A review of the hepatotoxic plant Lantana camara

Hepatotoxicity from long-term administration of hepatoprotective low doses of oleanolic acid in mice

Oleanolic acid is a triterpenoid existed in many medicinal herbs/plants. Oleanolic acid at low doses are hepatoprotective but at high doses produce cholestasis. This study examined hepatotoxicity potential of low doses of oleanolic acid after log-term administration. Male Kunming mice were orally given oleanolic acid at 100, 200 and 300 μmol/kg daily for 14 weeks. Body weights were monitored, and liver injury was determined via blood biochemistry. Histopathology was examined via H&E, Masson, and Sirius red stains. Oleanolic acid accumulation in plasma and liver was determined by LC-MS and hepatic gene expression by qPCR. Oleanolic acid at low doses did not affect animal body weights, but increased liver index. Serum alanine aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase were increased, while total bilirubin was unchanged. Chronic oleanolic acid produced hepatocyte degeneration, spot necrosis, and fibrosis. Plasma oleanolic acid was increased more than that in the liver. Oleanolic acid increased hepatic expression of Nrf2, Nqo1, Gclc and Mgst1; Expression of bile acid synthesis genes (Cyp7a1, Cyp8b1, Cyp27a1, Cyp7b1, FXR, SHP) was also suppressed at higher doses. The expression of TGF-β1 and Smad3 was increased, while Smad7 decreased, suggesting the progression to liver fibrosis. High dose of oleanolic acid was less effective in producing these changes, probably due to increased liver injury. Overall, oral administration of low doses of oleanolic acid for 14 weeks produced liver injury and fibrosis. These harmful effects were associated with increased oleanolic acid in plasma and liver, and the disruptions of bile acid metabolism, the Nrf2 and TGF-β/Smad signaling pathways.

Impact of Invasive Weeds Lantana camara L. and Parthenium hysterophorus L. on the Secondary Metabolite Profiles of Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.)

The impact of two invasive weed species, Lantana camara and Parthenium hysterophorus, on the development and secondary metabolism of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) is the focus of this study. We explored the potential role of secondary metabolites as antioxidants to mitigate the stress induced by these common weeds on okra plants with special emphasis on chlorogenic acid (CGA). The study has been done with six experimental setups. One setup includes okra grown alone, and another set consists of okra co-cultivation with L. camara, P. hysterophorus, and a combination of both. Each setup consisted of 30 plants of each species. After these, biochemical assays were done to measure the production of secondary metabolites, which include polyphenols, flavonoids, and antioxidants. They are all measured in response to weed-induced stress. Total polyphenols, flavonoids, and antioxidants displayed a significant increment in okra when co-cultivated with Lantana or Parthenium. Co-cultivation with both weeds presented synergistic negative effects, like that interaction is characterized by elevated markers of stress, such as reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, indicating the compounded adverse effect on the okra plants. Moreover, it points out the effect of the weed's presence on secondary metabolism in okra. Gene expression analysis of two genes, phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) and hydroxycinnamoyl-CoA quinate hydroxycinnamoyl transferase (HQT), which are critical in the phenylpropanoid pathway, validated the role of secondary metabolites in weed-induced stress alleviation. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis shows that CGA has increased significantly in okra plants co-cultivated with weeds. It suggests a plant response to counteract weed-induced stress by enhancing CGA production. Therefore, the study shows the impact of weeds on stress indicators, such as ROS, RNS, and MDA. So, it is observed that stress levels are increased in okra in the weed's presence, as indicated by high lipid and proline content. These findings suggest practical strategies for weed management by enhancing secondary metabolism in crops to improve resilience and productivity under stress conditions caused by invasive weeds.

Ethnobotany, Phytochemistry, and Biological Activity of Extracts and Non-Volatile Compounds from Lantana camara L. and Semisynthetic Derivatives-An Updated Review

Lantana camara L., commonly known as pigeon berry, is a herbaceous plant of growing scientific interest due to the high medicinal value. In fact, despite being categorized as an invasive species, it has been used for a long time to treat different diseases thanks to the many biological activities. Triterpenes, flavonoids, phenylpropanoids, and iridoid glycosides are the bioactive compounds naturally occurring in L. camara that have demonstrated anticancer, antifilarial, nematocidal, antibacterial, insecticidal, antileishmanial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. The aim of this review is to update the information concerning the chemistry and biological activity of L. camara extracts and their constituents, including semisynthetic derivatives, revising the literature until June 2024. We believe that the data reported in this review clearly demonstrate the importance of the plant as a promising source of medicines and will therefore stimulate further investigations.

Compounds Involved in the Invasive Characteristics of Lantana camara

Lantana camara L. is native to tropical America and has naturalized in many other tropical, subtropical, and temperate regions in Asia, Africa, Oceania, North and South America, and Europe. L. camara infests diverse habitats with a wide range of climatic factors, and its population increases aggressively as one of the world's 100 worst invasive alien species. Its infestation reduces species diversity and abundance in the natural ecosystems and reduces agricultural production. The life history characteristics of L. camara, such as its high reproductive ability and high adaptive ability to various environmental conditions, may contribute to its ability to infest and increase its population. Possible evidence of the compounds involved in the defense functions of L. camara against natural enemies, such as herbivore mammals and insects, parasitic nematodes, pathogenic fungi and bacteria, and the allelochemicals involved in its allelopathy against neighboring competitive plant species, have accumulated in the literature over three decades. Lantadenes A and B, oleanonic acid, and icterogenin are highly toxic to herbivore mammals, and β-humulene, isoledene, α-copaene thymol, and hexadecanoic acid have high insecticidal activity. β-Caryophyllene and cis-3-hexen-1-ol may function as herbivore-induced plant volatiles which are involved in sending warning signals to undamaged tissues and the next plants of the same species. Farnesol and farnesal may interrupt insect juvenile hormone biosynthesis and cause abnormal metamorphosis of insects. Several triterpenes, such as lantanolic acid, lantoic acid, pomolic acid, camarin, lantacin, camarinin, ursolic acid, and oleanonic acid, have demonstrated nematocidal activity. Lantadene A, β-caryophyllene, germacrene-D, β-curcumene, eicosapentaenoic acid, and loliolide may possess antimicrobial activity. Allelochemicals, such as caffeic acid, ferulic acid, salicylic acid, α-resorcylic acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, vanillic acid, unbelliferone, and quercetin, including lantadenes A and B and β-caryophyllene, suppress the germination and growth of neighboring plant species. These compounds may be involved in the defense functions and allelopathy and may contribute to L. camara's ability to infest and to expand its population as an invasive plant species in new habitats. This is the first review to focus on how compounds enhance the invasive characteristics of L. camara.

