Minaret Flower

Other Names : Leonotis ocymifolia, Klipdagga; Rooidagga, umfincane, umcwili
See also :

• Lion's tail
• Leonotis nepetifolia

health Benefits of Minaret Flower

This species is used more or less interchangeably with Leonotus leonurus (Lion's tail) in some areas, namely for treating fevers, headaches, coughs, dysentery, snake bite, haemorrhoids and stomach ache, and as a purgative. Specific uses include the treatment of diabetes, hypertension, anaemia, eczema and other skin irritations.

• The leaves and flowering stems are emmenagogue and purgative. They are used internally in the treatment of diabetes, hypertension and anaemia.
• Applied externally as a wash, the leaves are used to treat eczema and other skin irritations.
• South African forms of the plant contain alkaloids, saponins and tannins but not cardiac or anthraquinone glycosides. The alkaloids are not of the indole or tropane type.
• The leaves of forms from Ethiopia revealed the presence of labdane type diterpene lactones such as leonitin.