Indian Medicinal Plants An Illustrated Dictionary

V
710 Vitex leucoxylon Linn. f.
Vitex leucoxylon Linn. f.
Family ◮ Verbenaceae.
Habitat ◮ Throughout Deccan
Peninsula.
Ayurvedic ◮ Paaraavata-padi,
Kaakajanghaa. (Kaakajanghaa is
also equated with Leea aequata
Linn.)
Action ◮ Roots—febrifuge, astringent.
Ethanolic extract and cold aqueous
infusion of the leaf were found to suppress
acetic acid-induced writhing in
mice and carrageenan-induced hind
paw oedema in rats. The flavonoids
exhibited anti-inflammatory activity.
Vitex negundo Linn.
Family ◮ Verbenaceae.
Habitat ◮ Throughout India in the
warmer zones; ascending to 900 m
in the North-western Himalaya.
English ◮ Five-leaved Chaste tree.
Ayurvedic ◮ Nirgundi, Shephaalikaa,
Sindhuka, Sindhuvaara,
Suvahaa, Sugandhikaa. Nila, Nilanirgundi,
Shveta nirgundi (var.).
White-flowered var. is known
as Sinduvaara, blue-flowered as
Nirgundi or Shephaali,
Unani ◮ Sambhaalu, Fanjankisht.
Siddha/Tamil ◮ Nochi, Nalla Nochi,
Vellai Nochchi, Nirkundi.
Action ◮ Seeds—prescribed in
spermatorrhoea, and for promoting
spermiogenesis (in Unani
medicine). Also given as a rejuvenating
tonic for retarding old age
and for retaining and promoting
virility. (in Ayurvedic medicine).
Leaf—anti-inflammatory, analgesic;
removesfoetiddischargesand
worms from ulcers. Flowers—astringent,
febrifuge, antidiarrhoeic;
prescribed in liver complaint. Oil—
applied to sinus, scrofulous sores.
The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India
recommends the leaf (also the root)
in excessive vaginal discharges, oedema,
skin diseases, pruritus, helminthiasis,
rheumatism, and puerperal
fever.
A water extract of the leaves, when
administered to rats, exhibited antiinflammatory,
analgesic, antihistaminic
and membrane stabilizing and antioxidant
activities. (J. Ethnopharmocol,
2003, (203), 199–206.) Methanolic
extract of leaves showed remarkable
antihistaminic activity.
The leaves contain iridoid glycosides,
isomeric flavanones and flavonoids,
besides casticin and the glucosides,
luteolin-7-glucoside and alpha-
D-glucoside of a tetrahydroxy monomethoxy
flavone.
Dried powder of roots contains hentriacontane,
beta-sitosterol and its aetat
and stigmasterol. Alcoholic extract
of the root showed 40–60% antiimplantation
activity with no antiovulatory
effect in rats.
Flavone vitexicarpin (1), isolated
from the leaves, exhibited broad cytotoxicity
in human cancer cell line panel.
Two pentacyclic triterpenoids, betulinic
acid and ursolic acid, along with an
aliphatic alcohol, n-hentriacontanol,