A Prospective Review on Phyto-pharmacological Aspects of Vitex negundo Linn

Background: Vitex negundo Linn. commonly known as five leave chase tree is an ethnobotanically important drug in traditional system of medicine. The plant is widely distributed in India, China and other Asian and American countries. Objective: The review aims at presenting comprehensive information with respect to ethnopharmacological relevance and recent findings on phytochemical and biological activities of Vitex negundo. Method: Literature was collected from various sources such as pubmed, scopus, science direct, and others. Results: Extracts and secondary metabolites of this plant, particularly those from roots and leaves, possess useful pharmacological activities such as anti-inflammatory, antitumor, antioxidant, antimicrobial, galactagogue, antigastric, antiflatulant, antiparasitic, analgesic, hepatoprotective and antihypertensive, some of which have been validated scientifically. All parts of the plant especially leave and roots contain a large number of bioactive phytoconstituents including flavonoids, iridoids, lignans, volatile oil, terpenes, coumarins, phenolic and steroidal compounds which impart multiple medicinal properties. Vitexin, isovitexin, viridifol, caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid and isochlorogenic acid are the main components. Conclusion: The review emphasizes the medicinal importance of Vitex negundo and its bioactive constituents in the traditional system of medicine.