Clerodendrum infortunatum

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Ovieda infortunata
• Volkameria infortunata
• Clerodendrum pubescens
• Clerodendrum philippinense
• Clerodendrum viscosum var. helferi
• Clerodendrum viscosum f. rubrum
• Clerodendrum vanoverberghii
• Clerodendrum calycinum
• Clerodendrum depauperatum
• Clerodendrum cordatum
• Clerodendrum affine

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae, the order Lamiales, and the family Lamiaceae. Ultimately, it is identified by its genus, Clerodendrum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical presence across several key regions in Asia. Within China, its distribution is specifically noted in the South-Central areas. It is also widely found across the Indian Subcontinent, including the territories of India and Bangladesh. Furthermore, the species can be located within the Assam region. Finally, its range extends into the mountainous landscapes of the East Himalaya.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Clerodendrum infortunatum is characterized by its adaptability to diverse tropical and subtropical environments, where it typically thrives in disturbed habitats, forest edges, and scrublands. This species occupies a specific altitudinal niche, demonstrating a preference for mid-level elevations that facilitate its growth patterns. Its ecological distribution is defined by an elevational range that begins at a minimum of 200 m AMSL and extends to a maximum of 900 m AMSL. Within this range, the plant plays a role in local ecosystems by providing nectar for various pollinators and contributing to the structural complexity of secondary forests and roadside vegetation.

Elevational range max:

900 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

200 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Clerodendrum infortunatum is characterized by its long-term survival as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. In terms of its structural development and ecological positioning, the species exhibits a dual classification of life forms; it functions as a phanerophyte, maintaining its conducting shoots well above the ground level, while also displaying characteristics of a nanophanerophyte, where the woody stems remain relatively low or compact in certain environmental conditions.

Life form :

nanophanerophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Clerodendrum infortunatum is characterized by a woody growth form, primarily developing as a robust shrub. While it exhibits a self-supporting structure rather than functioning as an obligatory or facultative climber, liana, or vine, its habit is firmly established as a terrestrial plant. It does not exhibit aquatic or semiaquatic tendencies, nor does it function as an epiphyte or a parasite, maintaining an independent existence within its ecosystem. The plant's physical development is defined by its woody stems and shrubby architecture, distinguishing it from herbaceous, graminoid, or tree-like life forms.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Clerodendrum infortunatum is fundamentally characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its metabolic processes and carbon fixation efficiency. As a C3 plant, the initial fixation of atmospheric carbon dioxide occurs through the enzyme Rubisco, leading to the direct production of a three-carbon compound, 3-phosphoglycerate, within the mesophyll cells. This metabolic framework influences the plant's transpiration rates and water-use efficiency, as it relies on open stomata during daylight hours to facilitate gas exchange, making its physiological performance highly dependent on ambient humidity and temperature. This carbon fixation strategy, typical of many woody shrubs in the Lamiaceae family, governs the plant's overall energy assimilation, growth rate, and the synthesis of secondary metabolites essential for its medicinal properties.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

Reproduction in Clerodendrum infortunatum is primarily facilitated through the production of seeds contained within its fruit, which play a critical role in the dispersal and establishment of new individuals. The seeds produced by this species exhibit a highly consistent morphological profile in terms of weight, showing no variance across measured samples. Specifically, the seed mass is characterized by a mean value of 0.04444 g, a figure that is identical to both the maximum and minimum recorded seed mass values of 0.04444 g. This lack of deviation in seed mass suggests a highly standardized reproductive output, where each seed carries a uniform nutrient load to support early seedling development.

Seed mass mean:

0.04444 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Clerodendrum infortunatum has 3 reported plant parts identified across 9 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, root, flower.

Leaf

1. Pharmacognosy research
2. Food science & nutrition
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology
4. Indian journal of pharmacology
5. Pharmaceutical biology

Root

1. Anti-cancer agents in medicinal chemistry
2. Journal of basic and clinical physiology and pharmacology

Flower

1. Regulatory toxicology and pharmacology : RTP

Chemicals

Clerodendrum infortunatum has 37 reported phytochemicals identified across 9 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, Gallic acid, RUTIN, Saponins, Steroids.

Flavonoids

1. Pharmacognosy research
2. Frontiers in bioscience (Scholar edition)

Gallic acid

1. Fitoterapia
2. Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention : APJCP

RUTIN

1. Fitoterapia
2. Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention : APJCP

Saponins

1. Pharmacognosy research
2. Frontiers in bioscience (Scholar edition)

Steroids

1. Pharmacognosy research
2. Frontiers in bioscience (Scholar edition)

Tannins

1. Pharmacognosy research
2. Frontiers in bioscience (Scholar edition)

quercetin

1. Fitoterapia
2. Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention : APJCP

(3e)-hexen-1-ol acetate

1. Natural product research

1,3-Methylene-d-arabitol

1. Pharmacognosy research

1-Hexanol

1. Natural product research

Activities

Clerodendrum infortunatum has 10 reported activities identified across 9 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Hepatoprotective, Cytotoxic, Antibacterial, Anticancer.

Antioxidant

1. Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention : APJCP
2. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM
3. ACS omega

Hepatoprotective

1. Fitoterapia
2. Food science & nutrition
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Cytotoxic

1. Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention : APJCP
2. Advanced pharmaceutical bulletin

Antibacterial

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Anticancer

1. ACS omega

Antidiabetic

1. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Antimicrobial

1. Advanced pharmaceutical bulletin

Cytoprotective

1. Fitoterapia

Free-Radical Scavenging

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Hyperglycemic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Medicinal Uses

Clerodendrum infortunatum has 6 reported medicinal uses identified across 9 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Cervical cancer, bronchitis, cognitive decline, inflammation, oxidative stress.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations