INTRODUCTION:

Ayurveda is the science of living. It deals with the prevention of diseases, promotion of health, longevity and cures the diseases. The recorded use of natural products for Ayurvedic medicinal purposes date back at least 3000 year back. . It is interesting to note that a single plant species finds use for treatment of a wide spectrum of health disorders in traditional and folk medicine; some of which have been experimentally validated. Vitex nigundo (Nirgundi) is one of very useful plant in Indian System of medicine. The plant holds great promise as a commonly available medicinal plant and it is indeed no surprise that the plant is referred to in the Indian traditional circles as ‘sarvaroganivarini’. In Ayurveda it has been used for the different diseases with pharmacological evidence since a long time.

Vernacular names:¹

Eng.- Five leaved chest tree.

Hindi-Samhalu, Sambhalu, Nirganda, Nisinda, Shivari, Sandura, Sinura.

Beng.-Nishinda, Samalu, Nirgundi.

Guj.- Nagoda, Nagada.

Kan.- Niragundi, Lakkagida, Nekka, Nakilu.

Mal.- Karunocci

Mar.- Nirgundi, Nisind, Nigundi, Nigada, Lingada,

Punj.-Banna, Marwan, Shiwari, Maura,Torbanna

Tam.-Nirkundi, Nallanocci

Tel.- Nallavavilli,Vavilli,Tellavavilli.

Assam-Pasutia, Aggla-chitta.

Odia- Beyguna, begundia, Nirgundi, Indrani

Urdu-Poast-e-sambhalu

Geographical Distribution:

Vitex usually grows from three to nine feet tall, but under cultivation can develop to 20 feet tall. Nirgundi occur in tropical to temperate regions (up to 2200 m from east to west) grows gregariously in wastelands and is also widely used as a hedge-plant. This species is globally distributed in Indo-Malaysia, cultivated in America, Europe, Asia and West Indies. Within India, it is found throughout the greater part of India, ascending to an altitude of 1500 metres in the outer Himalayas⁵. It is abundant in open-waste lands. Locally distributed throughout the State Maharashtra along the banks of rivers; very common near the sea-coast in tidal and beach-forests in Konkan; along Deccan rivers. Habitat found to be in Waste lands and moist situations. A small slender tree with quadrangular branchlets densely whitish, tomentose branchlets distributed throughout India. It is often found growing next to streams and it loves water.^2,3

Cultivation:

It is widely planted as a hedge plant in between the fields and usually not browsed by the cattle. It can be reproduced readily from shoot cuttings. It produces root suckers which can also be utilized as planting material. An easily grown plant, it prefers a light well-drained loamy soil in a warm sunny position sheltered from cold drying winds succeeds in poor dry soils. Plants tolerate temperatures down to about -10°C. The leaves and stems are strongly aromatic. The flowers have a most pronounced musk-like perfume.⁴

Botanical descrition¹

An aromatic large shrub or small tree, upto 4.5 m high, Leaves petiolate, digitately compound; leaflets 3-5, lanciolate or elliptic- lanciolate, unequal, entire or coarsely crenate-serrate, acute to acuminate, nearly glabrous above tomentose beneath. Flowers bluish-purple, crowded in short cymes, forming erect, narrow, tapering, terminal or qaxillary panicles. Fruits subglobose, drupaceous, 2-3 mm across. Seeds 2-4, in bony endocarp.

Ayurvedic properties⁵:

Rasa Katu (pungent), Tikta (bitter)

Guna Laghu (Ruksha), Ruksha (dry)

Virya Ushna (hot)

Vipaka Katu (pungent)

Doshakarma Kapha-Vata Shamaka

Medicinal uses in Ayurveda:⁶

The plant is first described in Charaka Samhita which is a oldest and most authentic text of Ayurveda. Latter on plant related Ayurvedic text like Bhavaprakasha nighantu, Kayadeva nighantu, Raja Nighantu, Dhanwantari nighantu and Chakradatta etc has mentioned detailed about the plant Nirgundi . The therapeutic properties and uses of this plant is thermogenic, anthelmintic, expectorant, carminative, digestive, stomachic, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, cephalic, antipyretic, diuretic, emmenagogue, depurative, rejuvenating, ophthalmic, vulnerary and tonic. It is used in cephalgia, otalgia, arthritis, inflammation, colic, rheumatism, skin diseases, urinary disorders, wounds, ulcers, bronchitis, cough, malaria fever, epilepsy, haemorrhoids, dysmenorrhoea and general debilty. Nirgundi oil prepared from the juice of nirgundi leaves is applied to sinuses, scrofulous sores, wounds, ulcers and gangrenous wounds. Leaves and bark are considered useful in scorpion sting.

