Symptoms: Abdominal pain, ataxia, bloody diarrhea, coma, conjunctivitis, congestion, constipation, cyanosis, dermatitis, dilated pupils, heart problems, intrahepatic homeostasis, jaundice, lethargy, loss of consciousness, liver damage, nausea, pulmonary edema, sun sensitivity, shortness of breath, tachycardia, visual problems, vomiting, weakness.
Duration of Symptoms: 4 hours - 5 days
Rate of Poison: 2 - 6 hours
Causes Death: Yes (rare)
Treatment: Activated charcoal, adrenal steroids, antiemetics, electrolyte solution, gastric lavage, physostigmine, rehydration
These tiny flowers are often used as decorations in gardens, usually in the form of a tree plant. Rubbing up against it may cause dermatitis.
Photo: D. A. Wilkerson
Berries are the most dangerous part of the plant, mostly because the fruit is enticing enough to attract children, causing many to have fallen ill after consuming the berries.
Photo: Tubifex - Wikimedia Commons
Molecular structure of lantadene A (PubChem)
Lantadene A is a pentacyclic triterpenoid that inhibits succinoxidase activity. It is a precursor to steroids that target the liver and the gallbladder. It is absorbed by the intestines and transferred to the liver. The metabolites are what causes issues with toxicity. The metabolites inhibits the secretion of bile, which impairs the secretion of phylloerythrin, resulting in increased sensitivity to light.
Level of Toxin: 485.2 - 858.7 mg/100g in leaves
Impacting Dosage: Not known
Lantadene B is a precursor to steroids that target the liver and the gallbladder. Lantandene B is absorbed by the intestines and transferred to the liver.
Level of Toxin: 344 - 559.4 mg/100g in leaves
Impacting Dosage: Not known
Molecular structure of lantadene B (PubChem)
Lantadene C is absorbed by the intestines and transferred to the liver.
Level of Toxin: 181 - 463.9 mg/100g in leaves
Impacting Dosage: Not known
Lantadene D is absorbed by the intestines and transferred to the liver.
Level of Toxin: 44.4 - 196.4 mg/100g in leaves
Impacting Dosage: Not known
21,22β-epoxy-3β-hydroxy-olean-12-en-28-oic acid
22β-Hydroxy-3-oxolean-12-en-28-oic acid
3-β,19α-Dihydroxy-ursan-28-oic acid
Camangeloyl Acid
Camarinic Acid
Cinnamic Acid
Icterogenin
Lantanolic Acid
Methyl Ursoxylate
Pomolic Acid
Ursethoxy Acid
22β-Acetoxylantic acid
24-Hydroxy-3-Oxours-12-en-28-oic Acid
4-Epihederagonic Acid
Camaracinic Acid
Camarolide
Cyanidin
Lancamaric Acid
Lantanone
Oleanolic Acid
Quercetin
Ursolic Acid
22β-Angeloyloxylantanolic acid
25-Hydroxy-3-oxoolean-12-en-28-oic Acid
Betulic Acid
Camaric Acid
Camaryolic Acid
Eugenol
Lantabetulic Acid
Lantic Acid
Oleanonic Acid
Reduced Lantadene A
Ursonic Acid
22β-Dimethylacryloyloxylantanolic Acid
3,24-Dioxo-urs-12-en-28-oic Acid
Betulonic Acid
Camarilic Acid
Camayolic Acid
Galic Acid
Lantanilic Acid
Methyl Camaralate
Phenol
Reduced Lantadene B
Ursoxy Acid
Parts of Plant: All parts, especially the berries.
Contact Hazard: Dermatitis
Animals Affected: Camels, cats, dogs, guinea pigs, livestock, rabbits.
*Horses are not affected.
*Most death reports occur with children consuming berries.
Parts of Plant: Bark, Flowers, Leaves, Root
Properties: Allelopathy, analgesic, antibacterial, anticancer, antidermatosic, antifebrile, antifungal, antihyperlipidemic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, antiparasitic, antiphlogistic, antiplasmodiac, antipyretic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, antitubercular, antitumor, antiviral, astringent, carminative, diaphoretic, expectorant, febrifuge, fungicidal, hemostatic, heptaprotective, immunomodulatory, insecticidal, nematicidal, pectoral, refrigerant, stimulant, vulnerary.