Toxic Plants and Their Impact on Livestock Health and Economic Losses: A Comprehensive Review

Plants are important components in sustaining the life of humans and animals, balancing ecosystems, providing animal feed and edible food for human consumption, and serving as sources of traditional and modern medicine. However, plants can be harmful to both animals and humans when ingested, leading to poisoning regardless of the quantity consumed. This presents significant risks to livestock health and can impede economic growth. In several developing countries, including Ethiopia, traditional communities have depended on medicinal plants for treating livestock and human diseases. The incidences of livestock poisoning from medicinal and poisonous plants are due to the misuse and lack of dosage standardization. Therefore, this paper aimed to review toxic plants and their effects on livestock health and associated economic losses. Toxic plants contain secondary metabolites that serve as a defense mechanism against predators. The most common secondary metabolites of toxic plants that affect livestock health and the economy include alkaloids (Asteraceae, Convolvulaceae, Lamiaceae, Fabaceae, and Boraginaceae), cyanides (Sorghum spp. and grass spp.), nitrates (Pennisetum purpureum roots, Amaranthus, nightshades, Solanum spp. Chenopodium spp., and weed spp.), oxalates (Poaecea, Amaranthaceae, and Polygonaceae), and glycosides (Pteridium aquiline). The most common effects of toxic plants on livestock health include teratogenic and abortifacient (Locoweeds, Lupines, Poison Hemlock, and Veratrum), hepatoxicity (Crotalaria, Lantana camara, Xanthium, and Senecio), photosensitization (L. camara, Alternanthera philoxeroides, Brachiaria brizantha, and Heracleum sphondylium), and impairing respiratory and circulatory systems (nitrite and cyanide toxic). Toxic plants lead to substantial economic losses, both direct and indirect. Direct losses stem from livestock deaths, abortions, decreased milk quality, and reduced skin and hide production, while indirect losses are associated with the costs of treatment and management of affected animals. Overall, toxic plants negatively impact livestock health and production, resulting in significant economic repercussions. Therefore, it is crucial to prioritize the identification of the most prevalent toxic plants, isolate secondary metabolites, conduct toxicity tests, standardize dosages, and develop effective strategies for managing both the toxic plants and their associated toxicity.

Investigating the sustainable energy generation potential of an invasive weed: Lantana camara

Lantana camara, one of the world's top ten most invasive species, was initially cultivated for ornamental use. However, it spread uncontrollably across the fallow areas and agricultural lands, threatening approximately 44% of Indian forests. Its invasion disrupts ecosystems by suppressing nearby plant growth through allelopathy and poses toxicity risks to grazing ruminants. It significantly increases forest fire risk by adding large amounts of combustible biomass, particularly dried L. camara. Despite efforts to control it using mechanical, chemical, and biocontrol methods, the results have been largely unsatisfactory, with associated costs estimated at $18,000 per square kilometre. Considering these challenges, recent research explored the potential of L. camara as a bioenergy resource. The L. camara briquettes exhibit a heating value of approximately 20 MJ/kg with a low sulphur (0.5%), nitrogen (1%), and ash content (2%), making them suitable for decentralised energy production. Furthermore, bioethanol production from L. camara hydrolysate has shown promising results, yielding 0.33 g/g with Pichia stipitis and 0.47 g/g with Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which is comparable to other lignocellulosic feedstocks. Additionally, the gasification of L. camara using a downdraft gasifier produced syngas with a lower heating value (LHV) of 6.4 MJ/Nm3. These findings demonstrate that using L. camara for bioenergy production presents a dual solution, addressing the growing demand for renewable energy and managing invasive species. This review aims to critically evaluate the potential and challenges associated with the different energy production pathways for L. camara, highlighting its role in sustainable energy generation.

Chemical composition and toxicity studies on Lantana camara L. flower essential oil and its in silico binding and pharmacokinetics to superoxide dismutase 1 for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) therapy

Using the gas chromatography mass spectrometry method, the chemical components of essential oil from flowers of Lantana camara growing in Egypt are analyzed. Through this investigation, 22 chemicals from floral oil were identified. Most of the oil is made up of sesquiterpene caryophyllene (15.51%) and monoterpene sabinene (14.90%). When the oil's composition was compared to oils extracted from the same plant on several continents, we observed that the essential components were largely the same with some difference in proportions and some compounds due to geographical differences. A molecular docking study of essential oil components was conducted with human superoxide dismutase 1, a target involved in the pathophysiology of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Isospathulenol showed a comparable docking score to the reference ligand bound to the dismutase enzyme. Isospathulenol showed a reasonable drug score with some safety concerns. In addition, isospathulenol is predicted to have high GI absorption, good permeability through the blood-brain barrier and reasonable bioavailability score with ease access to synthetic modifications. In addition, the same compound is devoid from any violation to Lipinski rules or any PAINS alerts. This may establish the promising characteristics of such a compound to be optimized into potential drug candidates for treatment of ALS.

An appraisal of traditional knowledge of plant poisoning of livestock and its validation through acute toxicity assay in rats

Background: Kashmir Himalaya hosts the most diverse and rich flora in the world, which serves as grazing land for millions of small ruminants in the area. While most plant species are beneficial, some can be poisonous, causing economic losses and animal health issues for livestock. Consequently, this study is the first comprehensive report on the traditional phyto-toxicological knowledge in District Muzaffarabad and the assessment of its authenticity through experimental studies in rats. Methods: The data regarding traditional knowledge was gathered from 70 key respondents through semi-structured interviews, which was quantitatively analyzed and authenticated through plant extract testing on Wistar female rats and comparison with published resources. Results: A total of 46 poisonous plant species belonging to 23 families and 38 genera were reported to be poisonous in the study area. Results revealed that leaves were the most toxic plant parts (24 species, 52.1%), followed by the whole plant (18 species, 39.1%), stem (17 species, 36.9%), and seeds (10 species, 21.7%). At the organ level, liver as most susceptible affected by 13 species (28.2%), followed by the gastrointestinal tract (15 species, 32.6%), nervous system (13 species, 8.2%), dermis (8 species, 17.3%), renal (7 species, 15.2%), respiratory (4 species, 8.7%), cardiovascular system (3 species, 6.5%), and reproductive system (2 species, 4.3%). The poisonous plant species with high Relative frequency citation (RFC) and fidelity level (FL) were Nerium oleander (RFC, 0.6; FL, 100), Lantana camara (RFC, 0.6; FL, 100), and Ricinus communis (RFC, 0.6; FL, 100). Experimental assessment of acute toxicity assay in rats revealed that Nerium oleander was the most toxic plant with LD50 of (4,000 mg/kg), trailed by Ricinus communis (4,200 mg/kg), L. camara (4,500 mg/kg), and Datura stramonium (4,700 mg/kg); however, other plants showed moderate to mild toxicity. The major clinical observations were anorexia, piloerection, dyspnea, salivation, tachypnea, constipation, diarrhea, tremor, itchiness, and dullness. Conclusion: This study showed that numerous poisonous plants pose a significant risk to the livestock industry within Himalayan territory, leading to substantial economic losses. Consequently, it is of utmost importance to conduct further comprehensive studies on the phytotoxicity of plants.

Emerging Plant Intoxications in Domestic Animals: A European Perspective

Exposure to phytotoxins that are present in imported ornamental or native plants is an important cause of animal disease. Factors such as animal behaviors (especially indoor pets), climate change, and an increase in the global market for household and ornamental plants led to the appearance of new, previously unreported plant poisonings in Europe. This has resulted in an increase in the incidence of rarely reported intoxications. This review presents some of the emerging and well-established plant species that are responsible for poisoning episodes in companion animals and livestock in Europe. The main plant species are described, and the mechanism of action of the primary active agents and their clinical effects are presented. Data reflecting the real incidence of emerging poisoning cases from plant toxins are scarce to nonexistent in most European countries due to a lack of a centralized reporting/poison control system. The diversity of plant species and phytotoxins, as well as the emerging nature of certain plant poisonings, warrant a continuous update of knowledge by veterinarians and animal owners. The taxonomy and active agents present in these plants should be communicated to ensure awareness of the risks these toxins pose for domestic animals.

