Extraction, Isolation, and Purification of Bioactive Compounds from Lantana camara Leaves: A Comprehensive Review

 

Rushikesh D. Kakade¹*, Utkarsha Lasure², Harshal Kedare³, Pallavi Bhingare⁴, Sanket Pokale⁵

¹Student, Rashtrasant Janardhan Swami College of Pharmacy, Kokamthan, Ahmednagar, Maharashtra – 423601.

²Assistant Professor, Rashtrasant Janardhan Swami College of Pharmacy, Kokamthan, Ahmednagar, Maharashtra – 423601.

³Student-Rashtrasant Janardhan Swami College of Pharmacy, Kokamthan, Ahmednagar, Maharashtra – 423601.

⁴Student-Rashtrasant Janardhan Swami College of Pharmacy, Kokamthan, Ahmednagar, Maharashtra – 423601.

⁵Student-Rashtrasant Janardhan Swami College of Pharmacy, Kokamthan, Ahmednagar, Maharashtra – 423601.

 

Abstract:

Lantana camara, a member of the Verbenaceae family, is a robust and highly adaptable plant that thrives in a wide variety of environments. It is widely distributed across India, particularly in regions like Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and other parts of the country. In addition to India, Lantana camara is also found in many countries across the world, particularly in tropical and subtropical climates. This plant typically grows in disturbed areas such as roadsides, railway tracks, agricultural fields, and canal banks, where it can outcompete other vegetation. Despite being considered a weed in some areas, Lantana camara is often cultivated as an ornamental plant due to its attractive, colourful flowers. One of the most fascinating aspects of Lantana camara is its rich chemical composition, which includes a wide variety of bioactive compounds. These compounds contribute significantly to the plant’s therapeutic effects. Some of the key constituents of Lantana camara include alkaloids, glycosides, saponins, steroids, terpenoids, carbohydrates, flavonoids, and coumarins. Each of these compounds possesses distinct pharmacological properties that enhance the overall medicinal potential of the plant. For instance, alkaloids are known for their analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial effects, while flavonoids and tannins are potent antioxidants that help combat oxidative stress and support the immune system. Glycosides and saponins contribute to the plant's antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, making it useful for treating infections and inflammatory conditions. The pharmacological activities of Lantana camara are diverse and extensive. The plant is particularly recognized for its antioxidant, antimicrobial, antibacterial, antifungal, antiulcerogenic, anthelmintic, anti-hyperglycemic, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anticancer, and antitubercular effects. These activities have made Lantana camara a subject of considerable interest in pharmaceutical and medical research. A particularly interesting feature of Lantana camara is its lavicidal activity, which has been shown to be effective against mosquito larvae. This property makes the plant a potential natural agent for controlling mosquito populations and preventing the spread of mosquito-borne diseases like malaria, dengue, and Zika virus. This aspect of the plant's utility emphasizes its potential for use in integrated pest management strategies, offering an eco-friendly alternative to chemical pesticides.

 

 

 

INTRODUCTION:

Lantana camara Linn. is a flowering ornamental plant belonging to family Verbenaceae. L. camara is also known as Lantana, Wild Sage, Surinam Tea Plant, Spanish flag and West Indian lantana. Lantana camara is a highly variable ornamental plant.It has been reported as a extremely weedy and invasive plant in many countries. From many years the flowers of Lantana camara are used as pectoral for children; the leaves and the fruits of that plant may be used externally in various skin diseases, cuts, toothbrush.

 

Fig: Lantana camara leaves

 

Lantana camara is a widely studied plant species known for its rich content of bioactive compounds that exhibit a wide range of medicinal properties. Belonging to the Verbenaceae family, L. camara is native to the tropical regions of the Americas but has since spread globally as an invasive species. It is known by various names, such as wild sage and Spanish flag.

 

Historically, traditional medicine has utilized different parts of the plant, especially its leaves, to treat various ailments, such as respiratory infections, skin conditions, fevers, and gastrointestinal issues. The growing interest in plant-based medicine has led to numerous studies focusing on the extraction, isolation, and purification of bioactive compounds from L. camara. These compounds have been shown to possess antimicrobial, antioxidant, and antifungal properties, making them of particular interest for modern pharmaceutical applications. Recent studies on the medicinal properties of Lantana camara have focused on the extraction, isolation, and purification of its bioactive compounds. Various extraction techniques have been employed to obtain these bioactive constituents from the plant’s leaves and other parts. Solvent extraction is one of the most common methods used, where solvents like ethanol, methanol, water, and chloroform are used to dissolve the bioactive compounds. The solvent is then evaporated to yield concentrated extracts that contain the plant’s medicinal compounds. Other techniques such as maceration, decoction, and Soxhlet extraction are also commonly used to extract the plant's bioactive molecules¹².

