The genus Vitex: A review

Abstract

The review includes 161 references on the genus Vitex, and comprises ethnopharmacology, morphology and microscopy, phytoconstituents, pharmacological reports, clinical studies, and toxicology of the prominent species of Vitex. Essential oils, flavonoids, iridoid glycosides, diterpenoides and ligans constitute major classes of phytoconstituents of the genus. A few species of this genus have medicinal value, among these, leaves and fruits of V. agnus-castus Linn. (Verbenaceae) has been traditionally used in treatment of women complaints. V. agnus-castus has also been included in herbal remedies, which are in clinical use to regulate the menstrual cycle, reduce premenstrual symptom tension and anxiety, treat some menopausal symptoms as well as to treat hormonally induced acne. Despite a long tradition of use of some species, the genus has not been explored properly. In the concluding part, the future scope of Vitex species has been emphasized with a view to establish their multifarious biological activities and mode of action.

Selected hepatoprotective herbal medicines: Evidence from ethnomedicinal applications, animal models, and possible mechanism of actions

“…The active constituents of this plant are essential oil (Kvasnicka, Biba, Sevcik, Voldrich, & Kratka, 2003), viterifolins, and diterpenes. It also possesses some important pharmacological qualities, that is, antipyretic (Rani & Sharma, 2013), antibacterial (Lawitz et al, 2014), antiallergic, and antiasthmatic properties (Lawitz & Gane, 2013). Medical practitioners use this plant in the treatment of acute jaundice.…”

Effect of vitex agnus castus fruits methanol extract against murine mammary adenocarcinoma cell line (amn3) and rat embryonic fibroblast normal cell line (ref)

“…Vitex agnus castus, also called Chaste Tree, Abrahams balm, chaste berry, hemp tree, kaff Maryam, lilac chaste tree, monks pepper, shajerat Ebrahim, vitex, wild lavender (W.H.O., 1999) .Regional to the Mediterranean area, European and Asia; it is widely distributed in the Middle East, southern United State and Canada, it is plowed in warm temperate and sub-tropical regions of the world and gained mostly from Mediterranean countries especially Albania and Morocco, it prefers full sun to partial shade in a well-drained soil (Rani and Sharma, 2013). Historically, VAC found in the ancient as an of icial plant, and it is named in the works of Hippocrates, Diosccrides, Theophrastus, and others.…”

Antibacterial Activity of Vitex Negundo Leave Extract Against Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (Mrsa)

“…Herbal formulations of Vitex are available in the market. V. negundo exhibits anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antifungal properties [6]. Hence it is used as an effective bio-control agent in the treatment of skin infections.…”