Lantana camara poisoning in cattle that took refuge during a storm in a forest invaded by this plant

An outbreak of poisoning by Lantana camara occurred in cattle when a herd sought refuge in a Eucalyptus forest heavily infested by this plant. The animals showed apathy, elevated serum activities of hepatic enzymes, severe photosensitivity, jaundice, hepatomegaly and nephrosis. After a clinical manifestation period of 2-15 days, 74 out of 170 heifers died. The main histological changes were random hepatocellular necrosis, cholestasis, biliary proliferation and, in one animal, centrilobular necrosis. Immunostaining for Caspase 3 detected scattered apoptotic hepatocytes.

Lantadene A and boswellic acid isolated from the leaves of Lantana camara L. have the potential to control phytopathogenic Fusarium species

Phytopathogenic Fusarium species are restricting factors causing diseases and yield loss in crop production. As part of exploration for pesticides from medicinal plants, this study aimed to isolate and characterize bioactive compounds from Lantana camara L. and evaluate their efficiency against Fusarium phytopathogens. Phytochemical investigation of ethyl acetate leaf extract led to separation of lantadene A (22-angeloyloxy-9-hydroxy-3-oxo-olean-12-en-28-oic acid) and boswellic acid (11-keto-β-boswellic acid). The chemical structures of the aforementioned compounds were confirmed using physical properties, spectroscopic analysis, and published data. Lantadene A exhibited significant antifungal activity against F. subglutinans, F. proliferatum, F. solani, F. graminearum, and F. semitectum with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) less than or equal to 0.63 mg/mL. Boswellic acid exhibited strong activity (MIC = 0.63 mg/mL) against F. subglutinans and F. semitectum. In terms of their toxicity towards Raw 264.7 cells, lantadene A and boswellic acid recorded half-maximal inhibitory concentration values of 84.2 μg/mL and 186.6 μg/mL, respectively. Both lantadene A and boswellic acid had no phytotoxic effect against seed germination and seedling root length. Lantadene A and boswellic acid have strong potential to be further investigated as lead natural fungicides (biopesticides) to control Fusarium crop diseases.

Assessing distribution changes of selected native and alien invasive plant species under changing climatic conditions in Nyeri County, Kenya

The role of climate change in enhancing bio-invasions in natural environments needs to be assessed to provide baseline information for effective species management and policy formulations. In this study, potential habitat suitability maps were generated through Ecological Niche Modeling for five problematic alien and native species in current and future climate simulations for the periods 2050s and 2070s under RCP2.6, RCP4.5, and RCP8.5 emission scenarios. Projected current binary suitability maps showed that 67%, 40%, 28%, 68%, and 54% of the total study area ~ 3318 Km2 is suitable for C. decapetala, L. camara, O. stricta, S. didymobotrya and S. campylacanthum species, respectively. Assuming unlimited species dispersal, two of these species, C. decapetala and S. didymobotrya, were observed to have consistent gradual increase in potential habitats and no habitat losses under the three RCPs by the end of the 2050 and 2070 future periods. The highest recorded relative potential habitat increase was observed for O. stricta at ~205% under RCP2.6 and ~223% under RCP8.5. Although L. camara and O. stricta were observed to have habitat losses, the losses will be very low as compared to that of S. campylacanthum. L. camara and O. stricta relative habitat losses were predicted to be between ~1% under RCP2.6 to ~4.5% under RCP8.5 by 2070 while that of S. campylacanthum was between ~50% under RCP2.6 to ~68% under RCP8.5 by the year 2070. From this study we conclude that the target study species are expected to remain a big threat to inhabited areas as well as biodiversity hotspot areas especially in the Mt. Kenya and the Aberdare forest and national park reserves under climate change. The information generated through this study can be used to inform policy on prioritizing management of these species and subsequent determination of their absolute distributions within the area.

Anticancer cytotoxicity and antifungal abilities of green-synthesized cobalt hydroxide (Co(OH)2) nanoparticles using Lantana camara L

Background

Green synthesis of metal nanoparticles with pharmaceutical applications is the current focus in the field of nanomedicine. This study aims at use of Lantanacamara L as a source of green reducing agent toward synthesis of cobalt nanoparticles.

Results

Fe3+-reducing assay demonstrated that Lantana camara methanol extract (LCM) has significant electron transfer potential. Gas chromatography mass spectroscopy (GC–MS) analysis of the crude extracts revealed the presence of 7 known and 17 unknown phytochemicals in LCM. Synthesis of cobalt nanoparticles was confirmed based on color change of reaction mixture from light brown to dark brown. UV–visible spectrometry analysis showed that the synthesized particles had a λmax at 267.5 nm. Based on the two theta (2θ) and Miller indices (hkl) values obtained in XRD analysis, the particles were confirmed to be cobalt hydroxide (Co(OH)2) nanoparticles. Further dynamic light scattering (DLS) analysis showed that the average size of the Co(OH)2 nanoparticles is 180 nm. SEM image analysis of the particles revealed that they are spherical mass of feather-like structure, contributing toward increased surface area of the particles. Further, the pharmaceutical potential of the Co(OH)2 nanoparticles was evaluated against eukaryotic cancer and fungal cells. MTT cytotoxicity analysis showed that Co(OH)2 nanoparticles have selective toxicity toward HCT-116 cancer cells with an IC50 value of 25 µg/ml and reduced cytotoxicity to non-cancerous VERO cells with an IC50 value of 200 µg/ml suggesting that the particles possess selective anti-cancerous cytotoxicity. Additionally, the particles demonstrated significant antifungal activity against 5 human fungal pathogens.

Conclusions

Results of this study conclude that green-synthesized Co(OH)2 nanoparticles using Lantanacamara L possess excellent eukaryotic cytotoxicity against cancer cells and fungal pathogens.

Genome-Guided Analysis of Seven Weed Species Reveals Conserved Sequence and Structural Features of Key Gene Targets for Herbicide Development

Herbicides are commonly deployed as the front-line treatment to control infestations of weeds in native ecosystems and among crop plants in agriculture. However, the prevalence of herbicide resistance in many species is a major global challenge. The specificity and effectiveness of herbicides acting on diverse weed species are tightly linked to targeted proteins. The conservation and variance at these sites among different weed species remain largely unexplored. Using novel genome data in a genome-guided approach, 12 common herbicide-target genes and their coded proteins were identified from seven species of Weeds of National Significance in Australia: Alternanthera philoxeroides (alligator weed), Lycium ferocissimum (African boxthorn), Senecio madagascariensis (fireweed), Lantana camara (lantana), Parthenium hysterophorus (parthenium), Cryptostegia grandiflora (rubber vine), and Eichhornia crassipes (water hyacinth). Gene and protein sequences targeted by the acetolactate synthase (ALS) inhibitors and glyphosate were recovered. Compared to structurally resolved homologous proteins as reference, high sequence conservation was observed at the herbicide-target sites in the ALS (target for ALS inhibitors), and in 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate (EPSP) synthase (target for glyphosate). Although the sequences are largely conserved in the seven phylogenetically diverse species, mutations observed in the ALS proteins of fireweed and parthenium suggest resistance of these weeds to ALS-inhibiting and other herbicides. These protein sites remain as attractive targets for the development of novel inhibitors and herbicides. This notion is reinforced by the results from the phylogenetic analysis of the 12 proteins, which reveal a largely consistent vertical inheritance in their evolutionary histories. These results demonstrate the utility of high-throughput genome sequencing to rapidly identify and characterize gene targets by computational methods, bypassing the experimental characterization of individual genes. Data generated from this study provide a useful reference for future investigations in herbicide discovery and development.

