Seaside Clerodendron

Overview

Its native distribution covers Southern China, India, Myanmar, Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, and Polynesia. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine. It is sometimes cultivated as a medicinal plant, especially in India, and is commonly grown as an ornamental and hedge plant in tropical areas.

Vernacular Names

Yasamen katheb (Arabic), Volkameria (French), Ku lang shu (Chinese), Ibota-kusagi (Japanese), Bunga pawang (Malay)

Agroecology

Grows on open coastal areas,such as along the beach, in mangroves, along tidal rivers; also found along rivers and in swamps further inland; favouring sandy soils but also found on clays at elevations up to 100 m.

Morphology

• Stems - erect, branches are slender while the knots are not annulated.
• Leaves - Its stalked leaves have membranous leaf blades that are oval or narrowly lance-shaped, not covered with hair when mature, and 3.8–8.8 by 1.8–4.3 cm, with inconspicuous veins.
• Flowers - Its flowers grow in groups of 3–7 on the end of branches (axils). Its petals are white or tinged purple, and fragrant.
• Fruits - Its drupe (fruit) is drop-shaped, bright green turning black or brown, and 0.8 cm in diameter.

Cultivation

Propagated by seeds, softwood cuttings, cuttings of half-ripe wood, root cuttings and division of suckers.

Chemical Constituents

Flavonoids, sterols, flavones, triterpenes, diterpenes, quinones, neolignans, stearoptin with an apple-like odor, pentadecanoic acid-ß-D-glucoside, acetin and apigenin, new diterpenoids clerodane, cleroindermin, apigenin, cardiac glycosides, anthraquinones, phenolic saponins, tannins, iridoids, steroids, fixed oils, essential oils, and lignins.

Traditional Medicinal Uses

• A decoction of the root is used as a bitter, febrifuge and general alterative. It is used in the treatment of intermittent fevers.
• The finely ground roots are used as a remedy for an upset stomach, especially if this is caused by poisonous seafood. This treatment is often combined with a decoction of the leaves, simultaneously employed as a bath but also as a drink.
• The root is boiled in oil and used as a liniment that is rubbed into affected areas when treating rheumatism.
• The leaves are alterative, bitter, depurative and febrifuge. A decoction of roasted leaves is considered a remedy for beriberi.
• A decoction of the leaves, or a poultice of the ground leaves, is applied topically in the treatment of skin diseases, swellings, itches etc., and help to prevent suppuration.
• The seeds are reportedly used as a remedy for an upset stomach, especially when this is caused by poisonous seafood.
• An extract of the plant has shown antiviral activity against hepatitis b.