show that the use of ointments made with ethanolic extracts of leaves of Senna alata, Lantana camara and Mitracarpus scaber, as topical treatments on chronic crusty or acute lesions of dermatophilosis, induces healing of the disease in the nine infected animals treated without recurrence. This is opposed to what is observed by using oxytetracycline, terramycin long-acting (TLA), or procaine-penicillin, antibiotics commonly used parenterally for the treatment of dermatophilosis in the Republic of Benin which could not prevent the recurrence of the disease. These ointments, when applied once a day for 8–15 days, provoked the falling off of the crusts after 3–4 days of treatment. Hair grows on the treated areas, which heal without scarring, within 3–4 weeks after the end of the treatment. The healed animals became free of dermatophilosis without recurrence for more than 3 years and were in good health²².

Wound healing activity of Lantana camara L.

Lantana camara is used in herbal medicine for the treatment of skin itches, as an antiseptic for wounds, and externally for leprosy and scabies. The objective of our study is to investigate burn wound healing activity of the leaf extract of L.camara in rats. The animals were divided into two groups of 6 each. The test group animals were treated with the ethanol extract of L. camara (100 mg kg-1 day-1) topically and the control group animals were left untreated. Healing was assessed by the rate of wound contraction, period of epithelialization. Antimicrobial activities of the extract against the specific microorganisms were assessed. The extract showed antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella Pneumoniae and E.coli. Extract treated wounds were healed in about 21 days which is not distinct from the controls. Our data suggest that L.camara has antimicrobial activity but not wound healing promoting activity on burn wound²³.

Anti-Mycobacterium Activity Of Lantana Camara:

Chloroform and methanol extracts of L. camara collected from South-western Uganda were screened against three strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis using the agar-well diffusion method. H37Rv, the rifampicin-resistant TMC-331 and a non-resistant wild strain (28-25271). The MIC and MBC were determined using the Agar dilution method on Middle brook 7H11. The methanol extract showed the highest activity against all the three strains used, with zones of inhibition of 18.0-22.5 mm and MIC values of 20 μg/ml for H37Rv and 15 μg/ml for both TMC-331 and wild stain. The values for rifampicin were 1.0 μg/ml for both H37Rv and wild strain but rifampicin hardly showed any activity on TMC-331. The MBC value for the methanol extract of L. camara was 30μg/ml for the H37Rv, and 20μg/ml for both the TMC-331 and wild strains of M. tuberculosis. The MBC for rifampicin was 2.0μg/ml for both H37Rv and the wild strain.it is conclude that L. camara contains principles active against M. tuberculosis, which merit further research.²⁴.

Fuel properties and combustion characteristics of Lantana camara:

In this study, we report fuel properties (basic density, high heating value, proximate and elemental parameters) and ash elemental composition of two important forest weed species, i.e. Lantana camara and Eupatorium spp. The physical, chemical and elemental properties of L. camara and Eupatorium spp. Were compared with those of a mature tree (20 years of age) of Eucalyptus hybrid. The combustion characteristics under oxidizing atmosphere were also studied using thermogravimetric analysis. The burning profiles of the samples were derived by applying the derivative thermogravimetric technique. The two weed species were found to be different in their physical, chemical and elemental properties. The fuel properties and combustion characteristics, which largely depend upon the biochemical composition of biomass, were also different in these two weed species. The results suggested that both L. camara and Eupatorium spp. can be used as feedstock in thermochemical conversion processes. The emphasis was given to these species because of the huge biomass they produce. These species are widely present in different agroclimatic zones of India and can play a major role in future bioenergy schemes²⁵.