Comparative LC-LTQ-MS-MS Analysis of the Leaf Extracts of Lantana camara and Lantana montevidensis Growing in Egypt with Insights into Their Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory, and Cytotoxic Activities

Lantana camara L. and Lantana montevidensis Briq. (F. Verbenaceae) are invasive ornamental weeds native to the tropical regions of Africa and America. The leaves of both species have been traditionally used as infusions for treating fever, rheumatism, and cancer. LC-MS-MS-guided profiling of the methanolic extracts of the leaves of L. camara and L. montevidensis growing in Egypt led to the putative identification of 59 compounds belonging to terpenoids, flavonoids, iridoid glycosides, phenolic acids, and their derivatives. The in-vitro antioxidants and anti-inflammatory and anticancer activities of the two extracts were investigated. L. camara and L. montevidensis inhibited DPPH^• (IC₅₀ = 34.01 ± 1.32 and 47.43 ± 1.74 µg/mL), ABTS⁺ (IC₅₀ = 30.73 ± 1.42 and 40.37 ± 1.51 µg/mL), and superoxide anion (IC₅₀ = 1.57 ± 0.19 and 1.31 ± 0.14 μg/mL) free radicals. A potent anti-inflammatory effect was observed for both species through the inhibition of elastase release in fMLF/CB-induced human neutrophils (IC₅₀ = 2.40 ± 0.16 and 1.90 ± 0.07 μg/mL). The extracts showed significant cytotoxic activity against a panel of cancer cell lines with the most potent activity against Caco cells (IC₅₀ = 45.65 ± 1.64 and 40.67 ± 1.52 µg/mL for L. camara and L. montevidensis, respectively). Western blotting supported by FACS analysis revealed that the extracts inhibited cancer cell proliferation, reduced metastasis, and induced apoptosis resulting in cell cycle arrest. This was achieved via increasing mRNA and protein expressions of p53 and GSK-3β as well as decreasing the expression of PI3K, Akt, and cyclin D1.

Temporal Variation in Pollinators’ Visitation of Lantana camara in a Tropical Urban Landscape: Does Butterfly Abundance and Richness Drive the Fruit Set?

Pollinator richness, abundance and visitation frequency may be affected by the abundance of floral resources and abiotic factors, influencing plant reproductive success. We analysed whether the diversity, abundance and frequency of butterfly visitation on Lantana camara vary across the year in a tropical urban landscape and whether this variation in butterfly community influences plant’s reproductive success. A two-period survey, referred to here as rainier and drier seasons, was carried out in 12 spatially independent plants. Five pollination treatments were applied: single visit, hand cross-pollination, hand self-pollination, spontaneous self-pollination and open pollination (control). A total of 15,749 flowers were used for fruit production analysis. Butterfly richness, abundance and the reproductive success of L. camara increased in the drier season. Open pollination was ninefold more reproductively successful during the drier season. Fruit production of hand cross-pollinated plants was threefold higher than open-pollinated plants during the rainier season. No significant difference was found between these treatments in the drier season, attesting the highest abundance of pollination during this period. We provide evidence that changes in the pollinator community affect fruit production. The increase in pollinator diversity allows different visitors to pollinate the plant, increasing fruit set through functional complementarity. This effort establishes baseline data of plant–pollinator interactions for further long-term investigations across different weather seasons. The understanding of L. camara and butterflies’ synergism will support conservation measures of pollinator populations.

Status, abundance, and food habit of Sambar deer (Rusa unicolor) in tropical deciduous forest of Central India

Variation in the foraging strategies of Sambar deer (Rusa unicolor) with changing plant availability has received little attention. The pellet group density and seasonal vegetation availability in tropical climatic conditions of dry deciduous forest of Pench Tiger Reserve, were assessed through indirect evidences (pellet group density). Stratified random sampling was used in different habitats from 2012 to 2015 on a seasonal basis. The Sambar deer (R. unicolor) is one of the largest deer species distributed throughout the Indian subcontinent. Pellet group data were collected on 10 m radius permanent plots at every 200 m intervals on line transects. Teak forest, teak mixed and bamboo forest was the preferred habitat during summer (89.87 ± 88.36), and winter (98.19 ± 94.59) seasons respectively. Microhistological study was conducted to understand the feeding preferences of Sambar through pellet groups. A total of 57 plant species were identified in summer diet. While 51 species of plants were identified in winter diet. Sambar is predominantly a browser and for the conservation of the declining population of Sambar, long undisturbed tract should be protected with preferred browse and grass species.

Acetone extracts of three selected plants induce toxicological and biological effects against the house mosquito, Culex pipiens (Diptera: Culicidae)

The biological effect of acetone extracts from three selected plants, Lantana camara, Rhazya astricta, and Citrullus colocynthis, on the egg hatch rate, larvicidal activity, and larval development of Culex pipiens L. was investigated. The egg hatch rate of Cx. pipiens was significantly reduced (P<0.01) when the extracts of L. camara were used. Moreover, the used extracts significantly exhibited a variable larvicidal activity against the Cx. pipiens (P<0.001). The most toxicity was observed when the larvae were treated with the acetonic extract of L. camara, showing different toxicities with lower LC₅₀s at 140.1 ppm after two days and 51.3 ppm after ten days. In this observed time, larvae suffered chronic toxicities (increased mortality with increasing exposure time and sublethal endpoints, such as decreased larvae development) when treated with used plant extracts, leading to 96.7% mortality with L. camara and 91.5% and 85.7% mortalities with C. colocynthis and Rh. stricta, respectively. All concentrations significantly obstructed larvae development, causing significant reductions in both the proportion of pupation (P<0.001) and the emergence of adults (P<.001). The larval development reduction was observed under the L. camara extracts treatment, where only 15.2% and 9.7% of the larvae managed to reach pupal and adult stages, respectively. In conclusion, applying acetone extracts from L. camara to immature mosquito breeding sites may efficiently control mosquitoes to reduce the reliance on insecticides against these disease vectors.

Ultrasound-Assisted and Microwave-Assisted Extraction, GC-MS Characterization and Antimicrobial Potential of Freeze-dried L. Camara Flower

Lantana camara is known to have anti-bacterial properties which can be exploited to develop a natural food preservative. There is huge demand for natural preservatives in food industry due to the increased health risks associated with synthetic preservatives, development of effecient extraction methods are essential to retain heat sensitive bioactive compounds. This aim of this study was to compare the performance of microwave-assisted extraction (MAE), ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), and conventional solvent extraction (CSE) methods for extraction of freeze-dried lantana flower. The phytochemicals in freeze-dried flowers were characterized by GC-MS analysis and antibacterial properties were tested at different concentrations (50, 100, and 150 µl) against E.coli, Salmonella, and S. aureus. It was evident that the UAE offered the highest yield (64%), followed by MAE (53%) and CSE (49%) with distilled water as solvent. The freeze-dried extract possessed a high amount of tannins (417 µg/g), followed by flavonoids such as catechol (88 µg/g) and quercetin (9.2 µg/g). The antibacterial potential results revealed that only distilled water-based extraction techniques offered positive inhibition zones of 2.0-2.67 mm (MAE), 1.67-2.67 mm (UAE), and 1.67-2.17 mm (CSE) against all three organisms, while the chloroform based extracts had no inhibition effect. The microwave-assisted extract at 150 µl concentration offered a significant inhibitory effect against all three pathogens. The GC-MS profiling of bioactive compounds in flower extract revealed the presence of hexadecanoic acid as the major phytochemical compound in all three extraction techniques. The study revealed that the chloroform extract failed to exhibit an antibacterial effect due to the absence of alkaloids, saponins, and anthraquinones as a result of its neutralizing effect.