 

Once the extracts are obtained, several analytical methods are employed to isolate and identify the specific bioactive compounds present in the extracts. Thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and column chromatography are often used for separating different compounds based on their chemical properties. These techniques allow researchers to isolate individual bioactive compounds, such as flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids, and saponins, which are crucial for the plant's medicinal activities. Spectroscopic techniques such as ultraviolet (UV) spectrophotometry, infrared (IR) spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry (MS) are then used to confirm the structures of the isolated compounds. These methods play a critical role in identifying the bioactive molecules responsible for the plant’s pharmacological properties.¹

 

Among the most significant bioactive compounds found in Lantana camara leaves are flavonoids, tannins, and alkaloids. Flavonoids are a group of polyphenolic compounds that have been shown to exhibit powerful antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties. Tannins are known for their ability to bind to proteins and exhibit antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory effects. Alkaloids, on the other hand, are nitrogen-containing compounds with a wide range of pharmacological effects, including analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and antitumor activities. These compounds play a vital role in the therapeutic efficacy of Lantana camara.

 

Historically, Lantana camara has been utilized for various traditional medicinal purposes across different cultures. Its leaves, flowers, and other plant parts have been used for centuries in folk medicine to treat a wide array of ailments. Among its traditional uses, the plant is known for its ability to heal wounds, cuts, and bruises. It is also used to alleviate skin irritations such as itching, eczema, and rashes. In addition, Lantana camara has been employed as a remedy for conditions like fever, gastrointestinal disorders, respiratory issues, and inflammation. The plant’s long history of use highlights its significance in traditional healthcare practices.

 

This review highlights the importance of these bioactive compounds and their potential for pharmaceutical applications. The plant’s wide range of pharmacological properties, coupled with the availability of various extraction techniques to isolate and purify these compounds, makes Lantana camara a promising source of natural therapeutics. Future research should focus on optimizing extraction methods, understanding the mechanisms of action of its bioactive compounds, and exploring the potential of Lantana camara in the development of novel drugs or natural remedies for a variety of diseases and conditions. Additionally, there is a need for standardization of extraction procedures to ensure the consistency and quality of the bioactive compounds, enabling more effective use in medicinal applications.²

 

Synonyms:

Marathi Ghaneri, Tantani Hindi Raimuniya English Spanish flag, Wild sage Tamil Unnichedi Kannada Kakke, Natahu Telugu Pulikampa Manipuri Samballei, Nongballei GermanArabic Multawiat Em Kalthoom, Mina Shajary Brazil Cambara de espinto Spanish Cinco negritos French Lantanier, Verbene Malaysia Ayam, Big sage, Black sag.³

 

Biological source: It is a flowering ornamental plant of L. camara Linn. belonging to the family – Verbenaceae

 

Geographical distribution:

The Wild sage is found in many states in India such as Jammu-Kashmir, South India, and Tamil Nadu, in different parts of Maharashtra, and also in Himachal Pradesh and Uttar-Pradesh. It is found in the Caribbean and Central and northern South America also now dispersed in about 60 tropical and subtropical countries and also temperature parts of the world. It extends from the innate range of the Greater Antilles, the Bahamas, and Bermuda also on the lesser Antilles, through Trinidad and Aruba. It is usually found in beach areas of the United States from South America to northern Mexico and from Georgia through Texas as well as Peru and Brazil and possibly Northern Argentina and Bolivia. It has adapted to the most suitable habitats in tropical and subtropical Africa, Australia, and Asia. It is also found in many African countries including South Africa, Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania.⁴

 

Plant description:

L. camara is a low erect or subscadent vigorous shrub with a tetrangular stem, a strong odor of black currents, and stout recurved pickles. The plant is found up to height 1 to 3 m and width of 2.5 m. Images of plants, flowers, fruits, front, and dorsal view leaf.

 

Leaves:

Leaves are ovate or ovate-oblong, crenate serrate, acute or subacute, rugose above, and scabrid on both sides. The leaves are averagely 3–8 cm long and 3–6 cm wide and have a green color.

 

Flowers:

Flowers of L. camara are small habitually yellow or orange altering to red or scarlet, in dense axillary heads. The calyx is small, corolla tube slender, the limb spreading 6–7 mm wide and divided into unequal lobes. Stamen is four in two pairs, which included ovary two ovules, two-celled. Flowering arises between August and March, or all-around year if suitable moisture and light are available and small flowers are held in clusters. Color is usually orange, sometimes varying from white to red in various shades and the flowers usually change colors as they age. In the axillary head, flowers are having a yellow throat almost throughout the year.

 

Fruits:

The ripe fruits are heavily consumed by birds and frequently eaten by humans in some countries Root: Leaves and stems are roofed with rough hairs. Leaves are the main source of phosphorous and potassium when used as a green mulch.

 

Inflorescence:

Pairs in the axils of opposite leaves inflorescences are produced, which are compact, dome-shaped 2–3 cm across, and contain 20–40 sessile flowers

 

Phytochemical Composition of Lantana camara Leaves:

Classes of Bioactive Compounds:

Lantana camara leaves are known to contain a variety of secondary metabolites, which include:

Alkaloids:

These nitrogen-containing compounds are known for their antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects.

