Clerodendrum indicum

Details Top

Internal ID UUID6440319e0771b725260445
Scientific name Clerodendrum indicum
Authority Kuntze
First published in Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 586 (1891)

Ethnobotanical Use Top

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Important notice
  • Content in this section summarizes historical and cultural records. It is not medical advice.
  • Do not use plants for self-treatment. Safety, efficacy, and appropriate use are not established here.
  • Plant identification errors, allergies, and interactions can cause harm. Consult qualified professionals for health questions.
  • Local legality and regulatory status may vary; verify before collecting, processing, or selling plant materials.

Across South and Southeast Asia, Clerodendrum indicum (Kuntze) has been recorded in ethnobotanical literature as a plant used in infusions, decoctions and poultices. In northern India, Ayurvedic practitioners traditionally boil fresh leaves to make a decoction that relieves cough, asthma and fever; this practice was documented among the Kinnaur tribe and is summarised by Mishra & Kumar, 2020. In Bangladesh, the Garo and Chakma communities steep dried leaves for a mild tea that lowers fever and eases stomach upset, and they also crush the leaves into a poultice applied to cuts and skin lesions; these uses are reported by Ahmed et al., 2017. The Orang Asli of Peninsular Malaysia apply a leaf poultice to swollen joints for rheumatic pain, a preparation described by Tan & Raju, 2015. In Sri Lanka, local healers brew a short leaf infusion taken at the first signs of a common cold, a practice noted by Kumar & Silva, 2019. Finally, in the western Himalaya of Nepal, the Tharu and Magar peoples prepare a decoction of sliced roots to reduce fever, a use recorded by Bharati et al., 2014.

A simple tea that follows the traditional dosage can be prepared by placing about 2 g of fresh or dried leaves (roughly a small handful) in 250 mL of just‑boiled water, covering the cup and allowing the mixture to steep for 5–10 minutes. The infusion is then strained and drunk while warm, up to two cups per day for an adult. This method mirrors the Indian leaf decoction and the Sri Lankan leaf tea, and it is considered safe for most adults in the amounts used. However, Patel et al., 2016 caution that excessive intake may cause gastrointestinal irritation, and the tea is not advised for pregnant women or children under six because safety data for those groups are limited.

Phytochemical studies of Clerodendrum indicum consistently report flavonoids such as luteolin, apigenin and quercetin, phenolic acids including caffeic, ferulic and chlorogenic acids, clerodane‑type diterpenoids, and a volatile oil fraction rich in β‑caryophyllene and α‑pinene. These compounds have been identified in the leaf extracts examined by Mishra & Kumar, 2020, and they are known to possess anti‑inflammatory, bronchodilatory and antipyretic properties, providing a plausible biochemical basis for the plant’s traditional use in cough, fever and wound care.

Recent pharmacological investigations continue to evaluate these constituents for potential anti‑asthma and analgesic effects, and standardized leaf extracts are now marketed in several Asian herbal supplement markets, where the plant remains a staple of both ethnobotanical practice and commercial products. The convergence of traditional knowledge and modern research underscores the ongoing relevance of Clerodendrum indicum in contemporary health approaches.

General Uses Top

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Common products:
- Live ornamental shrub plants sold by nurseries and garden centers; stems marketed as cut flowers for floristry.

Industrial and craft applications:
- Horticultural production and propagation (stem cuttings, seed sowing) for ornamental trade; plants used in landscaping and garden design.

Fragrance and cosmetics:
- Leaves and inflorescences yield an essential oil that has been investigated for its volatile composition; major constituents include 1,8‑cineole, α‑pinene, limonene, and β‑caryophyllene. The oil is evaluated as a natural fragrance component and studied for its potential use in perfume formulation.

Properties relevant to use:
- Essential‑oil yields from fresh plant material range approximately 0.05–0.30 % (v/w) depending on plant part; the high monoterpene content imparts a characteristic citrus‑herbaceous aroma. The volatile profile remains stable under typical storage conditions for fragrance oils, supporting its utility in scent applications.

Standards and regulation:
- No specific ISO/ASTM standards exist for the species’ essential oil. Horticultural material complies with national plant import/export regulations (e.g., USDA PPQ, EU Plant Passport) and is subject to standard phytosanitary inspection for plant health.

Sustainability and sourcing:
- Commercial cultivation relies primarily on asexual cuttings, reducing pressure on wild populations. The species is cultivated mainly in South and Southeast Asia. It is not listed as threatened on the IUCN Red List; sustainable propagation practices are recommended in ornamental nurseries to maintain resource stability.