Lantana camara: Poisonous Species and a Potential Browse Species for Goats in Southern Africa—A Review

Among the possible impacts of plant invaders on South African biodiversity, water supplies, and rangeland production, Lantana camara is ranked the highest in terms of its environmental impact. Globally, L. camara is regarded as one of the most ecologically and economically destructive invasive alien plants. The spread of L. camara affects the environment and threatens livestock productivity due to its toxicity to animals (especial cattle and sheep) in most semi-arid areas of South Africa. Lantana camara is known to have high concentrations of nutrients that are beneficial to livestock, but most previous research has concentrated on its toxicity. To enrich our knowledge on its nutritive value, further research has to evaluate its dietary impact on the growth and health of different ruminant livestock species, particularly goats. This review evaluates L. camara as a potential browse species for goats in southern Africa, and its adverse effects on goats and other ruminant livestock are also presented. The review describes L. camara and its distribution globally, its poisonous effect to livestock, and potential use as an alternative forage to browsing animals such as goats, which have proved resistant to its harmful traits. The high crude protein content, low fibre and adequate macro-minerals for small ruminants makes L. camara a good ruminant protein supplement in semi-arid areas. In addition to other biological control strategies, the prospects of using goats as a biological management tool is discussed. The research will contribute to the understanding of the control measures of L. camara while improving the productivity of small stock, especially goats. This means that a balanced understanding of its nutritional value as a source of protein and its negative impact on the environment should be considered in developing mitigation strategies to arrest its spread. We, therefore, recommend the use of goats in the control of L. camara; however, further studies are needed to limit its toxic effects, and thus improve its value.

Allelopathy and its application as a weed management tool: A review

Weeds are a serious threat to crop production as they interfere with the crop growth and development and result in significant crop losses. Weeds actually cause yield loss higher than any other pest in crop production. As a result, synthetic herbicides have been widely used for weed management. Heavy usage of synthetic herbicides, however, has resulted in public concerns over the impact of herbicides on human health and the environment. Due to various environmental and health issues associated with synthetic herbicides, researchers have been exploring alternative environmentally friendly means of controlling weed. Among them, incorporating allelopathy as a tool in an integrated weed management plan could meaningfully bring down herbicide application. Allelopathy is a biological phenomenon of chemical interaction between plants, and this phenomenon has great potential to be used as an effective and environmentally friendly tool for weed management in field crops. In field crops, allelopathy can be applied through intercropping, crop rotation, cover crops, mulching and allelopathic water extracts to manage weeds. Accumulating evidence indicates that some plant species possess potent allelochemicals that have great potential to be the ecofriendly natural herbicides. This review is intended to provide an overview of several allelopathic species that release some form of the potent allelochemical with the potential of being used in conventional or organic agriculture. Further, the review also highlights potential ways allelopathy could be utilized in conventional or organic agriculture and identify future research needs and prospects. It is anticipated that the phenomenon of allelopathy will be further explored as a weed management tool, and it can be a part of a sustainable, ecological, and integrated weed management system.

In Vivo Antiplasmodial Activity and Toxicological Analyses of the Ethanolic Leaf and Twig Extract of Faurea speciosa Welw. (Proteaceae)

In Africa, medicinal plants are commonly used to treat malaria and other diseased conditions. The ethanolic leaf and twig extract of Faurea speciosa has been shown to possess promising antiplasmodial properties. This present study was aimed at investigating its antiplasmodial effect in vivo. Qualitative phytochemical screening was carried out on the plant samples using standard methods. The antiplasmodial effect against early infection, curative effect against established infection, and prophylactic effect against residual infection were studied in vivo in Plasmodium berghei-infected mice while the carrageenan-induced edema model in chicks was used for anti-inflammatory tests. The phosphomolybdenum and DPPH radical scavenging assays were used in the evaluation of antioxidant potential. Acute toxicity of the extract was evaluated using the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) guidelines. Phytochemical screening of plant samples revealed the presence of flavonoids, coumarins, tannins, saponins, and glycosides. Faurea speciosa leaf and twig extract exhibited significant antiplasmodial activities in the mouse model with parasite suppression rates of 66.63%, 71.70%, and 56.93% in the suppressive, curative, and prophylactic tests, respectively. A 55.50% reduction of edema in the anti-inflammatory test indicated moderate success in reducing inflammation. The total antioxidant capacity of the extract was determined to be 65.4 mg AAE/g of extract, while in the DPPH radical scavenging assay, the IC₅₀ value was found to be 499.4 μg/mL. With the exception of an inconsistent rise in urea level, there was no significant difference in the other biochemistry parameters in the acute toxicity studied. The median lethal dose (LD₅₀) of the extract was over 2000 mg/kg. The results of this study show that Faurea speciosa leaf and twig extract has promising antimalarial capabilities and is fairly safe at low concentrations.

Allelopathy of Lantana camara as an Invasive Plant

Lantana camara L. (Verbenaceae) is native to tropical America and has been introduced into many other countries as an ornamental and hedge plant. The species has been spreading quickly and has naturalized in more than 60 countries as an invasive noxious weed. It is considered to be one of the world's 100 worst alien species. L. camara often forms dense monospecies stands through the interruption of the regeneration process of indigenous plant species. Allelopathy of L. camara has been reported to play a crucial role in its invasiveness. The extracts, essential oil, leachates, residues, and rhizosphere soil of L. camara suppressed the germination and growth of other plant species. Several allelochemicals, such as phenolic compounds, sesquiterpenes, triterpenes, and a flavonoid, were identified in the extracts, essential oil, residues, and rhizosphere soil of L. camara. The evidence also suggests that some of those allelochemicals in L. camara are probably released into the rhizosphere soil under the canopy and neighboring environments during the decomposition process of the residues and as leachates and volatile compounds from living plant parts of L. camara. The released allelochemicals may suppress the regeneration process of indigenous plant species by decreasing their germination and seedling growth and increasing their mortality. Therefore, the allelopathic property of L. camara may support its invasive potential and formation of dense monospecies stands.

1H NMR profiling and chemometric analysis as an approach to predict the leishmanicidal activity of dichloromethane extracts from Lantana camara (L.)

