Steroid Glucosides from Clerodendron infortunatum

Clerodendron  infortunatum (Fam. Verbenaceae) is a shrub and is commonly known in West Bengal as bhat . The leaves and roots of this plant are used in the indigenous system of medicine for tumors and certain skin diseases. The leaves are also used as vermifuge and as a substitute for chiretta (Swertia chirata)¹. Chemical investigation of the leaves of C. infortunatum in this laboratory led to the isolation of a novel diterpenoid bitter principle called clerodin² the structure of which has now been elucidated^3,4,5 . Recently Khuda et al.^6,7 reported the isolation of a sterol, clerosterol, and a number of triterpenoids called clerodol, clerodolone and clerodone from the alcoholic extract of the root of this plant.