In vitro flowering in Vitex negundo

Vitex negundo, commonly known as the five-leaved chaste tree, is a large aromatic shrub with quadrangular, densely whitish, tomentose branchlets. It is widely used in folk medicine, particularly in South and Southeast Asia.

It is known under a variety of names in different languages: Tamil: நொச்சி, nochhi; Hindi: निर्गुंडी, nirgundi; Sanskrit: सिन्धुवार, sindhuvara(వావిలి / సింధువార); Telugu : Sindhuvara; Filipino: lagundî; Sinhala: නික, nika; and Bengali: Nishinda (নিশিন্দা), Nepali: Simali (सिमाली)and nirgudi in marathi.

Description [edit]

Vitex negundo is an erect shrub or small tree growing from 2 to 8 m (6.6 to 26 ft) in height. The bark is reddish-brown. It leaves are digitate, with five lanceolate leaflets, sometimes three. Each leaflet is around 4 to 10 cm (1.6 to 3.9 in) in length, with the central leaflet being the largest and possessing a stalk. The leaf edges are toothed or serrated and the bottom surface is covered in hair.^[2] The numerous flowers are borne in panicles 10 to 20 cm (3.9 to 7.9 in) in length. Each is around 6 to 7 cm (2.4 to 2.8 in) long and are white to blue in color. The petals are of different lengths, with the middle lower lobe being the longest. Both the corolla and calyx are covered in dense hairs.^[2]

The fruit is a succulent drupe, 4 mm (0.16 in) in diameter, rounded to egg-shaped. It is black or purple when ripe.^[2]

Distribution and habitat [edit]

Vitex negundo is native to tropical Eastern and Southern Africa and Asia. It is widely cultivated and naturalized elsewhere.^[1]

Countries it is indigenous to include Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kenya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, and Vietnam.^[1]

Vitex negundo are commonly found near bodies of water, recently disturbed land, grasslands, and mixed open forests.^[3]

Nomenclature [edit]

Common names of Vitex negunda in different languages include:^[4]

Chemistry [edit]

The principal constituents the leaf juice are casticin, isoorientin, chrysophenol D, luteolin, p–hydroxybenzoic acid and D-fructose.^{[citation needed]} The main constituents of the oil are sabinene, linalool, terpinen-4-ol, β-caryophyllene, α-guaiene and globulol constituting 61.8% of the oil.^{[citation needed]} In vitro and animal studies have shown that chemicals isolated from the plant have potential anti-inflammatory,^[5] antibacterial,^[6] antifungal^[7][8] and analgesic^[5][9][10] activities.

Uses [edit]

Vitex negunda is used for treating stored garlic against pests and as a cough remedy in the Philippines.^[11]

References [edit]