 

Flavonoids:

Flavonoids are a major class of compounds in L. camara leaves and are known for their antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. They help in scavenging free radicals and protecting the body from oxidative stress.

 

Tannins:

These polyphenolic compounds contribute to the antibacterial and antifungal properties of the plant. They are known to bind to proteins, disrupting microbial cell walls.

 

Saponins:

Saponins contribute to the antifungal properties of the leaves and are also known for their role in enhancing immune responses.

Phytochemical screening of L. camara extracts has consistently shown the presence of these secondary metabolites, which vary slightly depending on the extraction method and environmental factors.⁵

 

Antimicrobial and Antifungal Properties:

The antibacterial and antifungal activities of L. camara leaf extracts have been the subject of many studies. Kumar et al. (2017) showed that L. camara extracts, particularly those obtained using chloroform and acetone as solvents, exhibit strong antimicrobial properties against bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, and fungi like Aspergillus niger and Trichophyton mentagrophytes. Flavonoids and tannins play a major role in these activities by disrupting microbial cell walls and membranes.⁶

 

Extraction Methods:

The extraction process is critical for isolating bioactive compounds from plant material. Different solvents and techniques can yield varying results based on the nature of the phytochemicals being targeted.

 

Solvent Extraction:

Solvent extraction is the most commonly used method for isolating bioactive compounds from L. camara leaves. The choice of solvent depends on the polarity of the compounds being extracted:

 

Non-polar solvents like petroleum ether and diethyl ether are often used to extract non-polar compounds such as oils and waxes.

 

Moderately polar solvents like chloroform and acetone are used to extract flavonoids, tannins, and alkaloids.

The Soxhlet extraction method, in which the plant material is continuously refluxed with a solvent, is one of the most efficient techniques for isolating bioactive compounds from L. camara. Kumar et al. (2017) demonstrated that chloroform and acetone extracts of the leaves exhibited the most potent antimicrobial activity, suggesting that these solvents are optimal for extracting the most biologically active compounds.⁷

 

Maceration Technique:

In another study, Lourenço et al. (2019) employed a maceration method using 90% ethanol to extract bioactive compounds from the leaves of L. camara. The plant material was left in ethanol for seven days, with occasional stirring, followed by filtration to obtain the crude extract. This method proved efficient in extracting flavonoids and tannins, which are responsible for the plant’s antibacterial properties.⁸

 

Isolation Techniques:

Thin-Layer Chromatography (TLC):

Isolation of specific bioactive compounds can be achieved using TLC, which is widely used to separate and identify plant metabolites. In one study, the chloroform extract of L. camara leaves was separated using a solvent system of petroleum ether, chloroform, and water (6:2:2). The presence of flavonoids was confirmed by observing yellow spots under iodine vapor.⁹

 

Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR):

To further characterize the isolated compounds, FTIR is employed. This technique identifies the functional groups present in the compounds. FTIR analysis of L. camara leaf extracts revealed bands corresponding to hydroxyl (OH), carbonyl (C=O), and other functional groups, indicating the presence of flavonoids and other bioactive molecules.

 

Purification Techniques:

Column Chromatography:

After the initial extraction and isolation steps, column chromatography can be used to purify the bioactive compounds. By using different solvents and gradients, the compounds are eluted based on their polarity, allowing for the collection of individual phytochemicals.¹⁰

 

Spectrophotometric Analysis:

UV-Visible spectrophotometry is another key technique in the purification process. By measuring the absorbance of compounds at specific wavelengths, researchers can assess the purity and concentration of the isolated bioactive compounds. In the case of L. camara, UV-Vis’s spectrophotometry was used to detect the maximum absorbance, which helps in confirming the presence of flavonoids.¹¹

 

Biological Activity of Isolated Compounds:

Antibacterial Activity:

Studies have shown that the antibacterial activity of L. camara is largely due to its high flavonoid and tannin content. These compounds disrupt bacterial cell walls, particularly in Gram-positive bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus. Additionally, the extracts have shown a moderate inhibitory effect on fungi, making them potential candidates for antifungal treatments.¹²

 

Mechanism of Action:

The antimicrobial mechanism of action is believed to involve the disruption of cell membrane integrity and the inhibition of bacterial enzymes. These activities are more pronounced in the chloroform extracts, which exhibit higher concentrations of bioactive compounds compared to ethanol extracts.¹³

 

CONCLUSION:

The bioactive compounds extracted from Lantana camara leaves hold great potential for pharmaceutical applications. The plant’s antibacterial and antifungal properties make it a candidate for developing natural antibiotics and antifungal agents. Further studies focusing on the detailed mechanism of action and clinical trials could pave the way for its inclusion in modern medicine.¹⁵

 

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Received on 09.12.2024      Revised on 28.01.2025 Accepted on 10.03.2025      Published on 15.05.2025 Available online from May 17, 2025 Research J. Science and Tech. 2025; 17(2):177-182. DOI: 10.52711/2349-2988.2025.00025
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