The application of ¹H NMR spectroscopy and chemometrics for the analysis of extracts of Lantana camara is described. This approach allowed to predict the leishmanicidal activity of samples obtained at different harvest times from their ¹H NMR spectra. The anti-leishmanial activity of dichloromethane extracts obtained from the aerial parts of L. camara was measured using an in vitro assay. As the extracts displayed differences in their activity according to a one-way ANOVA analysis, their ¹H NMR spectra were subjected to multivariate analysis using exploratory (Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Anova Simultaneous Component Analysis (ASCA)) and regression, (Partial Least Squares Regression to Latent Structures (PLS)) chemometrics methods. These analyses allowed to establish and characterize a predictive model capable of determining the anti-leishmanial activity of Lantana camara dichloromethane extracts from their ¹H NMR spectra. Figures of merit of the developed method are given as well. The identified chemical signals responsible for the iPLS calibration model corresponded to the presence of eicosane, caryophyllene oxide, β-ionone, tiglic acid, lantanilic acid, camaric acid, and lantadene B; the chemical markers. This study proposed a fast and simple method that avoids the need of using complex biological assays to predict the leishmanicidal activity of L. camara dichloromethane extracts.

Effects of subacute oral administration of aqueous extract of Macaranga barteri Müll.Arg (Euphorbiaceae) leaf on anthropometric and haematological parameters in rats

Macaranga barteri is a plant used in traditional medicine to treat many illnesses. Previous studies showed the efficacy of the aqueous extract of leaf of this plant (AEMb) in the treatment of gastric ulcer within the dose range of 125-500 mg/kg body weight (b.w.). This study aims at evaluating the safety of AEMb on anthropometric and haematological parameters in wistar rats. Seventy rats were divided into seven groups of ten rats each, including five males and five females. The control group was repeatedly administered by gavage with distilled water at 1 ml/100 g for 28 days while test groups 2, 3, 4 and 5, were repeatedly gavaged with AEMb at the doses of 125, 250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg b.w. respectively. As for satellites (groups 6 and 7), they received daily and respectively distilled water at 1 ml/100 g b.w. and AEMb at the dose of 1000 mg/kg b.w. The results showed that AEMb caused no significant changes in the behaviour of rats and the weight of the organs removed (kidneys, liver, spleen, and heart) and their relative weights at the end of the 28 days of treatment. However, the body weight and the amount of food consumed by animals treated with AEMb at the doses of 250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg b.w. increased significantly (p < 0.05) from the third week compared to control group. Haematological analysis revealed a non-significant increase (p > 0.05) in leukocyte lineage and platelet level in female rats at the studied doses. However, a significant (p < 0.05) increase in platelet level was recorded in male rats at 1000 mg/kg b.w. A significant (p < 0.05) increase in erythrocyte and hemoglobin levels at the doses of 250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg b.w. in treated animals was also revealed. In conclusion, repeated administration of AEMb over 28 days to rats was safe on leucocyte lineage and most of erythrocyte indices at doses ranging from 125 to 1000 mg/kg b.w. Nevertheless, the use of this extract caused a transient increase of erythrocyte, hemoglobin and platelet levels 2 weeks after the end of AEMb administration, but these effects disappeared. So, the subacute oral administration of AEMb revealed few potential toxic effects overall.

Plant and Fungal Hepatotoxicities of Cattle in Australia, with a Focus on Minimally Understood Toxins

Plant- and fungus-derived hepatotoxins are a major cause of disease and production losses in ruminants in Australia and around the world. Many are well studied and described in the literature; however, this is not the case for a number of hepatotoxicities with economic and animal welfare impacts, such as acute bovine liver disease (ABLD), brassica-associated liver disease (BALD) and Trema tomentosa, Argentipallium blandowskianum and Lythrum hyssopifolia toxicity. Additionally, significant overlap in the clinical presentation and pathology of these conditions can present a diagnostic challenge for veterinarians. This review summarizes the current and most recently published knowledge of common plant- and fungus-associated hepatotoxins affecting cattle in Australia, with a focus on the mechanisms of toxicity and distinguishing diagnostic features. Consolidation of the current understanding of hepatotoxic mechanisms in cattle provides insight into the potential mechanisms of lesser-known toxins, including cellular and subcellular targets and potential metabolic pathways. In the absence of specific etiological investigations, the study of epidemiological, clinical and pathological features of hepatotoxicity provides valuable insights into potential toxic mechanisms and is integral for the successful diagnosis and management of these conditions.

Hepatotoxic Plants that Poison Livestock

The liver is one of the most commonly affected organs by ingested toxicants. This article familiarizes veterinarians with clinical signs, serum biochemistry changes, necropsy findings, and field information found in livestock poisonings with hepatotoxic plants. The focus is on the most common plant-derived hepatotoxins important to livestock in North America. Pyrrolizidine alkaloids are covered in greater detail than the other toxins, because they are likely the most important plant-derived toxins worldwide in livestock, wildlife, and even human exposure. Additionally, many of the principles discussed regarding clinical diagnosis of pyrrolizidine alkaloid intoxication can be applied to the other poisonous plants listed.

Small Ruminant Production Based on Rangelands to Optimize Animal Nutrition and Health: Building an Interdisciplinary Approach to Evaluate Nutraceutical Plants

The plant kingdom can influence the productivity and health of herbivores at different levels. However, demonstrating this process in a scientific manner entails substantial endeavors from different disciplines. In the present review, we will describe the features of a native vegetation system traditionally used by small ruminants and use its particularities to build an interdisciplinary approach to evaluate the nutraceutical properties of plants. Initially, we will establish the context of the low deciduous forest (LDF), considering some botanical and nutritional aspects, as well as the presence of plant secondary compounds (PSC) and gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN). Furthermore, we will focus on coevolutionary aspects that undoubtedly shaped the plants-nutrients-PSC-GIN-herbivore relationship. In addition, the concept of nutraceutical will be discussed to provide clarity and aspects to be considered for their evaluation. Then, ethological, agronomical, nutritional, PSC, parasitological and animal species issues are deepened placing emphasis on methodological approaches. Special focus is given to condensed tannins, as they are the fourth largest group of PSCs and the most studied in livestock sciences. Validation of the nutraceutical properties of plants from native vegetation systems should be seen as a process derived from many scientific disciplines that feed into each other in a cyclic manner.

De novo transcriptome analysis of Lantana camara L. revealed candidate genes involved in phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathway

Lantana camara L. is an economically important essential oil producing plant belonging to family Verbenaceae. It is used in medication for treating various diseases like cancer, ulcers, tumor, asthma and fever. The plant is a useful source of essential bioactive compounds such as steroids, flavonoids and phenylpropanoid glycosides etc. Nonetheless, very little is known about the genomic or transcriptomic resources of L. camara, and this might be the reason of hindering molecular studies leading to identification of improved lines. Here we used Illumina sequencing platform and performed the L. camara leaf (LCL) and root (LCR) de novo transcriptome analyses. A total of 70,155,594 and 84,263,224 clean reads were obtained and de novo assembly generated 72,877 and 513,985 unigenes from leaf (LCL) and root (LCR) respectively. Furthermore, the pathway analysis revealed the presence of 229 and 943 genes involved in the phenylpropanoid biosynthesis in leaf and root tissues respectively. Similarity search was performed against publically available genome databases and best matches were found with Sesamum indicum (67.5%) that were much higher than that of Arabidopsis thaliana (3.9%). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first comprehensive transcriptomic analysis of leaf and root tissues of this non-model plant from family Verbenaceae and may serve as a baseline for further molecular studies.

