COMPREHESIVE REVIEW OF VITEX NEGUNDO

Vitex negundo Linn., commonly known as Nirgundi or Nochi, is an important medicinal shrub extensively used in Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, and traditional folk medicines for its wide range of therapeutic applications. The plant is recognized for its strong anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antimicrobial, antioxidant, antiasthmatic, and wound healing properties. Various plant parts including leaves, roots, seeds, flowers, and bark, are traditionally used to treat join pain, swelling, arthritis, asthma, cough, fever, skin infection, digestive disorders, and gynecological problems. The medicinal potential of Vitex negundo is attribute to the presence of diverse phytochemical constituents such as flavonoids (casticin, luteolin), iridoid glycosides (agnuside, negundo side), diterpenoids, lignans, tannins, phenolic acids, and essential oils (B- Caryophyllene, Sabinene, limonene). These bioactive compounds exhibit significant pharmacological effects, supporting its use in controlling inflammation, respiratory ailments, microbial infections, oxidative stress, and hormonal disorders. Pharmacognostical studies reveal the presence of diagnostic characters such as glandular trichomes, diacytic stomata, and a quadrangular stem, which help in plant identification and standardization. Traditional systems describe its therapeutic role in managing Vatha-related condition, especially rheumatism, nerve pain, and Musculo skeletal disorders. Several modern studies have further validated the plant’s medicinal actions through in-vitro and in-vivo research, indicating its potential for developing novel herbal formulation and natural therapeutic agents. Overall, Vitex negundo remains a highly valuable medicinal plant with strong ethnomedicinal relevance and significant scope for future pharmacological and phytochemical investigations.