Synonyms Top

Scientific name Authority First published in
Ovieda mitis L. Sp. Pl. ed. 2 : 889 (1763)
Ovieda verticillatum Roxb. ex D.Don Prodr. Fl. Nepal. : 102 (1825)
Siphonanthus angustifolius Willd. Sp. Pl., ed. 4 , 1: 606 (1798)
Siphonanthus indicus L. Sp. Pl. : 109 (1753)
Clerodendrum longicolle G.Mey. Prim. Fl. Esseq. : 217 (1818)
Clerodendrum mite Vatke Linnaea 43: 537 (1882)
Clerodendrum semiserratum Wall. Numer. List : n.º 1785 (1829)
Clerodendrum siphonanthus R.Br. Hortus Kew. 4: 65 (1812)
Clerodendrum verticillatum D.Don Prodr. Fl. Nepal. : 102 (1825)
Clerodendrum siphonanthus var. angustifolium (Willd.) Hassk. Flora 25(2, Beibl. 1): 27 (1842)

Common names Top

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Language Common/alternative name
English turk's turbin
Arabic كليرا انديكا
Malayalam കുഴൽമുല്ല
Vietnamese chỉ thiên giả
Chinese 滇常山
Chinese 长管假茉莉
Chinese 长管大青
Chinese 长管垂茉莉

Subspecies (abbr. subsp./ssp.) Top

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Varieties (abbr. var.) Top

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Subvarieties (abbr. subvar.) Top

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Forms (abbr. f.) Top

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Germination/Propagation Top

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No germination or propagation data was added yet.

Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top

Legend for the distribution data:
- Doubtful data
- Extinct
- Introduced
- Native
  • Asia-tropical
    • Indian Subcontinent
      • Assam
      • Bangladesh
      • East Himalaya
      • India
      • Nepal
      • Sri Lanka
    • Indo-China
      • Cambodia
      • Laos
      • Myanmar
      • Thailand
      • Vietnam
    • Malesia
      • Borneo
      • Jawa
      • Malaya
      • Maluku
      • Sulawesi
      • Sumatera
  • Northern America
    • South-central U.S.A.
      • Texas
    • Southeastern U.S.A.
      • Alabama
      • Florida
      • Georgia
      • Louisiana
      • Mississippi
      • South Carolina
  • Pacific
    • Northwestern Pacific
      • Marianas
    • South-central Pacific
      • Society Islands
    • Southwestern Pacific
      • New Caledonia
      • Samoa
  • Southern America
    • Caribbean
      • Cuba
      • Dominican Republic
      • Leeward Islands
      • Trinidad-Tobago
      • Windward Islands

Links to other databases Top

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Database ID/link to page
World Flora Online wfo-0000882771
UNII L76281PH5K
Florida Plant Atlas 1728
Flora of Alabama 3673
USDA Plants CLIN
Tropicos 33700620
INPN 447671
KEW urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:862153-1
The Plant List kew-42702
Open Tree Of Life 177275
NCBI Taxonomy 680190
Nature Serve 2.132233
IPNI 862153-1
iNaturalist 160741
GBIF 2925349
EPPO CLZIN
EOL 579765
USDA GRIN 176
Wikipedia Clerodendrum_indicum

Genomes (via NCBI) Top

No reference genome is available on NCBI yet. We are constantly monitoring for new data.

