LANTANA CAMARA

Common name: Lantana • Manipuri: সম্বল লৈ Samballei, Nongballei, থীরৈ Thirei • Hindi: Raimuniya राईमुनिया • Tamil: உன்னிச்செடி Unnichedi • Marathi: Tantani तणतणी, Ghaneri घाणेरी • Kannada: Kakke, Natahu • Telugu: Pulikampa

Botanical name: Lantana camara var. aculeate

Family: Verbenaceae (Verbena family)

Introduction: Common lantana is a rugged evergreen shrub from the tropics. The species will grow to 6 ft high and may spread to 8 ft in width with some varieties able to clamber vinelike up supports to greater heights with the help of support. The leaves are 2-5 in long by 1-2 in wide with rounded tooth edges and a textured surface. Stems and leaves are covered with rough hairs and emit an unpleasant aroma when crushed. The small flowers are held in clusters (called umbels) that are typically 1-2 in across. Flower color ranges from white to yellow, orange to red, pink to rose in unlimited combinations, in addition the flowers usually change in color as they age. A lantana may look orange from a distance but the flowerhead is examined at close range it consists of individual white, yellow and red flowers that blend when viewed from afar.

Chemical Constituents

Phytochemical  composition  of  the  L.  camara  has  been  extensively studied in last few decades. Different parts of L.  camara  are  reported  to  possess  essential  oils,  phenolic compounds,  flavonoids,  carbohydrates,  proteins,  alkaloids,  glycosides,  iridoid  glycosides,  phenyl  ethanoid, oligosaccharides,  quinine,  saponins,  steroids,  triterpens, sesquiterpenoides  and  tannin  as  major  phytochemical groups.

Phytochemical composition:

Chemical constituents:

Phytochemical studies showed that the plant is free from diterpenoids and rich in essential oils. Monoterpenes, triterpenes, flavones coumarin, steroids, iridoid glycosides, are reported from Lantana camara. Triterpenes and flavones are the more common secondary metabolites in Lantana camara.

Medicinal Uses:

Antimicrobial, immunosuppressive and anti tumoractivity. Lantana oil is sometimes used for the treatment of skin itches, as an antiseptic for wounds and externally for leprosy and scabies. Most of the pharmacological studies were preliminary, carried out in animals and are not sufficient for the development of a pharmaceutical product. Still, intensive preclinical and clinical studies are required to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of these plant products.