Components: 1,a-Phellandrene, Bicyclic Terpene, Lantadene A, Lantadene B, Lantanine, Verbascoside.
Antidote: None
Preparation: Decoction, essential oil. infusion, lotion, poultice, tea, tonic.
Asthma
Cancer
Catarrh
Chicken Pox
Diarrhea
Dysentery
Eczema
Fever
Fungal Infections
Headaches
High Blood Pressure
Malaria
Measles
Menstrual Cramps
Respiratory Infections
Rheumatism
Snake Bites
Swelling
Tetanus
Tumors
Ulcers
India: Lantana has been used to treat colds, coughs, and other respiratory infections.
South America: Lantana has been used to treat diarrhea and dysentery.
Abdominal Pain: Leaves with oil applied onto stomach.
Asthma: Root, decoction
Bloating
Bronchitis: Flowers, leaves, infusion of whole plant.
Catarrh: Flowers, leaves
Cervical Lymph Nodes Tuberculosis: Root, decoction
Chickenpox: Leaves
Colds: Leaf decoction, tea made from leaves
Constipation: Flowers, leaves
Contusions: Leaves, poultice
Cough: Root, gargling water with lantana camara, tea made from leaves, decoction
Dermatitis: Leaves
Diarrhea
Dysentery
Eczema: Leaves
Fever: Bark, leaves made into a tea, root, decoction
Gonorrhea: Root, decoction
Haemoptysis: Decoction of dried flowers.
Headache: Root, decoction
High Blood Pressure: Leaves
Indigestion: Leaf decoction
Inflammation: Root, decoction
Inflammation of Uterus: Leaves made into a douche to treat inflammation.
Influenza: Root, tea made from leaves, decoction
Itchy Skin: Leaves
Joint Pain
Leprosy: Essential oil
Leprous Ulcers: Bark made into lotion.
Leucorrhea: Root, decoction
Malaria: Root, decoction
Measles: Leaves
Mumps: Root, decoction
Pain: Leaves boiled and applied to area.
Pulmonary Tuberculosis: Decoction of dried flowers
Rashes: Leaves
Rheumatism: Essential oil, leaf decoction, poultice
Scabies: Essential oil
Skin Itches: Essential oil
Sprains: Leaves, poultice
Stomachache: Powdered root made in milk.
Swelling: Leaves boiled and applied to area.
Toothache: Fresh root and leaves made into a decoction used as a gargle.
Tuberculosis: Leaves
Wounds: Essential oil, leaves, poultice, decoction of leaves and fruit.
Caribbean Islands: Tea from leaves used to treat cold.
Costa Rica: Stimulant created by using an infusion from a leaf.
Ghana: Whole plant for bronchitis, powdered root in milk for stomachache.
India
Philippines: Root used to treat toothache, leaves and fruit to clean wounds.
Uganda: Lantana used to treat tuberculosis.
West Africa: Infusion of leaves and flowers used as a diaphoretic and febrifuge.
Parts of Plant: Ripe fruit
Nutrients:
Carbohydrates: Fiber
Minerals: Calcium, Copper, Iron, Magnesium, Manganese, Potassium, Phosphorous, Protein, Sulfur
Taste: Sweet
WARNING: There are several controversial websites that state that Lantana is both safe and dangerous, especially with ingestion of parts of the plant. !DO NOT CONSUME GREEN, UNRIPE BERRIES!
Fruit: Ripened berries.
Cordials: Berries
Fruit: Ripened black fruits.
