Pharmacological properties and medicinal applications of Lantana rugosa Thunb. (Family Verbenaceae)

Lantana rugosa is a small shrub widely used as traditional medicine in southern Africa. The current investigation critically reviewed the pharmacological properties and medicinal uses of L. rugosa. Results of this study are based on literature search on pharmacological properties and medicinal uses of L. rugosa using several internet sources such as Scopus, Elsevier, SciFinder, Google Scholar, Pubmed, Science Direct and Web of Science. Other sources of information included pre-electronic sources such as journal articles, theses, book chapters, books and other scientific publications obtained from the University library. This study revealed that leaf, root, stem and fruit infusions and decoctions of L. rugosa are used as ethnoveterinary medicine and traditional medicine for sprains, sore throat, cuts, stomach problems, fever, sores, rheumatism, abdominal pains, sore eyes and respiratory problems. Ethnopharmacological research identified alkaloids and essential oils from the leaves of L. rugosa. The leaf and stem extracts of L. rugosa exhibited anthelmintic, antibacterial, antifungal and cytotoxic activities. Lantana rugosa should be subjected to further pharmacological, phytochemical and toxicological studies aimed at correlating its medicinal applications with ethnopharmacological properties.