Leonotis leonurus

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Leonotis leonurus
At Boulders Beach, with a southern double-collared sunbird collecting nectar
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Lamiaceae
Genus: Leonotis
Species:
L. leonurus
Binomial name
Leonotis leonurus
(L.) R.Br.[1]

Leonotis leonurus, also known as wild dagga and lion's ear, is a plant species in the mint family Lamiaceae. It is a broadleaf evergreen shrub, native to South Africa, where it is very common, with a wide altitudinal range from 5 m up to 1980 m.[2] It is known for its medicinal properties. The main psychoactive component of Leonotis leonurus is hypothesized to be related to the presence of leonurine or labdanes;[3] Leonotis leonurus has been confirmed to contain leonurine according to peer reviewed journal published phytochemical analysis.[4] Like other plants in the mint family, it also contains marrubin. The word "dagga" comes from Afrikaans, and derives in turn from the Khoikhoi "dachab". The word "dagga" has been extended to include cannabis in Afrikaans and South African English, so the use of "wild" serves to distinguish Leonotis leonurus from this.[5]

Description

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The shrub grows 2 to 3 metres (7 to 10 ft) tall (rarely to 4 m (13 ft)), and 1.5 m (5 ft) wide, with softly woody stems.[2][6] The leaves are medium-dark green, 5–10 centimetres (2–4 in) long, and aromatic when crushed. The plant has hairy tubular 4–5 cm orange flowers, 3–11 together in tiered whorls (verticillasters) typical of the mint family, that encircle the square stems.[2][6] They rise up to 0.9 m (2 ft 11 in) above the foliage, with flowering in summer (November to January) in some areas, but autumn to winter (April to June) in other areas.[2]

Variation in flower colour

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A white-flowered variety Leonotis leonurus var. albiflora was described by George Bentham,[2] but is not now accepted as distinct at varietal rank;[1] yellow cultivars also exist.

Ecology

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The native habitat of Leonotis leonurus is among rocks and in grasslands of southern Africa, particularly in wetter eastern and southern areas.[2][7] It attracts nectivorous birds (mainly sunbirds), as well as various insects such as bees and butterflies.[2] The flowers' mainly orange to orange-red colour and tubular shape are indicative of its co-evolution with African sunbirds, which have curved bills suited to feeding from tubular flowers. The butterfly Cacyreus lingeus (Lycenidae) uses the foliage as a larval food plant.[2]

Cultivation

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Leonotis leonurus is cultivated as an ornamental plant for its copious orange blossom spikes, and is used as specimen shrub or a screen in gardens and parks.[2] It is moderately drought tolerant, and a nectar source for birds and butterflies in landscape settings.[2] It was introduced to Europe in the 1600s.[6]

Lion's ear can be found introduced as an ornamental plant in other subtropical and Mediterranean climate regions beyond South Africa, such as California, Hawaii,[8] and Australia where it has naturalised in some areas. In cooler climates it is used as an annual and winter conservatory plant.[9]

Pharmacology and toxicology

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Marrubiin has both antioxidant and cardioprotective properties and has shown to significantly improve myocardial function.[10][11]

Docosatetraenoylethanolamide (DEA) is a cannabinoid that acts on the cannabinoid (CB1) receptor which has been found in the whole flower extract of the putative variety Leonotis leonurus var. albiflora.[12]

Leonotis leonurus contains several labdane diterpene–based compounds such as Hispanolone, Leonurun, Leonurine and Leoleorins. C-N[4]

Leonurine (also known as SCM-198 in research) is a pseudoalkaloid that has been isolated from Leonotis leonurus, Leonotis nepetifolia, Leonurus japonicus, Leonurus cardiaca (motherwort), Leonurus sibiricus, as well as other plants of family Lamiaceae.[citation needed] Leonurine is easily extracted into water.[1] One experimental animal study suggests that the aqueous leaf extract of Leonotis leonurus possesses antinociceptive, antiinflammatory, and hypoglycemic properties.[13]

An animal study in rats indicated that in high doses, lion's ear has significant toxicological adverse effects on organs, red blood cells, white blood cells, and other important bodily functions. Acute toxicity tests in animals caused death for those receiving a 3200 mg/kg dose. A 1600 mg/kg extract led to changes in red blood cells, haemoglobin concentration, mean corpuscular volume, platelets, and white blood cells.[14]