Pharmacological evidence:

Demands of the scientific community have necessitated experimental evidence to further underline the medicinal importance of Vitex negundo Linn. described above. Taking cue from this traditional medicine, scientific studies have been designed and conducted in order to pharmacologically validate these claims.

1. Anti-inflammatory activity:

The experimental studied using various animal models have demonstrated that different parts of the Vitex nigundo linn especially leaves, fruits, root and seed possess anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic activity.⁷ However The possible mechanism of antri-inflamatory activity was indicated as an inhibitory action on prostaglandin biosynthesis.⁸The sub-effective dose of Vitex negundo Linn. potentiated anti-inflammatory activity of phenlbutazone and ibuprofen significantly in carrageenin induced hind paw oedema and cotton pellet granuloma models. So this indicates that it may be useful as an adjuvant therapy along with standard anti-inflammatory drugs. ^{9, 10}

2. Analgesic activity: The analgesic action of Vitex negundo leaves extract was assessed by the acetic-acid induced writhing test and taila immersion test for assessing peripheral and central origin of analgesic effect. The writhing movements were observed a significant increase in the induction time required to produced writhing movements. So it suggested presence of peripheral analgesic effect. In the taila immersion test, the reaction time was significantly increased. This effect was comparable to that of pethidine treated controls. So it suggested presence of central analgesic effect.⁸

3 CNS depressant activities:

A methanolic extract of the leaves of Vitex negundo Linn. was found to significantly potentiate the sleeping time induced by pentobarbitone sodium, diazepam and chlorpromazine in mice.⁴

4 Antifungal activity:

Bioactivity guided fractionation of ethanolic extract of leaves of Vitex negundo Linn. resulted in the isolation of new flavone glycoside along with five known compounds. All the isolated compounds were evaluated for their antimicrobial activities. The new flavone glycoside and compound 5 were found to have significant antifungal activity against Trichophyton mentagrophytes and Cryptococcus neoformans at MIC 6.25 μg/ml.¹¹

5 Anticonvulsant activity:

The plant has been studied for its anticonvulsant activity. The petroleum and butanol leaf extracts have shown protection, whereas, none of root extract has shown protection against maximal shock seizers. Petroleum root extract could only provide protection against Leptazole induced convulsion.¹²

Maximal electroshock seizures (MES) in albino rats and pentylenetetarazole (PTZ) induced seizures in albino mice were used to study anticonvulsant activity of Vitex negundo Linn. leaf extract. The test drug dose (1000 mg/kg, p.o) showed 50% protection in clonic seizures and 24- hour mortality against PTZ induced seizures. It also decreased number and duration of convulsions significantly. Vitex negundo Linn. Potentiated anticonvulsant activity of valporic acid. The anticonvulsant activity of Vitex negundo Linn. has not been found equi-effective with standard drugs. Moreover, the potentiation of diphenylhydantoin and valporic acid by Vitex negundo Linn. indicates that it may be useful as an adjuvant therapy along with standard anticonvulsants and can possibly lower the requirement of diphenylhydantoin and valporic acid.¹³

6. Antibacterial studies:

Essential oils and successive ethyl acetate and ethanol extracts of Vitex negundo Linn. showed antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacterial strains. Main constituents identified in leaves oil were d-guaiene, carryophyllene epoxide and ethylhexadecenoate; In flowers oil α-selinene, germacren-4-ol, carryophyllene epoxide and (E)- nerolidol while fruit oil showed β -selinene, α- cedrene, germacrene D and hexadecanoic acid as the main constituents which help for antibacterial activity.¹⁴

7.Antiallergic Activity:

Ethanolic extract of Vitex negundo Linn. showed antiallergic activity against immunologically induced degranulation of mast cells. It also inhibited edema during active paw anaphylaxis in mice. The extract significantly inhibited both the initial and later sustained phases of tracheal contractions. The initial phase was primarily due to histamine and the latter phase was due to release of lipid mediators from arachidonic acid. Inhibition of the latter phase may be secondary to inhibition of arachidonic acid by the ethanolic extract.¹⁴

8.Snake venom neutralization activity:

The methanolic root extracts of Vitex negundo Linn. And Emblica officinalis showed antisnake venom activity. The plant Vitex negundo Linn. extracts significantly antagonized the Vipera russellii and Naja kaouthia venom induced lethal activity both in in vitro and in vivo studies. Vipera russellii venom-induced haemorrhage, coagulant, defibrinogenating and inflammatory activity were significantly neutralized by both plant extracts. No precipitating bands were observed between the plant extract and snake venom.^4,13,15

9. Effect on reproductive potential:

The flavonoid rich fractions of seeds of Vitex negundo Linn. Caused disruption of the latter stages of spermatogenesis in dogs and interfered with male reproductive function in rats. It must however be noted that these findings are in sharp contrast with the traditional use of Vitex negundo Linn. as aphrodisiac. Hu et al. determined

that ethanolic extracts of Vitex negundo Linn. showed estrogen-like activity and propounded its use in hormone replacement therapy.^4,16

