Toxicity of lantana (Lantana camera L) leaves and isolated toxins to rabbits.

Oral administration of lantana leaves (6 g/kg body weight) and isolated toxins (125 mg/kg body weight) to rabbits caused ictericity, anorexia and decrease in fecal output. There was increased size of the kidneys, and the livers were ochre-colored and fragile but there was no hepatomegaly. Histopathologically, lantana-intoxicated rabbits had swellings of hepatic cells, portal fibrosis, dilatation of bile canaliculi and biliary hyperplasia. Kidneys had proliferation of mesenchymal cells in glomerular tufts, degeneration of tubules, swelling of tubular epithelial cells and pyknosis of nuclei. The intoxicated animals had elevated levels of conjugated and unconjugated bilirubin in plasma, the major increase being in the conjugated form (suggestive of obstructive jaundice). There were marginal changes in the activities of acid phosphatase and glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase in the plasma.