An Updated Review on Traditional and Modern Aspects of Vitex negundo

Vitex negundo is a traditional herb known for its medicinal properties in Unani, Ayurveda, Siddha, Chinese, Roman, and other traditional systems of medicine. Traditionally, it is used as anthelminthic, antitoxin, aphrodisiac, contraceptive, antimalarial, analgesic, antiinflamatory, antiasthmatic, vermifuge, etc. All parts of V. negundo contain a number of phytoconstituents like alkaloids, fatty acids, flavonoids, glycosidic irridoids, lignans, phenols, steroids, tannins and di- and sesquiterpenes. Due to the presence of a variety of secondary metabolites, V. negundo is used in different types of diseases or disorders by traditional practitioners for the treatment of spermatorrhoea, stomachache, asthma, cold, diarrhoea, indigestion, gallstone, hernia, eye disorders, rheumatism, irritable bladder and dysmenorrhea, headache, migraine, kwashiorkor, neck gland sores, tubercular neck swelling, reddened, arthritis, jaundice, urticaria, eczema and liver disorders. It is most widely used for curing disorders of the reproductive system like vital power, depression, frail erection without libido, self-contempt for sexual abuse, stool containing prostatic fluid, and testicle pain. Facts were gathered from databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, Springer, Scopus, and ScienceDirect, as well as literature found in books on medicinal plants. It has recently been reported to have cytotoxic properties against various types of cancer cells. It works by inducing apoptosis via the mitochondrial and TRIAL pathways and stopping the cell cycle. This review sheds light upon the ethnomedicinal uses, phytochemistry, different extraction procedures, and pharmacology of V. negundo. In conclusion, it was found that this traditional herb had an emerging past, exciting present and promising future for the treatment of several diseases.