Common Name: Bhangri

General Information

Clerodendrum indicum is a semideciduous, perennial plant with stems that are sometimes herbaceous but more often become woody, with the plant adopting the habit of a shrub or a small trre. Growing from an aggressively suckering, stoloniferous rootstock, the plant can be up to 3 metres tall, the stems usually very straight or arching, mostly unbranched, hollow[, ].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine. It is grown for medicinal use in home gardens in southern China[], and is often grown as an ornamental[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

E. Asia - southern China, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia.

Habitat

Roadsides and open places on mountain slopes; at elevations from 200 - 1,400 metres[, ].

Properties

Weed Potential	Yes
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Semi-deciduous Shrub
Height	1.50 m
Pollinators	Lepidoptera, Bees
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Clerodendrum indicum grows best in a moist tropical or subtropical climate and is not very tolerant of frost.
Succeeds in a moderately to very sunny position in ordinary garden soil[]. Prefers a moist but well-drained fertile soil[].
The plant is commonly grown as an ornamental and easily escapes cultivation through its stolons and seeds. It has become naturalized outside its native range but is not currently (2014) viewed as a significant threat to native flora. Monitoring and future reassessment is recommended, considering its now widespread distribution beyond its native range, its rapid growth rate, and its ability to reproduce both by seed and vegetatively[, , ].
Flowers are produced on the current seasons growth and so, to encourage flowering, any pruning is best carried out when the plant is dormant[].

Edible Uses

Leaves - cooked and eaten as a potherb[]. The leaves of species in this genus usually have a bitter flavour and are often eaten at least as much for their tonic affect upon the digestive system as for any appeal to the taste buds[].

Medicinal

According to Ayurveda, Bhangri is a good anti inflammatory agent, helps in the healing of wounds, and improves circulation of blood in the body. It is also helpful in improving the digestive activities of the body. It acts on the respiratory system, expelling excessive mucus in the tract and bringing relief from coughs, colds and asthmatic symptoms. It opens the body pores and increases sweating in the body[].

The leaves are used as a bitter tonic and vermifuge[, ]. Mention is made of the leaves being employed as a substitute for opium[]. The juice of the leaves mixed with ghee and jaggery is said to be useful in the treatment of cough, bronchitis, asthma and other respiratory related problems[]. The dried leaves are smoked like cigarettes to relieve asthma[, ] The leaf paste is used in the treatment of diabetes[].
The paste from the leaves is a highly effective healing and antiinflammatory agent when applied to wounds. It can also treat swollen lymph nodes[].

The stem decoction, combined with black pepper in the ratio 3:2, is used as an antidote to snake bite[].

The juice of the tender parts of the plant is used as an external application for skin complaints, eruptions on the feet etc[, , ].

The pounded root, or the juice thereof, combined with ginger, is considered useful in the treatment of asthma, coughs and other pulmonary complaints as well as scrofulous affections[, ].

The juice of the bark, taken daily for around 1 month, is used for treating malnutrition[].

A resin extracted from the plant is used in the treatment of syphilitic rheumatism[, ].

The leaves contain flavonoids, scutellarein, hispidulin and sterol[].
The stem contains resin, cholesterol and beta- sitosterol[].
The flowers contain hydroquinone, uncinatone and flavones pectolinarigenin and cirsimaritin.
The bark contains D-mannitol and sorbitol. The flavonoid ectolinarigenin has also been isolated from the root bark[]
The root contains phenolic glycosides and saponins. The saponins act as an antihistamine or anti-inflammatory agent and thus help prevent the hyper-sensititivity of the body towards external agents such as pollen that can have allergenic properties[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe. Germination can be erratic but usually takes place within 20 - 60 days at 20°c[]. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on until large enough to plant out.
Root cuttings, 6 - 8cm long usually grow away well[].
Division of suckers in the dormant season. Very easy, they can be planted out direct into their permanent positions if required.

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