ABSTRACT
Vitex negundo L. (Lamiaceae) is an aromatic, deciduous, small tree, native to South East Asia, along with Eastern Africa and Madagascar. This plant has been stated medicinally important plant in ancient literatures like Indian Ayurveda, Arabic Unani, and traditional Chinese medicines. Study of V. negundo revealed presence of many important bioactive compounds like coumarins, essential oils, flavonoids, lignans, steroids, terpenoids, and organic acids where flavonoids and terpenoids were found predominantly. Among the terpenoids the most abundant were triterpenoids with 18 oleanane, 6 ursane, 2 norursane, 3 lupine, and 9-epi-cucurbitane-type terpenoids. According to ancient literatures, leaf and root can be used in treat- ment of excessive vaginal discharges, pruritus, helminthiasis, rheumatism, oedema, skin diseases, and puerperal fever. In Unani medicine, seeds can cure spermatorrhoea and promote spermiogenesis. Extracts of various parts of V. negundo like leaves, stem bark, fruit, seed and roots were reported to possess analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anticancer, antioxidant and cytotoxic activities. Moreover, effect on reproductive potential, enzyme 310inhibitory activity, hepatoprotective activity, histomorphological, cytotoxic effects, immuno-stimulant activity, insecticidal activity, snake venom antagonistic activity and wound healing activity were also noticed.
