A Review on Dermatological Activities of Lantana camara (Ghaneri): Therapeutic Potential in Skin Disorders

Lantana camara, also known by its common name “Ghaneri,” is a perennial flowering shrub that belongs to the family Verbenaceae. This species is found all over the world, mainly in the tropics and subtropics, and is quite prevalent in India, growing wild in forests, wastelands, and roadside areas. Although this species is considered a nuisance because of its fast-growing nature and ability to overtake native plants, it has acquired much significance in pharmaceutical studies.

The species contains a large number of biologically active phytochemicals, like triterpenoids (lantadene A and B), flavonoids, alkaloids, and essential oils. It has numerous pharmacological applications because of the above-mentioned components, including antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer activities. Traditionally, various parts of the plant are used in folk medicine for treating injuries, skin problems, fever, and respiratory diseases.

Lantana camara is a plant that has been known for many years as having great therapeutic uses but is also toxic to some extent. It has chemicals such as lantadenes which can result in hepatotoxicity among others. It is therefore imperative that thorough scientific studies be conducted on such plants. It Is against this backdrop that an attempt will be made in this paper to analyze the phytochemistry, pharmacology, toxicity, and therapeutics of Lantana camara. (Anjali Singh1, Chhater Singh2,)

1. Phytochemical Constituents

Lantana camara is characterized by a complex and diverse phytochemistry, which forms the basis of the pharmacological and toxicological actions of the plant. Some of the bioactive molecules found in Lantana camara include triterpenoids such as lantadene A and B, which have been noted as the primary molecules. Other bioactive molecules include flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins, and essential oils. These phytochemicals act as mediators of various biological functions, including antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidative actions. These molecules make the plant a candidate for developing drugs; however, at the same time, these molecules may cause toxicity. (Sharma OP, Makkar HPS, Dawra RK)

2. Toxicity and Hepatotoxic Effects

While it is important to consider that the Lantana camara plant has great medicinal value, it has been proven highly toxic, especially in cases of hepatotoxicity. This kind of toxicity is primarily associated with pentacyclic triterpenoids called lantadenes, as they cause a disturbance in the normal functioning of the liver and are capable of causing extensive damage to the tissue. After ingesting the plant, especially among animals, there have been observed symptoms including loss of appetite, constipation, photosensitivity, and jaundice. Overexposure to the plant could eventually lead to liver failure, with some serious cases leading even to death. (Pass MA.)

3. Pharmacological Activities

Lantana camara is widely studied for its various pharmacological properties as a result of its high phytochemical content. One of the important pharmacological properties is the antibacterial and antifungal activity; extract from leaves and flowers showed inhibitory action on several types of pathogenic bacteria and fungi. These properties confirm its use in the medical application for the treatment of skin infections. Another pharmacological property of Lantana camara is anti-inflammatory action, which helps reduce inflammation, swelling, and pain, which can be helpful in the treatment of arthritis.

Moreover, the species is known for its high antioxidant potential; due to its phytochemicals, including flavonoids and phenols, it is capable of neutralizing free radicals. One more pharmacological property is the anticancer activity of certain plants; some experiments proved that extracts of Lantana camara had cytotoxic effect on cancer cells, and therefore it can be regarded as a potential drug for cancer prevention. The above discussion proves that Lantana camara has many pharmacological properties that may be used in developing new drugs; however, further research is required to investigate its medical properties. (Ghisalberti EL.), (1998, n.d.)

4. Antifungal Activity of Lantana Camara:

Lantana camara is a very important medicinal plant of family Verbenaceae. The plant has various pharmacological activities such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antifungal activities. Different parts of the plant such as leaves, flowers, roots and essential oils have exhibited significant inhibitory activity against different pathogenic fungi. The antifungal activity is mainly due to the presence of bioactive phytoconstituents like flavonoids, triterpenoids, alkaloids, tannins, saponins and essential oils. (E.L. Ghisalberti, September 2000), (Klotoe JR, Fanou BA, Agbodjento E, et al.)

The antifungal activity of Lantana camara is due to the presence of several secondary metabolites such as:

• Lantadenes
• Flavonoids
• Triterpenoids
• Phenolic compounds
• Essential oils
• Alkaloids
• Tannins
• Saponins (Ali Esmail Al-Snafi, Octomber 2019)

These compounds damage fungal cell walls, alter membrane permeability, inhibit spore germination, and interfere with fungal enzyme systems.

 

 

Fig: Parts Of Plants Lantana Camara

 

 

Fig: Antifungal Mechanism of Action

Methanolic and ethanolic extracts generally show higher antifungal activity compared to aqueous extracts due to better extraction of active phytoconstituents. (William Charles Evans), (Grover A, Bhandari BS, Rai N, Chandra H.)

Extracts Showing Antifungal Activity

1. Methanolic Extract

Exhibits strong antifungal activity

Rich in phenolics and flavonoids

Effective against Candida and Aspergillus

2. Ethanolic Extract

Broad-spectrum antifungal effect

Good zone of inhibition against pathogenic fungi

3.  Essential Oil

Contains terpenoids and volatile compounds

Disrupts fungal membrane integrity

4.  Aqueous Extract

Shows comparatively mild antifungal activity (Jorge Ramírez 1,*, Chabaco Armijos 1, Nelson Espinosa-Ortega 2, Leydy Nathaly Castillo 1, Giovanni Vidari 3, Feb 2025), (Dua VK, Pandey AC, Raghavendra K, Gupta A, Sharma T, Dash AP.)

Applications:

The antifungal properties of Lantana camara can be useful in:

1. Treatment of skin fungal infections
2. Herbal antifungal creams and ointments
3. Management of candidiasis
4. Agricultural fungicidal formulations
5. Natural preservative systems (Negi G.C.S., et al.)

Advantages of Using Lantana camara as Antifungal Agent:

1. Natural and plant-based
2. Broad-spectrum activity
3. Economical and easily available
4. Lower chances of microbial resistance
5. Rich source of bioactive compounds (Joshi N, Ashfaqueullah M.)

 Limitations:

1. Toxicity due to lantadenes
2. Dose standardization required
3. Limited clinical studies
4. Variation in activity depending on extraction method and geographical source

CONCLUSION

Lantana camara is a plant of great medicinal importance due to the presence of various bioactive phytochemicals such as flavonoids, alkaloids, and triterpenoids. Different studies have demonstrated its antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer activities, highlighting its potential in pharmaceutical and therapeutic applications. Traditionally, the plant has been used in the treatment of wounds, skin diseases, fever, and respiratory disorders. However, despite its medicinal benefits, the plant also possesses toxic effects, mainly because of lantadenes, which can cause hepatotoxicity and other complications. Therefore, proper purification, dosage control, and scientific validation are necessary before its use in modern medicine. Further research and clinical studies are essential to explore its full therapeutic potential and to develop safe and effective herbal formulations from Lantana camara.

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