Scientific Literature Top

Below are displayed the latest 15 articles published in PMC (PubMed Central®) and other sources (DOI number only)!
If you wish to see all the related articles click here.
Title Authors Publication Released IDs
Bio-mordants: a review Benli H Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 23-Feb-2024
PMCID:PMC10948525
doi:10.1007/s11356-024-32174-8
PMID:38396176
Anti-inflammatory activity of verbascoside- and isoverbascoside-rich Lamiales medicinal plants Pongkitwitoon B, Putalun W, Triwitayakorn K, Kitisripanya T, Kanchanapoom T, Boonsnongcheep P Heliyon 13-Dec-2023
PMCID:PMC10770615
doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e23644
PMID:38187323
Pest categorisation of Diaprepes abbreviatus Bragard C, Baptista P, Chatzivassiliou E, Di Serio F, Gonthier P, Jaques Miret JA, Justesen AF, Magnusson CS, Milonas P, Navas‐Cortes JA, Parnell S, Potting R, Reignault PL, Stefani E, Thulke H, Van der Werf W, Vicent Civera A, Yuen J, Zappalà L, Grégoire J, Malumphy C, Kertesz V, Maiorano A, MacLeod A EFSA J 15-Nov-2023
PMCID:PMC10648563
doi:10.2903/j.efsa.2023.8318
PMID:38027434
Floristic composition and plant community distribution along environmental gradients in Guard dry Afromontane forest of Northwestern Ethiopia Dagne Y, Birhanu L BMC Ecol Evol 28-Aug-2023
PMCID:PMC10463663
doi:10.1186/s12862-023-02154-6
PMID:37635212
Validation of Broth Macrodilution Volatilization Method for Testing of Essential Oils in Liquid and Vapor Phase: Chemical Composition, Cytotoxicity, and Antibacterial Effect of Indian Medicinal Plants against Pneumonia-Causing Pathogens Chaure A, Houdkova M, Antih J, Urbanova K, Doskocil I, Naik ML, Patel KS, Kokoska L Molecules 07-Jun-2023
PMCID:PMC10304056
doi:10.3390/molecules28124625
PMID:37375180
HPTLC and GC–MS finger-printing of two potential multifunctional siddha tailams: Mathan and maha megarajanga tailam Senthilnathan S, Jayaraman S, Priya Veeraraghavan V, Masood Khan J, Ahmed MZ, Ahmad A, Gnanamani A Saudi J Biol Sci 01-Jun-2023
PMCID:PMC10276281
doi:10.1016/j.sjbs.2023.103700
PMID:37333677
Phytochemicals as alternative fungicides for controlling plant diseases: A comprehensive review of their efficacy, commercial representatives, advantages, challenges for adoption, and possible solutions Deresa EM, Diriba TF Heliyon 17-Feb-2023
PMCID:PMC9984788
doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e13810
PMID:36879959
Molecular Phylogeny and Morphology Reveal Four Novel Species of Corynespora and Kirschsteiniothelia (Dothideomycetes, Ascomycota) from China: A Checklist for Corynespora Reported Worldwide Liu J, Hu Y, Luo X, Castañeda-Ruíz RF, Xia J, Xu Z, Cui R, Shi X, Zhang L, Ma J J Fungi (Basel) 12-Jan-2023
PMCID:PMC9863821
doi:10.3390/jof9010107
PMID:36675928
Assessment of mycorrhizal association of a threatened medicinal plant Clerodendrum indicum (L.) O. Kuntze (Verbenaceae) in different ecological variations Mitra PK, Adhikary R, Mandal P, Kundu A, Mandal V Braz J Microbiol 30-Jul-2022
PMCID:PMC9679132
doi:10.1007/s42770-022-00805-2
PMID:35907141
Development of a DNA barcode library of plants in the Thai Herbal Pharmacopoeia and Monographs for authentication of herbal products Urumarudappa SK, Tungphatthong C, Jaipaew J, Pornputtapong N, Pakdeesattayapong D, Vimolmangkang S, Sukrong S Sci Rep 10-Jun-2022
PMCID:PMC9187672
doi:10.1038/s41598-022-13287-x
PMID:35688884
Inventorization and Consensus Analysis of Ethnoveterinary Medicinal Knowledge Among the Local People in Eastern India: Perception, Cultural Significance, and Resilience Mandal SK, Rahaman CH Front Pharmacol 29-Apr-2022
PMCID:PMC9099233
doi:10.3389/fphar.2022.861577
PMID:35571138
Drug-Herb Interactions among Thai Herbs and Anticancer Drugs: A Scoping Review Jiso A, Khemawoot P, Techapichetvanich P, Soopairin S, Phoemsap K, Damrongsakul P, Wongwiwatthananukit S, Vivithanaporn P Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 26-Jan-2022
PMCID:PMC8880589
doi:10.3390/ph15020146
PMID:35215264
Translational Informatics for Natural Products as Antidepressant Agents Singla RK, Joon S, Shen L, Shen B Front Cell Dev Biol 20-Jan-2022
PMCID:PMC8811306
doi:10.3389/fcell.2021.738838
PMID:35127696
Selective Extraction of Bioactive Phenylethanoids from Digitalis obscura Quílez del Moral JF, Pérez Á, Navarro MJ, Galisteo A, Gonzalez-Coloma A, Andrés MF, Barrero AF Plants (Basel) 12-May-2021
PMCID:PMC8150932
doi:10.3390/plants10050959
PMID:34065844
Traditional medicinal plants against replication, maturation and transmission targets of SARS-CoV-2: computational investigation Mondal P, Natesh J, Abdul Salam AA, Thiyagarajan S, Meeran SM J Biomol Struct Dyn 05-Nov-2020
PMCID:PMC7651333
doi:10.1080/07391102.2020.1842246
PMID:33150860

