Effects of Lantana camara (Verbenaceae) on rat fertility.

Lantana camara, widely used in folk medicine, possesses several pharmacological properties, including antipyretic, antimicrobial and antimutagenic properties. Lantana poisoning causes livestock mortality and morbidity; and also has adverse effects on humans working in lantana-infested forests, pastures or orchards. We examined the effects of a hydroalcoholic extract from Lantana camara var aculeata leaves on fertility of male rats. The extract did not interfere with overall weight or internal organ weights, but interfered with sperm count, daily sperm production and sperm morphology in a dose-dependent manner.