Edible Parts: Fruit  Leaves
Edible Uses: Tea

The aromatic leaves are used to make a tea[407 ]. The ripe black fruits are eaten in handfuls, especially by children as a snack[398 ]. The sweet tasting drupaceous, fleshy, ovoid fruits are purple or black when fully ripe and about 5 mm long[360 ]. Some reports mention the toxicity of the unripe fruits[K ].

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Antiasthmatic  Antibacterial  Antidermatosic  Antifungal  Antiinflammatory  Antiphlogistic  Antipyretic  Antirheumatic  
Antiseptic  Antitumor  Aromatic  Diaphoretic  Eczema  Febrifuge  Haemostatic  
Laxative  Leprosy  Malaria  Odontalgic  Pectoral  Poultice  Refrigerant  
Skin  Stimulant  Tonic  Vulnerary

The plant is often used in domestic medicine and research carried out mainly in India has shown it to contain a number of compounds with medicinal activity. The leaves contain 0.2% of an essential oil[360 ]. Extracts have shown antimicrobial, fungicidal, insecticidal and nematicidal activity[413 ]. The dried flowers contain 0.07% essential oil comprised mainly of caryophyllene-like bicyclic terpene (80%) and l,a-phellandrene (10-12%)[360 ]. The bark contains lantanine, 0.08%[360 ]. Verbascoside, which possesses antimicrobial, immunosuppressive and antitumor activities, has been isolated from the plant[413 ]. Lantanoside, linaroside and camarinic acid have been isolated and are being investigated as potential nematocides[413 ]. Lantana essential oil is sometimes used for the treatment of skin itches, as an antiseptic for wounds, and externally for leprosy and scabies[413 ]. It is applied as a poultice on rheumatic joints[360 ]. The root is sweet and bitter tasting, refrigerant, antifebrile[360 ]. A decoction is used to treat influenza, cough, mumps, incessant high fever, malaria, cervical lymph node tuberculosis, asthma, toothache, headache, inflammation, gonorrhoea and leucorrhoea[310 , 360 ]. The flowers are sweet tasting, mildly cooling and haemostatic[360 ]. A decoction of the dried flowers is used in the treatment of haemoptysis and pulmonary tuberculosis[360 ]. The leaves are aromatic with a minty taste, they have a cooling nature, are antiphlogistic, anti-dermatosic, diaphoretic, febrifuge, pectoral, stimulant, tonic and vulnerary[46 , 310 , 348 , 360 ]. An infusion of the leaves and flowering tops is used in the treatment of fevers, constipation, tuberculosis, catarrh and bronchitis[310 , 348 , 360 ]. Combined with the leaves of Cymbopogon citratus, they are used as an infusion to treat colds, high blood pressure and malarial fever[348 ]. Externally, the leaves and stems are used as a wash to treat dermatitis, eczema, pruritus, measles and chickenpox rashes etc[348 , 360 ]. They are applied as a poultice to treat sprains, wounds and contusions[360 ]. As a douche, they are used to treat inflammations of the uterus[348 ]. A decoction of the bark is used as a treatment for fevers[360 ].

Biomass  Essential  Fencing  Fodder  Fuel  Fungicide  Hedge  Herbicide  Houseplant  Insecticide  Insecticide  Mulch  Paper  Soil stabilization  Teeth

Agroforestry Uses: The plant has an extensive root system and is often planted for erosion control[317 ]. The plant responds well to trimming and is often grown as a hedge[317 , 360 , 413 ]. In parts of East Africa, in locations where it is not weedy, it has effectively been used as a live fence [1-8]. In some mountainous areas (e.g. in Tanzania and India) the presence of L. camara was once considered a good ground cover preventing erosion [1-8]. The plant provides an abundance of organic matter which can be used as mulch material[413 ]. Other Uses: The use of lantana extracts as potential biocides has been suggested. For example, aqueous leachate at 1 - 3% can kill water hyacinth, a troublesome weed in many tropical countries[413 ]. Its application as a herbicide would depend on the size of the water bodies being treated and the cost of extraction of the leachate[413 ]. Leaf extracts have strong insecticidal and antimicrobial activity, for example, storing potatoes, Solanum tuberosum, with leaves of L. camara almost eliminates damage by the potato tuber moth Phthorimaea operculella [1-8]. The stems of lantana, if treated by the sulphate process, can be used to produce pulp for paper suitable for writing and printing[413 ]. However it is hard to harvest, so is likely to be uneconomical[413 ]. The roots of lantana contain a substance that may possibly be used for rubber manufacture, although the economic viability of production has not been examined[413 ]. The plant is utilized as firewood. The twigs and stems serve as useful fuel for cooking and heating in many developing countries, although it is less important than other fuel sources such as windrows, woodlots or natural bush[413 ]. Straw from L. camara mixed with dung for biogas production [1-8]. Fodder. Seeds as a source of food for lambs [1-8]. Ornamental. Pot plant.

Special Uses

Ground Cover  Hedge  Scented Plants