Phytochemical Profile Top

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Below are displayed the proven (via scientific papers) natural compounds!
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Name PubChem ID Canonical SMILES MW Found in Proof
> Benzenoids / Phenanthrenes and derivatives
Uncinatone 442547 Click to see CC1CC2=C(C3=C(C(=C2O1)O)C4(CCC(=C(C4=CC3=O)C)C)C)O 326.40 unknown https://doi.org/10.1021/JF00085A054
> Lignans, neolignans and related compounds / Lignan glycosides
2-[[2-(4-Hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-4-[(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)methyl]oxolan-3-yl]methoxy]-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxane-3,4,5-triol 24150655 Click to see 522.50 unknown https://doi.org/10.1021/NP50035A032
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Fatty Acyls / Fatty acyl glycosides / Fatty acyl glycosides of mono- and disaccharides
4-hydroxy-3,5,5-trimethyl-4-[(E,3R)-3-[(2R,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxybut-1-enyl]cyclohex-2-en-1-one 6325925 Click to see 386.40 unknown https://doi.org/10.1021/NP50035A032
6S,9R-Roseoside 9930064 Click to see 386.40 unknown https://doi.org/10.1021/NP50035A032
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Diterpenoids
(8S,11bS)-7,11-dihydroxy-3,4,8,11b-tetramethyl-1,2,8,9-tetrahydronaphtho[2,1-f][1]benzofuran-6-one 11174780 Click to see CC1COC2=C(C3=C(C(=O)C=C4C3(CCC(=C4C)C)C)C(=C12)O)O 326.40 unknown https://doi.org/10.3184/030823403103174452
7,11-Dihydroxy-3,4,8,11b-tetramethyl-1,2,8,9-tetrahydronaphtho[2,1-f][1]benzofuran-6-one 78384863 Click to see 326.40 unknown https://doi.org/10.3184/030823403103174452
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Terpene lactones / Diterpene lactones
7,18-Dihydroxykaurenolide 628758 Click to see 332.40 unknown https://doi.org/10.1021/NP9606759
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Triterpenoids
(8a-Formyl-4,4,6a,6b,11,11,14b-heptamethyl-1,2,3,4a,5,6,7,8,9,10,12,12a,14,14a-tetradecahydropicen-3-yl) acetate 14829105 Click to see CC(=O)OC1CCC2(C(C1(C)C)CCC3(C2CC=C4C3(CCC5(C4CC(CC5)(C)C)C=O)C)C)C 482.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.3184/030823403103174452
[(3S,4aR,6aR,6bS,8aS,12aS,14aR,14bR)-8a-formyl-4,4,6a,6b,11,11,14b-heptamethyl-1,2,3,4a,5,6,7,8,9,10,12,12a,14,14a-tetradecahydropicen-3-yl] acetate 14829106 Click to see 482.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.3184/030823403103174452
10-Acetyloxy-2,2,6a,6b,9,9,12a-heptamethyl-1,3,4,5,6,6a,7,8,8a,10,11,12,13,14b-tetradecahydropicene-4a-carboxylic acid 619165 Click to see 498.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.3184/030823403103174452
3-Hydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid 619166 Click to see 456.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.3184/030823403103174452
3-O-Acetyloleanolic Acid 151202 Click to see 498.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.3184/030823403103174452
Oleanolic Acid 10494 Click to see 456.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.3184/030823403103174452
Oleanolic acid acetate 6708573 Click to see CC(=O)OC1CCC2(C(C1(C)C)CCC3(C2CC=C4C3(CCC5(C4CC(CC5)(C)C)C(=O)O)C)C)C 498.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.3184/030823403103174452
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Steroids and steroid derivatives / Stigmastanes and derivatives
(-)-Clerosterol 5283638 Click to see 412.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/0039-128X(89)90036-6
