Detoxification of lantana hepatotoxin, lantadene A, using Alcaligenes faecalis.

Detoxification of lantadene A (LA), the hepatotoxin from Lantana camara var. aculeata, by the bacterial strain Alcaligenes faecalis has been investigated. Lantadene A induced hepatotoxicity concomitant with increases in plasma bilirubin, blood plasma enzymes and histopathological lesions that typify lantana toxicity. The extract of fermentation broth in which LA was incubated with A. faecalis did not elicit any alterations in blood enzyme prolife or liver histopathology, which were comparable with the control group. It is concluded that A. faecalis detoxified LA and no noxious product was formed on incubation of LA with A. faecalis.