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Abstract
Plant preparations are said to be medicinal or herbal when they are used to promote health beyond basic nutrition. It is indeed quite interesting to observe that our ancients were duly equipped with the vast, in depth and elaborated knowledge of drugs from the vegetable origin but unfortunately they possessed a scanty knowledge with regard to the presence of chemically pure compounds in most of them. The genus Vitex L. (Nirgundi), a large genus of the family Lamiaceae, is named after the ancient Italian City of Nephi. It is also known as Glechoma and Negundo and it contains about 280 annual and perennial species, the majority of which are aromatic plants native to temperate Europe, Asia, North Africa, and North America. The wide variety and high content of terpenoid, flavonoid and phenolic compounds of Vitex species provide diverse pharmacological effects, justifying its traditional utilization for medicinal purposes. Vitex Negundo (Chaste Tree or Nirgundi, V. Negundo), an aromatic perennial herb, belongs to genus Vitex of Lamiaceae family and has been well known for its medicinal and therapeutic values.
The name Negundo has been originated from vieo, an old Latin word, which mean of to bind. Like other aromatic plants which have showed flavoring and medicinal properties and act as renewable source for the same, V. Negundo has also been known for its essential oil and secondary metabolites, which showed tremendous applications in pharmaceutical, agrochemical and food industries. It was shown by the different research groups that the essential oil and different extracts isolated from V. Negundo have been a rich source of Vitex lactones and related compounds (iridoids), which have been mainly responsible for different biological activities of the plant, viz. shrub attractant, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, antidiabetic activities, as well as sedative, antidepressant, spasmolytic, anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities. Experiments show that this plant influences sexual activity, and expresses anticancer properties. Antimicrobial activity against a number of bacteria is also noted, as well as repellent and insecticidal properties. Nematodidal and allelopathic effects are also noted. This research emphasizes on latest information regarding the botany, distribution, cultivation taxonomy, traditional uses and more focused on phytochemistry, pharmacology.