Biological Control of Lantana camara:

Lantana camara L. was the first weed ever targeted for classical biological control at the turn of the century, and since then 36 insect species have been released in 33 countries throughout the exotic range. Prospodium tuberculatum (Speg.) Arthur (ex Brazil). Glasshouse results show that the agent is highly host specific (50 non-target species tested), and is pathogenic to two of the major Australian biotypes (Pink and Pink-edged red). It is envisaged that this isolate will be released in Queensland in 2000. Two other pathogens show promise: Puccinia lantanae (Farlow) Lindquist and Ceratobasidium lantanae-camarae Evans, Barreto and Ellison (web-blight). Preliminary work has started on a Peruvian isolate of the rust, and initial evidence indicates that it is able to infect a wider number of weedy cultivars and it is significantly more damaging to the target plant, causing cankering and stem die-back, than Prospodium. Moreover, it would complement the supposed geographic range of Prospodium because of its tropical rather than sub-tropical origins²⁶.

Anti-Hyperglycemic Activity of Lantana Camara:

Oral administration of the methanol extract of Lantana camara (200 and 400 mg/kg body weight) leaves in alloxan-induced diabetic rats, showed significant (P<0.01) reduction in the blood glucose concentration in dose dependent manner. Treatment with extract (400 mg/kg) decreased blood glucose level to 121.94 mg/dl. Body weight significantly (P<0.05) in-creased to normal after treatment with extract and it was found effective in oral glucose tolerance test as it de-creased the elevated level of glucose after one hour. The biochemical parameters like triglycerides (TG), total cho-lesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein (LDL), very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) and high density lipoprotein were investigated and extract was found effective against diabetes induced hyperlipidemia. Present study demonstrat-ed that methanol extract of Lantana camata (L.) leaves exhibit promising anti-hyperglycemic activity against allox-an-induced diabetic rats²⁷.

CONCLUSION:

From the above cited activities, it is concluded that plant Lantana camara L showed significant activities against several diseases like Larvicidal Effect, diuretics, wound healing, antiseptic, antispasmodic, carminative, diphoretic. Antiinfflamatory, antipyretic and analgesic. Lantana camara L was used by tribals traditionally to treat various infections. This review highlighted the traditional use of this plant. The plant may be further explored and folk practice for different activities.

REFERENCES:

1. Sharma GP, Raghubanshi AS, Singh JS. Lantana invasion: An overview. Weed Biol. Manage. 2005;5:157–165.

2. Gaur RD. Flora of the district Garhwal North -West Himalaya (with ethnobotanical notes) Srinagar (Garhwal), India: Trans Media. 1999:548-9.

3. Sharma OP, Makkar HPS, Dawara RK. A review of the noxious plant of Lantana camara. Toxicon. 1988;26:975-87.

4. Taoubi K, Fauvel MT, Gley J, Moulis C. Phenylepropanoid glycosides from Lantana camara and Lippia multoflora. Planta Med. 1997;63:192-3.

5. Chharba SC, Mahunnah RLA, Mshiu EN. Plants used in traditional medicine in eastern Tanzania. J Ethnopharmacol. 1993;39:83-103.

6. Chavan SR, Nikam ST. Investigation of Lantana camara Linn (Verbenaceae) leaves for larvicidal activity. Bull Haffkin Inst 1982;10:21-2.

7. Dua VK, Gupta NC, Pandey AC, Sharma VP. Repellency of Lantana camara (Verbenaceae) flowers against Aedes mosquitoes. J Am Mosq Control Assoc 1996;12: 406-8.

8. Dua VK, Pandey AC, Singh R, Sharma VP, Subbarao SK. Isolation of repellent ingredients from Lantana camara (Verbenaceae) flowers and their repellency against Aedes mosquitoes. J Appl Entmol 2003;12 :509-11.

9. Qureshi Md. Shamim, Patel Jitendra, Venkateshwar Reddy A, Syed Safiullah and P Mohapatra. Phytochemicals and Pharmacological Activities of Moringa oleifera Lam. Research J. Pharmacology and Pharmacodynamics. 2010; 2(2):183-186.

10. Fu-Chiang Juang, Yu-Fang Chen, Fuh-Mei Lin and Keh-Feng Huang. Constituents from the leaves of Lantana camara (iv). J Chin Med. 2005;16(2-3): 149-155.