Traditional uses

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Infusions made from flowers, seeds, leaves, or stems are widely used to treat tuberculosis, jaundice, muscle cramps, high blood pressure, diabetes, viral hepatitis, dysentery, and diarrhoea.[15][16] The leaves, roots, and bark are used as an emetic for snakebites, and bee and scorpion stings.[17] The fresh stem juice is used as an infusion drink for "blood impurity" in some parts of South Africa.[18]

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Latvia

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Leonotis leonurus has been illegal in Latvia since November 2009, and is classified as a Schedule 1 drug. Possession of quantities up to 1 gram are fined up to 280 euros. Possession and distribution of larger quantities can be punished with up to 15 years in prison.[19]

Poland

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Leonotis leonurus was banned in Poland in March 2009. Possession and distribution lead to criminal charges.[20]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Leonotis leonurus (L.) R.Br". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2025-07-09.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Leonotis leonurus". PlantZAfrica. 2014-07-21. Retrieved 2025-07-09.
  3. ^ Wing Shing Ho (4 September 2015). Active Phytochemicals from Chinese Herbal Medicines: Anti-Cancer Activities and Mechanisms. CRC Press. pp. 39–. ISBN 978-1-4822-1987-6.
  4. ^ a b Ofentse Mazimba (2015). "Leonotis leonurus: A herbal medicine review" (PDF). Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry. 3 (6): 74–82. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
  5. ^ "Online Etymology Dictionary". Etymonline.com. Retrieved 8 February 2016.
  6. ^ a b c Ernst Schmidt; Mervyn Lotter; Warren McCleland (2002). Trees and Shrubs of Mpumalanga and Kruger National Park. Jacana Media. pp. 586–. ISBN 978-1-919777-30-6.
  7. ^ Umberto Quattrocchi (19 April 2016). CRC World Dictionary of Medicinal and Poisonous Plants: Common Names, Scientific Names, Eponyms, Synonyms, and Etymology (5 Volume Set). CRC Press. pp. 2244–. ISBN 978-1-4822-5064-0.
  8. ^ "PLANTS Profile for Leonotis leonurus (lion's ear)". United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service. Retrieved 28 March 2010.
  9. ^ MBC-Kemper Center - Leonotis leonurus . accessed 7.7.2011
  10. ^ Popoola KO Elbagory AM, Ameer F, Hussein AA. Marrubiin. Molecules 2013; 18(18):9049-9060.
  11. ^ XinHua, 2010
  12. ^ Ethan Hunter; Marietjie Aletta Stander; Jens Kossmann; S. Chakraborty (December 2020). "Toward the identification of a phytocannabinoid-like compound in the flowers of a South African medicinal plant (Leonotis leonurus)". BMC Research Notes. 13 (1): 522. doi:10.1186/s13104-020-05372-z. PMC 7653773. PMID 33172494. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
  13. ^ Ojewole JA (May 2005). "Antinociceptive, antiinflammatory and antidiabetic effects of Leonotis leonurus (L.) R. BR. [Lamiaceae] leaf aqueous extract in mice and rats". Methods and Findings in Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology. 27 (4): 257–64. doi:10.1358/mf.2005.27.4.893583. PMID 16082426.
  14. ^ Maphosa, V; Masika, P; Adedapo, A (2008). "Safety evaluation of the aqueous extract of Leonotis leonurus shoots in rats". Human & Experimental Toxicology. 27 (11): 837–43. Bibcode:2008HETox..27..837M. doi:10.1177/0960327108099533. PMID 19244291. S2CID 27776434.
  15. ^ Van WJB, van OB, Gericke N. Medicinal plants of South Africa. Briza Publications. Cape Town, 2000.
  16. ^ Noumi E, Houngue F, Lontsi D. Traditional medicines in primary health care: plants used for the treatment of hypertension in Bafia, Cameroon. Fitoterapia 1999; 70(2):134-139.
  17. ^ Hutchings AH, Scott G, Lewis AB. Cunningham, Zulu medicinal plants, an Inventory. Natal University Press, Pietermaritzburg, 1996, 266-267.
  18. ^ Watt JM, Breyer BMG. Medicinal and poisonous plants of Southern Africa. E & S Livingstone. Edinburg, 1962.
  19. ^ "Par Krimināllikuma spēkā stāšanās un piemērošanas kārtību" (in Latvian). likumi.lv. Retrieved 2013-06-23.
  20. ^ (in Polish) Dz.U. 2009 nr 63 poz. 520, Internetowy System Aktów Prawnych.
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