Jam: Berries
Jellies: Berries
Pies: Berries
Tea: Leaves
Illustration of Lantana by Ackermann - Wikimedia Commons
License: Public Domain
Family: Verbenaceae (Verbena Family)
Genus: Lantana
Other Names: Arch Man, Big Sage, Bonbonnier, Cariaquillo, Cinco Negritos, Common Lantana, Filigrana, Herb a Plommb, Lakana, Mikinolia-Hihiu, Lantana Verbena, Largeleaf Lantana, Prickly Lantna, Red Flowered Lantana, Red Flowered Sage, Red Sage, Shrub Verbena, Tick Berry, White Sage, Wild Sage, Yellow Sage
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bloom Colours: Red, Orange, Yellow, Pink
Bloom Time: March - August
Type: Annual, biennial, perennial
Height: 6 - 15 feet
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Habitat: Beach fronts, coastal area, cultivated lands, disturbed sites, fence lines, grasslands, mountain slopes, pastures, railways, rain forest edges, rangelands, roadsides, valleys, waste places, waterways,
Origin: Central America, Mexico, Tropical America
States: AL, AZ, CA, FL, GA, IN, LA, MS, NC, OK, SC, TX, UT, VA
Provinces: ON
Lantana achyranthifolia
(Desert Lantana)
Photo: Juan Cruzado Cortés - Wikimedia Common
License: CCSA 4.0
Lantana involucrata (Buttonsage)
Photo: Mason Brock - Wikimedia Commons
License: Public Domain
Lantana aculeata
Lantana angustifolia
Lantana balsamifera
Lantana chamissonis
Lantana colombiana
Lantana cuabensis
Lantana ebrenbergiana
Lantana ferreyrae
Lantana fucata
Lantana grossiserrata
Lantana hirsuta
Lantana insularis
Lantana langlassei
Lantana lockhardtii
Lantana magnibracteata
Lantana microcarpa
Lantana nivea
Lantana parvifolia
Lantana petitana
Lantana punctulata
Lantana riedeliana
Lantana ruiz-teranii
Lantana scabiosiflora
Lantana sprucei
Lantana subtracta
Lantana tilcarensis
Lantana veronicifolia
Lantana xenica
Lantana alainii
Lantana aristeguietae
Lantana buchii
Lantana chiapasensis
Lantana cordatibracteata
Lantana demutata
Lantana elenievskii
Lantana fiebrigii
Lantana glaziovii
Lantana hatoensis
Lantana hodgei
Lantana jaliscana
Lantana leonardorum
Lantana lopez-palacii
Lantana megapotamica
Lantana moldenkei
Lantana notha
Lantana pastazensis
Lantana planifolia
Lantana reineckii
Lantana robusta
Lantana rusbyana
Lantana scandens
Lantana strigocamara
Lantana svensonii
Lantana tomasii
Lantana viburnoides
Lantana zahlbruckneri
Lantana amoena
Lantana bahamensis
Lantana caatingensis
Lantana ciferriana
Lantana costaricensis
Lantana dinteri
Lantana entrerriensis
Lantana flava
Lantana gracilis
Lantana hatschbachii
Lantana humuliformis
Lantana jamaicensis
Lantana leucocarpa
Lantana lundiana
Lantana melissiodorifera
Lantana mollis
Lantana obtusata
Lantana pauciflora
Lantana pohliana
Lantana reptans
Lantana rubra
Lantana salicifolia
Lantana soatensis
Lantana strigosa
Lantana swynnertonii
Lantana ukambensis
Lantana viscosa
Lantana angustibracteata
Lantana balansae
Lantana caracasana
Lantana comorensis
Lantana cubensis
Lantana dwyeriana
Lantana exarata
Lantana floridana
Lantana grisebachii
Lantana haughtii
Lantana hypoleuca
Lantana kingii
Lantana lindmanii
Lantana machadoi
Lantana micrantha
Lantana mutabilis
Lantana ovatifolia
Lantana pavonii
Lantana prostrata
Lantana reticulata
Lantana rugulosa
Lantana santosii
Lantana spendens
Lantana subcordata
Lantana tetragona
Lantana undulata
Lantana weberbaueri
Lantana camara Bandana®
(Bandana® Lantana)
Photo: D. A. Wilkerson
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Date of page creation: November 29, 2022
Updated page: June 22, 2024