10.Immunomodultory activity:

Immunomodulatory effect of Vitex negundo Linn. extracts has been reported by Ravishankar and Shukla .The decoction of leaves is considered as tonic, vermifuge and is given along with long pepper in catarrhal fever.¹⁷

Contraindications:

Nirgundi should be used with caution with the concurrent use of psychotropic drugs, including analgesics, sedatives, antidepressants, anticonvulsants and antipsychotics. Vitex negundo Linn. is quite similar botanically to the better studied Vitex agnus castus, and thus may have a similar range of contraindications, including the concurrent use of progesterogenic drugs and hormone replacement therapies.⁴

Recommended Dosage:

It can be used medicinally in the form of powder, decoction, juice, oil, tincture, paste, dry extract. Doses recommended, in adults are juice 10-20 ml; decoction-50-100 ml, leaves powder-1.5-3g; dry leave extract- 300-600 mg.¹⁸

CONCLUSION:

Vitex nigundo (Nirgundi) possesses numerous biological activities provided by many experimental studies. It represents an important herbal drug with very strong conceptual or traditional base as well as strung experimental base for its uses.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:

The authors are very grateful to the Director General, CCRAS, New Delhi and Deputy Director (Tech), for providing encouragement for carrying out this work.

REFERENCES:

1. Sharma. P.C, Yelne M.B. and Dennis T.J.- Database on Medicinal Plants used in Ayurveda, Vol-3, Published by CCRAS, Reprint-2005,p-450

2. The Ayurvedic Pharmacopeia of India. Government of India Ministry of health and family welfare department of ISM & H. 2001; Part-I, Vol 3: 142-144.

3. http://www.planetayurveda.com/homeremedies. htm accessed on Aug 2008

4. http://www.blissayurveda.com/pics/Vitexne gundo.jpg accessed on Oct 2009.

5. Varier P S- Indian Medicinal Plants, Vol.-5, Published by Orient Longman, Reprint 1997, Page-387

6. Sharma. P.C, Yelne M.B. and Dennis T.J.- Database on Medicinal Plants used in Ayurveda, Vol-3, Published by CCRAS, Reprint-2005,p-451

7. Chaturvedi GN and Singh RH, Experimental study on anti-arthritic effect of certain indiginious drug, Indian j med Res, 1965,53(1),71-80.

8. R.S. Telang, S. Chatterzee, C. Varsheneya, Studies on analgesic and anti – inflammatory activities of Vitex nigundo Linn, Indian J Pharmacology 1999;31:363-366.

9. Mahalakshmi R, Rajesh P, Ramesh N, Balsubramanian V, Kanan VR. Hepatoprotective activity on Vitex negundo Linn. (verbanaceae) by using wistar albino rats in ibuprofen induced model. International journal of pharmacology. 2010; 1-6.

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11. Sathiamoorthy B, Gupta P, Kumar M, Chaturvedi A. K, Shukla PK, Maurya R. New antifungal flavonoid glycoside from Vitex negundo. Bioorg Med Chem Lett.2007; 17(1): 239-42.

12. Ravisankar B, Bhaskaran NR, and Sashikala CK, Pharmacological evaluation of Vitex negundo leaves, Bull Medico-Ethno-Bot Res,1985, 6(1),72-92.

13. Alam MI Gomes A, Snake venom neutralization by Indian medicinal plants (Vitex negundo and Embelica officinalis) root extracts . J. Etanopharmacol. 2003; 86(1): 75-80.

14. Ladda P L and Magdum C S-Vitex negundo Linn.: Ethnobatany, Phytochemistry and Pharmacology-A Review: International Journal of Advances in Pharmacy, Biology and Chemistry-Vol.1(1), Jan-Mar, 2012, Page-115.

15. Gupta RK, Tendon VR, Anti-nociceptive activity of Vitex negundo linn leaf extract, Indian J Physiol Pharmacol. 2005; 49 ( 2): 163-170.

16. Das S, Parveen S, Kundra CP, Pereira BM, Reproduction in male rats is vulnerable to treatment with the flavonoid-rich seed extracts of Vitex negundo. Phytother Res. 2004; 18(1): 8-13.

17. Adnaik RS, Pai PT, Mule SN, Naikwade NS, Magdum CS. Laxative Activity of Vitex negundo Linn. Leaves. Asian J. Exp. Sci. 2008; 22(1): 159-160.

18. Chaudhuri RD, Herbal Drug Industry, a practical approach to industrial Pharmacognosy, Estern Publisher, New Delhi,1^st Ed. 1996,467)

Received on 21.06.2014 Modified on 27.06.2014

Res. J. Pharmacology & P’dynamics. 6(3): July- Sept. 2014; Page 162-165