Unveiling the Bioactive Potential of Malaysian Clerodendrum Species: A Comparative Approach

The genus Clerodendrum (Lamiaceae), widely distributed in tropical and subtropical regions of Asia and Africa, has traditionally been used in folk medicine to treat inflammation, skin disorders, hypertension, and infections. Despite their ethnomedicinal relevance, scientific validation of their pharmacological properties remains limited for many species. This study aimed to investigate the bioactivities of extracts from four Clerodendrum species: Clerodendrum nutans, C. myrmecophilum, C. paniculatum, and C. disparifolium. The extracts were evaluated for their antioxidant, antityrosinase, and anti-inflammatory activities. Antioxidant potential was assessed using the DPPH radical scavenging assay and total phenolic content (TPC), while antityrosinase and anti-inflammatory activities were determined using mushroom tyrosinase and lipoxygenase enzyme inhibition assays, respectively. Among the species tested, the leaf extract of C. paniculatum exhibited the strongest bioactivities, with a DPPH IC50 value of 79.5 μg/mL, TPC of 135.2 mg GAE/g, tyrosinase inhibition of 82.5%, and lipoxygenase inhibition of 66.8%. These findings suggest that C. paniculatum may serve as a promising natural source of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agents for potential therapeutic or cosmetic applications.