Isolation and partial purification of Lantana (Lantana camara L.) toxins.

A partially purified toxin fraction and lantadene A were obtained from Lantana camara L. leaves by batch extraction, column chromatography and fractional crystallization. Toxicity was tested in guinea pigs. The total number of chemical entities in the partially purified toxin preparation was 7, the 2 major ones being lantadene A and lantadene B. Lantadene A was nontoxic in itself. Likewise, another fraction containing lantadene A, lantadene B and 3 more components with higher polarity was found to be nontoxic. The toxic component(s) are different from lantadene A/B but appear to resemble them very closely.