Clerodane diterpene

Clerodane diterpenes, sometimes referred to as clerodane diterpenoids, are a large group of secondary metabolites that have been isolated from several hundreds of different plant species, as well as fungi, bacteria and marine sponges.

The clerodane diterpenes are classified into four groups trans-cis (TC), trans-trans (TT), cis-cis (CC), and cis-trans (TC) based on the relative stereochemistry at the decalin junction (trans or cis) and the relative stereochemistry of the substituents at C-8 and C-9 (trans or cis).

Its biosynthesis in plants (mostly present in the families Lamiaceae and Asteraceae) takes place in the chloroplasts.

[3] Some clerodanes like clerodin (3-desoxy-caryoptinol) from the leaves of Clerodendrum infortunatum (Verbenaceae) have anthelminthic properties, others like ajugarins are repellent to herbivore predators (mostly insects and their larvae) or have a very bitter taste, such as gymnocolin.

), cascarillin from Croton eluteria, calumbins from Jateorhiza columba, Jateorhiza palmata and guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia), gymnocolin from Gymnocolea inflata, hardwickiic acid from Hardwickia species (Fabaceae).

The clerodane skeleton contains 20 carbons and a decalin core. There are four additional distinctions that refer to the stereochemistry of the decalin ring junction and the substituents on the C-8 and C-9 carbons.