Chemical constituents from the roots of Clerodendrum indicum and Clerodendrum villosum

•Fifteen compounds were isolated from the roots of Clerodendrum indicum.•Twelve compounds were obtained from C. indicum for the first time.•Ten chemical constituents of C. villosum were firstly reported.•Chemotaxonomic significance of 24β-ethylsteroids within subfamily Ajugoideae of Lamiaceae is discussed.

Four triterpenoids (1–4), nine steroids and steroid glycosides (6–11, 13–15) and two flavonoids (17–18) were isolated from the roots of Clerodendrum indicum, whereas three triterpenoids (1, 4 and 5), six steroids and steroid glycosides (9–10, 12–14, 16) and one phenylethanoid glycoside (19) were obtained from the roots of Clerodendrum villosum. This is the first report of chemical constituents of C. villosum, and the first report of compounds 1, 3–4, 6–11 and 13–15 from C. indicum. Among the steroids isolated, six of them are the characteristic 24β-ethylsteroids with Δ25-unsaturation. Their chemotaxonomic significance within the subfamily Ajugoideae (Teucrioideae) of the family Lamiaceae is discussed.