Leonotis nepetifolia

Leonotis nepetifolia, (also known as klip dagga, Christmas candlestick, or lion's ear[1]), is a species of plant in the genus Leonotis and the family Lamiaceae (mint). It is native to tropical Africa and southern India. It can also be found growing abundantly in much of Latin America, the West Indies,[2] and the Southeastern United States.[3] It grows to a height of 3 metres (9 ft 10 in) and has whorls of striking lipped flowers, that are most commonly orange,[1] but can vary to red, white, and purple. It has drooping dark green, very soft serrated leaves that can grow up to 10 centimetres (4 in) wide.[1] Sunbirds and ants are attracted to the flowers.[1] It has been found growing on road sides, rubbish heaps or waste land.[1]

Leonotis nepetifolia
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Lamiaceae
Genus: Leonotis
Species:
L. nepetifolia
Binomial name
Leonotis nepetifolia

L. nepetifolia is considered an invasive plant in Australia, Florida, and Hawaii, though its tendency to grow in disturbed areas led researchers in Hawaii to conclude it's not likely to be an ecological threat.[4]

Varieties
  1. Leonotis nepetifolia var. africana (P.Beauv.) J.K.Morton - Indian Subcontinent, much of Africa (light orange flowers)
  2. Leonotis nepetifolia var. nepetifolia - much of Africa (dark solid orange flowers)
  3. Leonotis nepetifolia var. alba - (albino/white flowers)

Leonotis nepetifolia (klip dagga) is related to L. leonurus (wild dagga or lion's tail.) The most noticeable difference between the two is the leaf shape. L. nepetifolia leaves are cordate with serrated edges, except the top pair which are lanceolate with serrated edges, as pictured in taxonomy box. The leaves are all lanceolate with serrated edges on L. leonurus.

Traditional medicine

Leonotis nepetifolia is known in Trinidad as shandilay and the leaves are brewed as a tea for fever, coughs, womb prolapse and malaria.[5] The dried leaves are sometimes used as a legal substitute for marijuana.[6] The roots of L. nepetifolia are considered to be the botanical sources of granthiparna, an ayurvedic herb.

Phytochemicals and Pharmacology

Leonotis nepetifolia contains several labdane diterpenes including Nepetaefolin, Nepetaefuran, Nepetaefolin, Nepetaefolin, Leonotinin, Leonotin and Dubiin as well as bis-spirolabdane diterpenes like Leonepetaefolin A-E[7][8][9]

Methanol based extracts of Leonotis nepetifolia has shown antidepressant-like effects in mice. Metabolic screening of the extract suggested nepetaefolin, methoxynepataefolin, and 7-O-β-glucoside luteolin are the main products. [10]

Nepetaefuran and leonotinin isolated from Leonotis nepetaefolia plant material demonstrated anti-inflammatory by suppressing NF-κB activation related to proinflammatory Cytokines.[11]

  • Leaf
  • Flowers

References
  1. Napier, E. "NOTES· ON WILD FLOWERS" (PDF). biodiversitylibrary.org. Retrieved 31 December 2017.
  2. Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
  3. "Plants Profile for Leonotis nepetifolia (Christmas candlestick)". plants.usda.gov. Retrieved 2021-03-10.
  4. "Leonotis nepetifolia (Christmas candelstick)". CABI Invasive Species Compendium. November 22, 2019. Retrieved March 10, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  5. Mendes, John. 1986. Cote ce Cote la: Trinidad & Tobago Dictionary, Arima, Trinidad, p. 135.
  6. "LION'S EAR HERBAL TEA". tropilab.com. Retrieved 2021-03-10.
  7. Li, Jun; Fronczek, Frank R.; Ferreira, Daneel; Burandt, Charles L.; Setola, Vincent; Roth, Bryan L.; Zjawiony, Jordan K. (2012). "Bis-spirolabdane Diterpenoids from Leonotis nepetaefolia". Journal of Natural Products. 75 (4): 728–734. doi:10.1021/np3000156. PMC 3338874. PMID 22475308.
  8. https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/1980/p1/p19800000264
  9. http://www.revplantasmedicinales.sld.cu/index.php/pla/article/view/687/346
  10. Arrieta-Báez, Daniel; Gómez-Patiño, Mayra Beatriz; Jurado Hernández, Noé; Mayagoitia-Novales, Lilian; Dorantes-Barrón, Ana María; Estrada-Reyes, Rosa (2022). "Antidepressant-like effects of a methanol extract of Leonotis nepetifolia in mice". Natural Product Research: 1–7. doi:10.1080/14786419.2022.2058939. PMID 35357257. S2CID 247842622.
  11. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1567576915300746?via%3Dihub
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