Clerodendrum serratum (L.) Moon. – A review on traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacological activities

Abstract

Ethnopharmacological relevance:Clerodendrumserratum (L.) Moon.(Verbenaceae)isanimportant medicinal plantgrowinginthetropicalandwarmtemperateregionslikeAfrica,SouthernAsia;Malaysia and distributedthroughoutinforestsofIndiaandSriLanka.Itistraditionallyvaluedandreportedfor treating pain,inflammation, rheumatism,respiratorydisorders,feverandmalarialfeverinIndiawith a longhistory.Toprovideacomprehensiveoverviewofthetraditionalandethnomedicinaluses, phytochemistryandbiologicalactivitiesof C. serratum with clinicalandtoxicitydataandpossiblymake recommendations forfurtherresearch. Materials andmethods: All relevantworldwideaccepteddatabasesweresearchedfortheterms “Clerodendrum”, “Clerodendrumserratum”, “Bharangi” and “Cheruthekku” along withtheotherliterature from Indianclassicaltextsandpharmacopoeias.Therewasnospecific timelinesetforthesearch.The accessible literaturesavailableon C. serratum werecollectedviaelectronicsearchusingPubmed,Scopus, Science Directandtraditionalbooksreportsonethnopharmacologyandtraditionalmedicines. Results: C.serratum has playedanimportantroleinIndiansystemofmedicine.Inadditiontothe common localuseinrespiratorydiseases,otherethnomedicinalusesincludetreatmentofpain, inflammation, rheumatismandfeverespeciallymalarialfever.Scientific studiesonextractsand formulations revealedanti-asthmatic,mastcellstabilizationandanti-allergiceffectsofrootsof C. serratum. Reporteddataonpharmacologicalactivitiesalsoincludeshepatoprotective,anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory andanticancerpotentialofthedrug.Saponins(terpenoidsandsteroids), flavonoids and phenolicsisolatedfromrootshavebeenthefocusofphytochemicalinvestigationsasthebiological activity hasbeenascribedtothesaponins,whichareknowntopossessanti-inflammatoryandanti- cancer activity.Isolatedbioactivesfromrootslikeicosahydropicenicacidandursolicacidhavebeen claimed toofferanti-allergicandhepatoprotectiveactivity. Conclusions: Therapeuticpotentialofrootsandleavesof C. serratum has beendemonstratedinthe conditions likeasthma,allergy,fever,inflammation andliverdisordersattributedtothepresenceof various flavonoids,phenolicsandsaponinspresentinthedrug.Manyethnobotanicalclaimshavebeen confirmed throughmodern in-vitro and in-vivo pharmacological studiesofdifferentextractsandisolates from plant;however,additionalstudiesonthebiomarkersareneededtoestablishmechanismofaction and tovalidatethetraditionaluseofthisdruginclinicalpracticesafterpropersafetyassessment.

Pharmacological activities