Modern science catches up with native knowledge with discovery of Clerodendrum kelli
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Clerodendrum kelli—a newly described, Critically Endangered species found only in Nueva Ecija, Philippines— shown in photographs highlighting its overall habit (a), distinctive leaves (b), and flowers with immature fruits (c-d).
view moreCredit: Tobias et al., 2025
The indigenous Bugkalot people of Nueva Ecija call it “kelli”: a plant with white, starburst-like flowers and oval-shaped leaves that are traditionally mashed and mixed with food to treat ailing dogs. But despite this local familiarity, science has only now been able to identify it as a distinct species and given it a formal scientific name.
Clerodendrum kelli is a small shrub that grows in the humid montane rainforests of the Caraballo Mountain Range, specifically in two localities—Mt. Meddengen and Sitio Binbin. Nestled within the Pantabangan-Carrangalan Watershed Forest Reserve (PCWFR), this rare species is a subtle presence in the landscape, never appearing abundant nor easily encountered.
Reaching about a meter in height, the plant stands out with its green leaves accented by pale purple undersides. Its white, tube-shaped flowers bloom from reddish-pink bases and are arranged in loose, open clusters, unlike the dense groupings of some Clerodendrum species.
The documented medicinal use of the plant reflects the Bugkalot’s deep understanding of the species and its habitat. Importantly, there is no indication that their traditional use has led to the plant’s scarcity. Rather, habitat loss from land conversion and natural landslides poses the greatest known threat to its survival.
Despite formal protection, this ongoing habitat degradation has reduced C. kelli’s range. This shrinkage is especially severe along the steep ridges where the species grows. As forest clearing and slope failures continue, C. kelli is now assessed as Critically Endangered and is known to exist in a total area of just 8 square kilometers. Researchers warn that, without stronger protection, the species could vanish.
The underscores how the discovery of C. kelli is more than a scientific milestone; it highlights how Indigenous knowledge and science can overlap—bridging traditional and formal understanding of biodiversity.
David Justin R. Ples, John Patykowski, Leonardo C. Udasco, John Charles A. Altomonte, Adriane B. Tobias, and Rene Alfred Anton Bustamante published their study, Clerodendrum kelli (Lamiaceae), a new species from Carranglan, Nueva Ecija, Philippines, and lectotypification of Clerodendrum mindorense in December 2025 in the Gardens’ Bulletin Singapore.
Journal
Gardens’ Bulletin Singapore
Article Title
Clerodendrum kelli (Lamiaceae), a new species from Carranglan, Nueva Ecija, Philippines, and lectotypification of Clerodendrum mindorense
In vitro antibacterial activity of crude extracts from Tithonia diversifolia (asteraceae) and Solanum torvum (solanaceae) against selected shigella species
Background and objectives
Infectious diarrhea is a gastrointestinal illness that results in around 1.7 billion cases and 525,000 deaths annually, particularly among children under five, according to the World Health Organization. While some Cameroonian medicinal plants show promise for treating diarrhea, many plants are used without established scientific evidence of their efficacy. These plants include Tithonia diversifolia (T. diversifolia) and Solanum torvum (S. torvum), which are traditionally used to treat diarrheal symptoms. This study sought to investigate the anti-Shigella activity of leaf extracts from T. diversifolia and S. torvum.
Methods
Extracts from T. diversifolia and S. torvum were obtained by successive maceration in solvents of increasing polarity, including hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, methanol, and water. The as-prepared extracts (10) were evaluated for antibacterial activity against selected Shigella species using an in vitro experiment. The mode of action of the bioactive extracts was determined in Shigella through growth kinetic analysis.
Results
Hexane extract from S. torvum (St-HEX-F) and dichloromethane extract from T. diversifolia (Td-DCM-F) inhibited the growth of Shigella flexneri NR-518 and Shigella boydii NR-521 with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of 500 and 1,000 µg/mL, respectively. Shigella flexneri and Shigella boydii were the most sensitive strains, whereas Shigella sonnei was the most resistant strain. Bacterial growth kinetics revealed that St-HEX-F and Td-DCM-F are bacteriostatic at MIC and bactericidal at 2×MIC and 4×MIC.
Conclusions
The extracts from S. torvum and T. diversifolia, obtained by successive maceration using solvents of increasing polarity, were further screened for antibacterial effect against three Shigella species (S. flexneri NR-518, S. boydii NR-521, and S. sonnei NR-519). As a result, the hexane extract from S. torvum leaves (St-HEX-F) and the dichloromethane extract of T. diversifolia (Td-DCM-F) revealed significant antibacterial activity against S. flexneri NR-518, with MIC values ranging from 500 to 1,000 µg/mL.
Kinetics of bacterial mortality (S. flexneri NR-518) with St-HEX-F and Td-DCM-F revealed a bacteriostatic orientation at MIC and a bactericidal trend at higher extract concentrations (2×MIC and 4×MIC). Overall, extracts from S. torvum and T. diversifolia demonstrated antibacterial effects, thus confirming the traditional use of these plants in treating bacterial infections. However, the mechanistic basis of the antibacterial action, in vitro and in vivo toxicity experiments, and pharmacokinetics are warranted to support the use of these plants in ethnomedicine. Moreover, activity-guided fractionation and isolation of the antibacterial compounds should also be investigated.
Full text
https://www.xiahepublishing.com/2572-5505/JERP-2025-00052
The study was recently published in the Journal of Exploratory Research in Pharmacology.
Journal of Exploratory Research in Pharmacology (JERP) publishes original innovative exploratory research articles, state-of-the-art reviews, editorials, short communications that focus on novel findings and the most recent advances in basic and clinical pharmacology, covering topics from drug research, drug development, clinical trials and application.
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Journal
Journal of Exploratory Research in Pharmacology
Article Title
In vitro Antibacterial Activity of Crude Extracts from Tithonia diversifolia (Asteraceae) and Solanum torvum (Solanaceae) against Selected Shigella Species
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