11. Erlânio O. Sousa, Aracelio V. Colares, Fabiola F. G. Rodrigues, Adriana R. Campos, Sidney G. Lima and José Galberto M. Costa. Effect of Collection Time on Essential Oil Composition of Lantana camara Linn (Verbenaceae) Growing in Brazil Northeastern, Rec. Nat. Prod. 2010;4(1):31-37.

12. Oyedapo, O.O., F. C. Sab, and J.A. Olagunju. Bioactivity of fresh leaves of Lantana camara. Biomedical Letters.1999;59:179-183.

13. Liogier, H.A.. Plantas medicinales de Puerto Rico y del Caribe. Iberoamericana de Ediciones,Inc., San Juan, 1990:563.

14. Herzog, F., Z. Farah, and R. Amado. Composition and consumption of gathered wild fruits in the V-Baoule, Cote d’Ivoire. Ecology of Food and Nutrition. 1994;32(3-4):181-196.

15. Lal, L. Studies on natural repellents against potato tuber moth (Phthorimaea operculella Zeller) in country stores. Potato Research.1987;30(2):329-334.

16. V.K. Dua, A.C. Pandey and A.P. Dash. Adulticidal activity of essential oil of Lantana camara leaves against mosquitoes. Indian J Med Res 131, March 2010, pp 434-439

17. Deepak Ganjewala, Silviya Sam, Kishwar Hayat Khan. Biochemical compositions and antibacterial activities of Lantana camara plants with yellow, lavender, redand white flowers.EurAsia J BioSci. 2009;3:69-77.

18. B S Gotyal, Chitra Srivastava, Suresh Walia, S K Jain And D S Reddy. Efficacy of wild sage (Lantana camara) extracts against almond moth.(Cadra cautella) in stored wheat (Triticum aestivum) seeds.Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences 80 (5): 433–6, May 2010.

19. Michael d. Day AND stefan neser. Factors influencing the biological control of lantana camarain australia and south africa. Proceedings of the X International Symposium on Biological Control of Weeds. 1999;4(14):897-908.

20. C. Pasha, M. Nagavalli and L. Venkateswar Rao. Lantana camara for fuel ethanol production using thermotolerant yeast. Letters in Applied Microbiology. 2007;44:666–672.

21. M. Sathish Kumar and S. Maneemegalai. Evaluation of Larvicidal Effect of Lantana Camara Linn Against Mosquito Species Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus. Advances in Biological Research. 2008;2(3-4):39-43.

22. N. Ali-Emmanuel, M. Moudachirou, J.A. Akakpo, J. Quetin-Leclercq. Treatment of bovine dermatophilosis with Senna alata,Lantana camara and Mitracarpus scaber leaf extracts. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 2003;86:167–171.

23. Nayak BS, Raju SS, Ramsubhag A. Investigation of wound healing activity of Lantana camara L. in Sprague dawley rats using a burn wound model. International Journal of Applied Research in Natural Products. 2008;1(1):15-19.

24. Claude Kirimuhuzya, Paul Waako, Moses Joloba, Olwa Odyek .The anti-mycobacterial activity of Lantana camara a plant traditionally used to treat symptoms of tuberculosis in South-western Uganda. African Health Sciences. 2009; 9(1): 40-44.

25. Ritesh Kumar, N. Chandrashekar and K. K. Pandey. Fuel properties and combustion characteristics of Lantana camara and Eupatorium spp. CURRENT SCIENCE. 2009;97(6):

26. Sarah E. Thomas and Carol A. Ellison. A Century of Classical Biological Control of Lantana camara: Can Pathogens Make a Significant Difference? Proceedings of the X International Symposium on Biological Control of Weeds. 2000;4(14):97-104.

27. Ganesh T, Saikat Sen, Thilagam E, Thamotharan G, Loganathan T, Raja Chakraborty, Pharmacognostic and anti-hyperglycemic evaluation of Lantana camara (L.) var. aculeate leaves in alloxan-induced hyperglycemic rats. Int. J. Res. Pharm. Sci. 2010;1(3):247-252,

Received on 01.10.2010

Accepted on 11.11.2010

Research J. Pharmacology and Pharmacodynamics. 2(6): Nov. –Dec. 2010, 418-422