Vitex Negundo – Health Benefits, Therapeutic Uses (Five-leaved chaste, Nirgundi)

Table of Contents

1. Introduction

The word “Nirgundi” derived from the Sanskrit verse gudi rakshayam means which protects the body from diseases. Vitex Negundo is a well-known analgesic, anti-inflammatory plant in Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, Chinese, European traditional systems of medicine. Its leaves are widely used in panchkarma procedures like snehana, swedana, and basti.

In Malaysian traditional herbal medicine, it is used in gynecological disorders, for regulating the menstrual cycle, for increasing lactation, fibrocystic breast disease, and postpartum remedies. In Sri-Lanka, it is used in dentistry and joint disorders whereas in Bangladesh it is potent remedy for malaria and catarrhal fever. In Indian folklore medicine, Vitex Negundo is a popular drug for malaria and snake bite.

In classical Ayurvedic texts, two plants are available in the name of Vitex Negundo, Sinduvara is described as the variety of Vitex having white flowers and nirgundi bears blue flowers. Shshrut also mentioned sita pushpin and neel pushpin Nirgundi. Charka has mentioned Sinduvara in mahakashya indicating the existence of two types of Vitex Negundo. Ashtanga Sangraha considered Nirgundi as a krimighna drug like undrukarni.

Besides therapeutic use, Vitex Negundo leaves, and oil is used for preserving stored garlic against pests and to control mosquitos breeding. It is also seen planted as a hedge plant along the roadsides.

2. Common Names

• Family – Verbenaceae
• Hindi Name – Samhalu
• English Name – Five-leaved chaste

3. Vernacular Names

• Bengali – Nirgundi
• Assamese – Aslak
• Gujarati – Nagoda
• Kannada - Lakkigida
• Malayalam – Indranee
• Marathi – Nirgundi
• Tamil – Karunochchi
• Telugu – Nallavavilli
• Oriya – Beyguna

4. Synonyms

• Indranika – It is highly efficacious drug.
• Sheetsah – The plant is resistant to cold potency.
• Sinduvara – The plant checks the accumulation of fluid in the body.
• Sugandhika – The leaves and flowers are aromatic in nature.
• Suvaha – It facilitates the displusion of mala and dosha.

5. Classical Categorization

• Charak Samhita - Vishghna
• Dhanvantari Nighantu – Karviradi varga
• Sushrut Nighantu – Surasadi
• Ashtanga Hridaya - Surasadi
• Madanpal Nighantu – Abhayadi varga
• Kaiyadev Nighantu – Oshadi varga
• Raj Nighantu – Shatvahadi varga
• Bhavaprakasha Nighantu – Guduchyadi varga

6. Distribution

Vitex Negundo is globally distributed from tropical to temperate regions of the world. It is native to Indo-Malaysia and cultivated in Europe, Asia, America and West Indies. It is found throughout India, ascending to 1,500m in waste lands, on roadside, riverbanks, streams, or in moist places near deciduous forests.

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7. Morphology

It is an aromatic, large shrub or small tree, of about 3m height, with dense, whitish, tomentose, quadrangular branches.

Stem bark – Thin, corky, yellowish-grey, occurs in channeled pieces, rough, with lenticels, and transversely cracked.

Leaves – Opposite long petiole, digitally compound, leaflets 3 to 5, lanceolate, unequal, terminal leaflet bigger than lateral leaflets. Serrate margin, acute to acuminate apex, upper surface dark green, lower surface silvery white, tomentose.

Flowers – Blue-purple, crowded in short cymes, forming erect, narrow, tapering, terminal, or axillary panicles.

Fruits – Globose or ovoid, drupe, 2 to 3mm across, black when ripe. Seeds 2 to 4, in bony endocarp. Seeds are known as Renuka beej.

Root – Woody, thick, 8 to 10 cm in diameter, external surface brownish and rough.

8. Types

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9. Ayurvedic Properties

Rasa (Taste): It has Katu, Tikta, Kasaya (bitter, astringent, pungent) taste.

Virya (Potency): It is Ushna in nature (hot).

Vipaka (Post-digestive taste): It is Katu (pungent) taste.

Guna (Qualities) – Laghu, Ruksha

10. Chemical Constituent

It has essential oil, triterpenes, diterpenes, flavonoids, flavones, iridoid glycoside, lignan. The active constituents among them are negundoside, nishindaside, alkaloid, casticin, vitexin, artemetin, orientin, and terpinyl. 

11. Identity, Purity, and Strength

• Foreign Matter – Not more than 2%
• Total Ash – Not more than 8%
• Acid-insoluble ash – Not more than 1%
• Alcohol-soluble extractive – Not less than 10%
• Water-soluble extractive – Not less than 20%

(Source: The Ayurvedic Pharmacopeia of India 1989)

12. Ayurvedic and Pharmacological Actions

Ayurvedic Action

Its Ayurvedic actions has described it as having hair tonic, anti-inflammatory, eye tonic, antidote to poison, enhance memory power, antimicrobial, expectorant, antipruritic, antipyretic, appetizer, digestive properties.

• Doshakarma – Kaphavatashamaka
• Dhatukarma – Vishaghna, Keshya
• Malakarma - Anulomana

Pharmacological Action

Various vitro and vivo studies showed that Vitex Negundo exhibits analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anthelmintic, expectorant, carminative, digestive, antifertility, antiseptic, estrogenic, hepatoprotective, antiallergic, antipyretic, diuretic, depurative, rejuvenating, and antipsychotic.

13. Health Benefits

Vitex Negundo is used in the treatment of pain, edema, disease of aggravated vata dosha, skin disease, cough, common cold, arthritis, wounds, worm infestation, flatulence, obesity, general debility, dysuria, and headache.

14. Therapeutic Uses

Cervical Adenitis - Vitex Negundo oil or root pounded with water should be used.

Inflammation – Fomentation with decoction of Vitex Negundo, Castor, Arka leaves give immediate relief in pain and inflammation of any body part.

Rheumatoid Arthritis – Regular intake of 2g root powder of Vitex Negundo twice daily with Raasandi kwath helps in reducing the pain and inflammation due to arthritis.

Sinus – Oil prepared from Vitex Negundo root and leaf juice is beneficial.

Cough, Asthma – Daily intake of Vitex Negundo, Guduchi, Haritaki and black pepper in equal parts mixed with lavan gives relief.

Epilepsy - Vitex Negundo root powder is beneficial.

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15. Official Part Used

Root, Leaves, Seeds.

16. Doses

• Root Powder – 3 to 6g.
• Seed Powder – 3 to 6g.
• Leaf Juice – 10 to 20ml.

17. Formulations

Nirgundi ghrita, Nirgundi oil, Nirgundi kalpa.

18. Side Effects

Vitex Negundo adverse effects with its use are rare: however, minor gastrointestinal upset, mild skin rash, and itching have been reported in some cases.