Gen info
- Clerodendrum is a genus of about 500 species in the family Lamiaceae.
- It is one of many species previously included in the family Verbenaceae, which was transfered to   Lamiaceae based on molecular studies.
- Etymology: The genus name Clerodendrum derives from a combination of Greek words: "kleros", meaning fate, and "dendron", meaning tree, given by Johannes Burman (1707-1780). The species names comes from a combination of Latin epithets: "quator" meaning four, and "loculus" meaning loculus, referring to the quadrilocular ovary.   6)

Botany
Bagauak is an erect, branched, bushy, smooth shrub or small tree 2 to 5 meters high. Leaves are oblong, 15 to 20 centimeters in length, pointed at the tip, rounded at the base. Upper surface of the blade is green, and the lower surface usually a uniform dark purple. Cymes are terminal, panicled, and generally many flowered. Calyx is purple, pitcher-like, about 1 centimeter long. and 5-toothed. Corolla is white or purplish, with a long slender, cylindric tube which is 6 to 8 centimeters long and about 2 millimeters in diameter; the limb is spreading, with oblong-elliptic lobes about 1.5 centimeters long. Fruit is ellipsoid, 1 to 1.5 centimeters long, and purplish, with persistent red calyx 1 to 1.5 centimeters long, containing four seeds, one for each lobe.

Distribution
- Native to the Philippines and New Guinea.
- In primary forests at low and medium altitudes in Benguet, Nueva Viscaya, Pangasinan, Zambales, Pampanga, Bataan, Rizal, Laguna, Quezon, and Batangas Provinces in Luzon; in Mindoro, Panay, Negros, Siargao, and Bucas Grande.
- Garden cultivation for its beautiful flowers.
- Also occurs in New Guinea.
- Highly invasive perennial shrub. Species produces large amounts of viable seed and grows rapidly by sprouts and root suckers. Seeds mostly dispersed by bird and other animals.

Constituents
- Study of extracts of dried and ground leaves yielded clerosterols identified as 22-dehydroclerosterol, clerosterol, and 22-dehydroclerosterol 3ß-O-ß-D-(6'-O-margaroyl)-glucopyranoside. (1)
- Methanol extract of leaves yielded flavonoids, steroids, triterpenes, coumarins, tannins, phenolics, and alkaloids. (4)

Properties
- In some places, considered a highly invasive perennial shrub, attributed to its producing large amounts of seed that grows rapidly by sprouts and root suckers. (5)
- Vulnerary, anti-flatulent, antispasmodic.

Parts used
Leaves.

Uses
Folkloric
- In the Philippines, leaves applied topically for wound healing and ulcers.
- Also used in tonic baths.
- Decoction of leaves taken internally; cataplasm is applied externally for flatulence.
- Decoction of leaves used for indigestion and stomach pains. (4)

Studies
• Clerosterols: Extracts of dried and ground leaves yielded six fractions. Study yielded clerosterols identified as 22-dehydroclerosterol, clerosterol, and 22-dehydroclerosterol 3ß-O-ß-D-(6'-O-margaroyl)-glucopyranoside. (1)
• Anti-Spasmodic / Toxicity Study / Leaves: Study evaluated a methanolic extract of leaves for antispasmodic effect. A DCM fractions showed relaxation activity on isolated rat ileum with acetylcholine-induced contraction (EC50=1376 µg/mL) compared to standard antagonist, atropine *p>0.05). Phytochemical analysis yielded flavonoids, steroids, triterpenes, coumarins, tannins, phenolics, and alkaloids.  Toxicity study showed it to be non-toxic at 5000 mg/kg. Results suggest potential as safe and effective treatment of smooth muscle spasm. (4)

Availability
Wild-crafted.

Additional Sources and Suggested Readings
(1)
Clerosterols from Clerodendrum quadriloculare / Allan Patrick G. Macabeo, Melanie Cassandra G. Villafranca et al / Biochemical Systematics and Ecology 36 (2008) 659–660 / doi:10.1016/j.bse.2008.04.001
(2)
Clerodendrum quadriloculare / Common names / PIER
(3)
Clerodendrum quadriloculare / Synonyms / Plants of the World Online
(4)
THE ANTISPASMODIC EFFECT OF Clerodendrum quadriloculare (Blanco) Merr. LEAF EXTRACTS / Kay Ann S. Jonatas-Tongol, Mafel C. Ysrael / Int J Pharm 2015; 5(2): pp 536-540 / ISSN: 2249-1848
(5)
Clerodendrum quadriloculare / CABI
(6)
Clerodendrum quadriloculare /  Pietro Puccio and Mario Beltramini / Monaco Nature Encyclopedia

DOI: It is not uncommon for links on studies/sources to change. Copying and pasting the information on the search window or using the DOI (if available) will often redirect to the new link page. (Citing and Using a (DOI) Digital Object Identifier)