Traditional Herbal Medicine in Mesoamerica: Toward Its Evidence Base for Improving Universal Health Coverage

The quality of health care in Mesoamerica is influenced by its rich cultural diversity and characterized by social inequalities. Especially indigenous and rural communities confront diverse barriers to accessing formal health services, leading to often conflicting plurimedical systems. Fostering integrative medicine is a fundamental pillar for achieving universal health coverage (UHC) for marginalized populations. Recent developments toward health sovereignty in the region are concerned with assessing the role of traditional medicines, and particularly herbal medicines, to foster accessible and culturally pertinent healthcare provision models. In Mesoamerica, as in most regions of the world, a wealth of information on traditional and complementary medicine has been recorded. Yet these data are often scattered, making it difficult for policy makers to regulate and integrate traditionally used botanical products into primary health care. This critical review is based on a quantitative analysis of 28 survey papers focusing on the traditional use of botanical drugs in Mesoamerica used for the compilation of the "Mesoamerican Medicinal Plant Database" (MAMPDB), which includes a total of 12,537 use-records for 2188 plant taxa. Our approach presents a fundamental step toward UHC by presenting a pharmacological and toxicological review of the cross-culturally salient plant taxa and associated botanical drugs used in traditional medicine in Mesoamerica. Especially for native herbal drugs, data about safety and effectiveness are limited. Commonly used cross-culturally salient botanical drugs, which are considered safe but for which data on effectiveness is lacking constitute ideal candidates for treatment outcome studies.

Botanical acaricides and repellents in tick control: current status and future directions

Ticks are obligate blood-sucking ectoparasites and notorious as vectors of a great diversity of, in many instances, zoonotic pathogens which can cause considerable damage to animal and human health. The most commonly used approach for the control of ticks is the application of synthetic acaricides. However, the negative impacts of synthetic acaricides on the treated animals and the environment, in addition to its documented role in the development of resistance has led to the search for safer and more environmentally friendly alternative methods without compromising efficacy. An emerging promising approach for the control of ticks which has attracted much attention in recent years is the use of botanicals. Indeed, botanicals have been widely reported to show diverse effects and great potential as tick repellent and control. Although several excellent reviews have previously focused on this topic, studies on the exploration and application of botanicals to control ticks have expanded rapidly. Herein, we provide an update on the current understanding and status of botanical acaricides and repellents in tick control using recently published articles between 2017 and 2019. We also discuss the challenges and future directions in the application of botanicals in tick control, with a view of providing important clues for designing new integrated tick control methods.

Human adaptation to biodiversity change: An adaptation process approach applied to a case study from southern India

Adaptation to environmental change, including biodiversity change, is both a new imperative in the face of global climate change and the oldest problem in human history. Humans have evolved a wide range of adaptation strategies in response to localised environmental changes, which have contributed strongly to both biological and cultural diversity. The evolving set of locally driven, 'bottom-up' responses to environmental change is collectively termed 'autonomous adaptation,' while its obverse, 'planned adaptation,' refers to 'top-down' (from without, e.g. State-driven) responses. After reviewing the dominant vulnerability, risk, and pathway approaches to adaptation, this paper applies an alternative framework for understanding human adaptation processes and responding more robustly to future adaptation needs. This adaptation processes-to-pathways framework is then deployed to consider human responses to biodiversity change caused by an aggressive 'invasive' plant, Lantana camara L., in several agri-forest communities of southern India. The results show that a variety of adaptation processes are developing to make Lantana less disruptive and more useable-from avoidance through mobility strategies to utilizing the plant for economic diversification. However, there is currently no clear synergy or policy support to connect them to a successful long-term adaptation pathway. These results are evaluated in relation to broader trends in adaptation analysis and governance to suggest ways of improving our understanding and support for human adaptation to biodiversity change at the household, community, and regional livelisystem levels, especially in societies highly dependent on local biodiversity for their livelihoods.

Chemical Constituents with Leishmanicidal Activity from a Pink-Yellow Cultivar of Lantana camara var. aculeata (L.) Collected in Central Mexico

Lantana camara (L.) is employed by several ethnical groups to treat numerous diseases. Although there are no ethnomedical reports on its use against leishmaniasis, organic extracts prepared from L. camara were shown to display leishmanicidal activity. In the present study, we carried out a bioassay-guided fractionation of the dichloromethane extract from Mexican L. camara in order to identify the compounds responsible for the leishmanicidal activity. Eighteen chromatographic fractions (FI⁻FXVIII) were evaluated in vitro against Leishmania mexicana and L. amazonensis. FII, FX, FXI, FXV, and FXVI showed significant activity against both Leishmania strains, the most potent of which was FXV. Eicosane (1), squalene (2), β-ionone (3), caryophyllene oxide (4), β-caryophyllene (5), hexanoic acid (6), tiglic acid (7), a mixture of lantanilic (8) and camaric (9) acids, and lantadene B (10) were identified and obtained from the active fractions and evaluated for their leishmanicidal activity. The mixture of lantanilic (8) and camaric (9) acids (79%/21%) was the most potent one (half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) = 12.02 ± 0.36 μM). This study indicates that this cultivar of L. camara has high potential for the development of phytomedicines or as a source of natural products, which might represent lead compounds for the design of new drugs against leishmaniasis.

Assessing distributions of two invasive species of contrasting habits in future climate

Understanding the impact of climate change on species invasion is crucial for sustainable biodiversity conservation. Through this study, we try to answer how species differing in phenological cycles, specifically Cassia tora and Lantana camara, differ in the manner in which they invade new regions in India in the future climate. Since both species occupy identical niches, exploring their invasive potential in different climate change scenarios will offer critical insights into invasion and inform ecosystem management. We use three modelling protocols (i.e., maximum entropy, generalised linear model and generalised additive model) to predict the current distribution. Projections are made for both moderate (A1B) and extreme (A2) IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) scenarios for the year 2050 and 2100. The study reveals that the distributions of C. tora (annual) and L. camara (perennial) would depend on the precipitation of the warmest quarter and moisture availability. C. tora may demonstrate physiological tolerance to the mean diurnal temperature range and L. camara to the solar radiation. C. tora may invade central India, while L. camara may invade the Western Himalaya, parts of the Eastern Himalaya and the Western Ghats. The distribution ranges of both species could shift in the northern and north-eastern directions in India, owing to changes in moisture availability. The possible alterations in precipitation regimes could lead to water stress, which might have cascading effects on species invasion. L. camara might adapt to climate change better compared with C. tora. This comparative analysis of the future distributions of two invasive plants with contrasting habits demonstrates that temporal complementarity would prevail over the competition.

Survey of traditional Dai medicine reveals species confusion and potential safety concerns: a case study on Radix Clerodendri Japonicum

The adulteration of herbal products is a threat to consumer safety. In the present study, we surveyed the species composition of commercial Radix Clerodendri Japonicum products using DNA barcoding as a supervisory method. A reference database for plant-material DNA-barcode was successfully constructed with 48 voucher samples from 12 Clerodendrum species. The database was used to identify 27 Radix Clerodendri Japonicum decoction piece samples purchased from drug stores and hospitals. The DNA sequencing results revealed that only 1 decoction piece (3.70%) was authentic C. japonicum, as recorded in the Dai Pharmacopeia, whereas the other samples were all adulterants, indicating a potential safety issue. The results indicate that decoction pieces that are available in the market have complex origins and that DNA barcoding is a suitable tool for regulation of Dai medicines.

