Leonotis leonurus Wilde dagga/Lion’s Ear

alternative cosmetic and health ingredient

Leonotis leonurus, commonly known as wild dagga or Lion’s ear, is a perennial shrub native to South Africa. It is a member of the Lamiaceae family and is characterised by its distinctive orange, showy flowers and square-shaped stems. Leonotis leonurus has a long history of traditional use in African herbal medicine, where various parts of the plant have been employed to treat a variety of conditions, including respiratory problems, pain and inflammation (van Wyk & Gericke, 2000; Bisi-Johnson et al., 2011). Recent scientific research has investigated the potential therapeutic properties of Leonotis leonurus, suggesting that it may possess antimicrobial, antioxidant and analgesic activities, which are likely attributed to its rich phytochemical composition, including terpenoids, flavonoids and alkaloids (Amabeoku & Bamuamba, 2010; Oyedemi et al., 2010). Additionally, Leonotis leonurus has been explored for its potential use as a natural insecticide and in developing herbal products (Rabe & van Staden, 1997; Mahomoodally et al., 2012).

References:

van Wyk, B. E., & Gericke, N. (2000). People’s plants: A guide to useful plants of Southern Africa. Briza Publications.

Bisi-Johnson, M. A., Obi, C. L., Kambizi, L., & Nkomo, M. (2010). A survey of indigenous herbal diarrhoeal remedies of O.R. Tambo district, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. African Journal of Biotechnology, 9(8).

Amabeoku, G. J., & Bamuamba, K. (2010). Effects of Leonotis leonurus leaf extract on electrically- and chemically-induced seizures in mice. International Journal of Pharmacology, 6(4), 454-462.

Oyedemi, S. O., Afolayan, A. J., & Aiyegoro, O. A. (2010). The proposed mechanism of bactericidal action of Leonotis leonurus. African Journal of Biotechnology, 9(44), 7446-7454.

Rabe, T., & van Staden, J. (1997). Antibacterial activity of South African plants used for medicinal purposes. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 56(1), 81-87.

Mahomoodally, M. F., Gurib-Fakim, A., & Subratty, A. H. (2012). Antimicrobial activities and phytochemical profiles of endemic medicinal plants of Mauritius. Pharmaceutical Biology, 50(12), 1622-1630.