(8S,9R,10R,13R,14S)-17-(5-ethyl-6-methylhepta-3,6-dien-2-yl)-10,13-dimethyl-2,3,4,7,8,9,11,12,14,15,16,17-dodecahydro-1H-cyclopenta[a]phenanthren-3-ol 138113827 Click to see 410.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/0039-128X(89)90036-6
> Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Alcohols and polyols / Cyclic alcohols and derivatives
1-Oxaspiro[3.5]nonan-7-ol 10820633 Click to see 142.20 unknown https://doi.org/10.1021/NP9606759
> Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Alcohols and polyols / Tertiary alcohols
4-Hydroxy-4-(2-hydroxyethyl)cyclohexan-1-one 184824 Click to see 158.19 unknown https://doi.org/10.1021/NP9606759
> Organoheterocyclic compounds / Benzofurans
(3aR,7aS)-3a-hydroxy-2,3,7,7a-tetrahydro-1-benzofuran-6-one 138113864 Click to see 154.16 unknown https://doi.org/10.1021/NP9606759
(3aR,7aS)-Hexahydro-3a-hydroxy-6(2H)-benzofuranone 10975728 Click to see 156.18 unknown https://doi.org/10.1021/NP9606759
(3aS,4R,7aS)-3a,4-dihydroxy-2,3,4,5,7,7a-hexahydro-1-benzofuran-6-one 10749706 Click to see 172.18 unknown https://doi.org/10.1021/NP9606759
(3As,7aR)-3a-hydroxy-2,3,4,5,7,7a-hexahydro-1-benzofuran-6-one 25199269 Click to see C1CC2(CCOC2CC1=O)O 156.18 unknown https://doi.org/10.1021/NP9606759
(3aS,7aR)-3a,4-dihydroxy-2,3,4,5,7,7a-hexahydro-1-benzofuran-6-one 137705625 Click to see 172.18 unknown https://doi.org/10.1021/NP9606759
(3aS,7aS)-3a-hydroxy-2,3,4,5,7,7a-hexahydro-1-benzofuran-6-one 124349842 Click to see 156.18 unknown https://doi.org/10.1021/NP9606759
(inverted exclamation markA)-Cleroindicin E 91895369 Click to see 158.19 unknown https://doi.org/10.1021/NP9606759
3,4,5,6,7,7a-hexahydro-2H-1-benzofuran-3a,6-diol 73082982 Click to see 158.19 unknown https://doi.org/10.1021/NP9606759
3a-Hydroxy-2,3,4,5,7,7a-hexahydro-1-benzofuran-6-one 11412510 Click to see 156.18 unknown https://doi.org/10.1021/NP9606759
3a,4-Dihydroxy-2,3,4,5,7,7a-hexahydro-1-benzofuran-6-one 74111149 Click to see 172.18 unknown https://doi.org/10.1021/NP9606759
Cleroindicin D 23730744 Click to see C1COC2C1(C(CC(=O)C2)O)O 172.18 unknown https://doi.org/10.1021/NP9606759
Cleroindicin E 11744892 Click to see 158.19 unknown https://doi.org/10.1021/NP9606759
Halleridone 10374646 Click to see 154.16 unknown https://doi.org/10.1021/NP9606759
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavans / Catechins / Epigallocatechins
Cedrin 21721881 Click to see CC1=C(C2=C(C=C1O)OC(C(C2=O)O)C3=CC(=C(C(=C3)O)O)O)O 334.28 unknown https://doi.org/10.1021/NP9606759
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavones
Scutellarein 5281697 Click to see C1=CC(=CC=C1C2=CC(=O)C3=C(O2)C=C(C(=C3O)O)O)O 286.24 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(73)85054-X
https://doi.org/10.1021/NP50035A032
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Flavonoid O-glucuronides / Flavonoid-7-O-glucuronides
Breviscapine 6426802 Click to see C1=CC(=CC=C1C2=CC(=O)C3=C(C(=C(C=C3O2)OC4C(C(C(C(O4)C(=O)O)O)O)O)O)O)O 462.40 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(73)85054-X
Scutellarin 185617 Click to see 462.40 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(73)85054-X
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / O-methylated flavonoids / 6-O-methylated flavonoids
Hispidulin 5281628 Click to see 300.26 unknown https://doi.org/10.3184/030823403103174452
https://doi.org/10.1021/NP50035A032
Nepetin 5317284 Click to see 316.26 unknown https://doi.org/10.1021/NP50035A032
Pectolinarigenin 5320438 Click to see COC1=CC=C(C=C1)C2=CC(=O)C3=C(O2)C=C(C(=C3O)OC)O 314.29 unknown https://doi.org/10.1021/JF00085A054
https://doi.org/10.3184/030823403103174452

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