Sub-chronic toxicopathological study of lantadenes of Lantana camara weed in Guinea pigs

BACKGROUND

In the field conditions, animals regularly consume small quantities of lantana leaves either while grazing or due to mixing with regular fodder. The hypothesis of this study was that consumption of lantana toxins over a long period of time leads to progression of sub-clinical disease. Toxicopathological effects of sub-chronic (90 days) administration of lantadenes of L. camara were investigated in guinea pigs. For this, a total of 40 animals were divided into 5 groups whereby groups I, II, III and IV were orally administered lantadenes, daily at the dose of 24, 18, 12, and 6 mg/kg bw, respectively while group V was control. The animals were evaluated by weekly body weight changes, haematology, serum liver and kidney markers, tissue oxidative markers and histopathology.

RESULTS

The results of significant decrease in weekly body weights, haematology, liver and kidney marker enzymes (alanine aminotransaminase, aspartate aminotransaminase, acid phosphatase and creatinine), oxidation stress markers (lipid peroxidation, reduced glutathione, superoxide dismutase and catalase) in liver and kidneys, histopathology, and confirmation of fibrous collagenous tissue proliferation by Masson's Trichome stain showed that lantadenes led to a dose-dependent toxicity in decreasing order with the highest dose (24 mg/kg bw) producing maximum lesions and the lowest dose (6 mg/kg bw) producing minimum alterations.

CONCLUSIONS

The study revealed that lantadenes which are considered to be classical hepatotoxicants in acute toxicity produced pronounced nephrotoxicity during sub-chronic exposure. Further studies are needed to quantify the levels of lantadenes in blood or serum of animals exposed to lantana in field conditions which would help to assess the extent of damage to the vital organs.

A preliminary assessment of the extent and potential impacts of alien plant invasions in the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem, East Africa

This article provides a preliminary list of alien plant species in the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem in East Africa. The list is based on broad-scale roadside surveys in the area and is supplemented by more detailed surveys of tourist facilities in the Masai-Mara National Reserve and adjoining conservancies. We encountered 245 alien plant species; significantly more than previous studies, of which 62 (25%) were considered to have established self-perpetuating populations in areas away from human habitation. These included species which had either been intentionally or accidentally introduced. Of the 245 alien plants, 212 (including four species considered to be native to the region) were intentionally introduced into gardens in the National Reserve and 51 (24%) had established naturalised populations within the boundaries of these tourism facilities. Of the 51 naturalised species, 23 (11% of the 212 alien species) were recorded as being invasive within the ecosystem, outside of lodges and away from other human habitation. Currently, the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem is relatively free of widespread and abundant invasive alien plants, with a few exceptions, but there are extensive populations outside of the ecosystem, particularly to the west, from where they could spread. We address the potential impacts of six species that we consider to pose the highest risks (Parthenium hysterophorus, Opuntia stricta, Tithonia diversifolia, Lantana camara, Chromolaena odorata and Prosopis juliflora). Although invasive alien plants pose substantial threats to the integrity of the ecosystem, this has not yet been widely recognised. We predict that in the absence of efforts to contain, or reverse the spread of invasive alien plants, the condition of rangelands will deteriorate, with severe negative impacts on migrating large mammals, especially wildebeest, zebra and gazelles. This will, in turn, have a substantial negative impact on tourism, which is a major economic activity in the area.Conservation implications: Invasive alien plants pose significant threats to the integrity of the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem and steps will need to be taken to prevent these impacts. The most important of these would be the removal of alien species from tourist facilities, especially those which are known to be naturalised or invasive, the introduction of control programmes aimed at eliminating outlier invasive plant populations to slow down the spread, and the widespread use of biological control wherever possible.

The Chemical Diversity of Lantana camara: Analyses of Essential Oil Samples from Cuba, Nepal, and Yemen

The aerial parts of Lantana camara L. were collected from three different geographical locations: Artemisa (Cuba), Biratnagar (Nepal), and Sana'a (Yemen). The essential oils were obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. A cluster analysis of 39 L. camara essential oil compositions revealed eight major chemotypes: β-caryophyllene, germacrene D, ar-curcumene/zingiberene, γ-curcumen-15-al/epi-β-bisabolol, (E)-nerolidol, davanone, eugenol/alloaromadendrene, and carvone. The sample from Cuba falls into the group dominated by (E)-nerolidol, the sample from Nepal is a davanone chemotype, and the sample from Yemen belongs to the β-caryophyllene chemotype. The chemical composition of L. camara oil plays a role in the biological activity; the β-caryophyllene and (E)-nerolidol chemotypes showed antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities.

Chemical Characterization and Trypanocidal, Leishmanicidal and Cytotoxicity Potential of Lantana camara L. (Verbenaceae) Essential Oil

Drug resistance in the treatment of neglected parasitic diseases, such as leishmaniasis and trypanosomiasis, has led to the search and development of alternative drugs from plant origins. In this context, the essential oil extracted by hydro-distillation from Lantana camara leaves was tested against Leishmania braziliensis and Trypanosoma cruzi. The results demonstrated that L. camara essential oil inhibited T. cruzi and L. braziliensis with IC₅₀ of 201.94 μg/mL and 72.31 μg/mL, respectively. L. camara essential oil was found to be toxic to NCTC929 fibroblasts at 500 μg/mL (IC₅₀ = 301.42 μg/mL). The composition of L. camara essential oil analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC/MS) revealed large amounts of (E)-caryophyllene (23.75%), biciclogermacrene (15.80%), germacrene D (11.73%), terpinolene (6.1%), and sabinene (5.92%), which might be, at least in part, responsible for its activity. Taken together, our results suggest that L. camara essential oil may be an important source of therapeutic agents for the development of alternative drugs against parasitic diseases.

Effect of dietary Ximenia caffra kernel meal on blood and liver metabolic substrate content and the general clinical biochemistry of Sprague Dawley rats

We investigated (at the University of the Witwatersrand: GPS coordinates 26°10' 52.96″S; 28°2' 33.61″E) the effects of substituting soya bean meal (SBM) with Ximenia caffra kernel meal (XCKM) as a dietary protein source on blood and liver metabolic substrates content, serum markers of liver and kidney function and the general clinical biochemistry of Sprague Dawley (SD) rats. Five diets with similar energy and protein content were formulated (D1-D5) where XCKM replaced SBM on a crude protein basis at 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100%. Forty weanling male SD rats were randomly assigned to diets D1-D5, fed for 37 days and weighed twice weekly. The rats were then fasted overnight, and fasting blood glucose and triglyceride concentrations were determined from tail-vein-drawn blood. Immediately thereafter, the rats were euthanised and blood was collected via cardiac puncture. Serum was used to assay for markers of the general health profile. Livers were removed and weighed, and samples were used to determine lipid and glycogen content. Rats fed D4 (75% substitution level) had significantly lower (p < 0.05) blood triglyceride content compared with rats fed D2 (25% level of substitution). The substitution of SBM with XCKM did not affect (p > 0.05) fasting blood glucose and cholesterol concentrations, liver glycogen and lipid content. Additionally, it had no effect (p > 0.05) on serum activity/concentration of surrogate markers of liver (alanine aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase activity and urea, total bilirubin, globulin and albumin concentrations) and kidney (phosphorus, calcium and creatinine concentrations) function and the general clinical biochemistry of the rats. Defatted XCKM could substitute SBM in rat diets without compromising blood glucose and cholesterol homeostasis, liver and kidney function and the general clinical biochemistry of growing male Sprague Dawley rats.