A REVIEW OF ETHNOMEDICINAL PLANT-Vitex negundo Linn

Vitex negundo belongs to family Verbenaceae and grows as small tree with thin grey bark. The plant is widely distributed and also has pharmacological actions against wide spectrum of diseases in traditional system of medicines. All parts of the plant especially its leaves contain numbers of secondary metabolites such as alkaloids, phenols, flavonoids, glycosidic irridoids, tannins and terpenes. Because of the richness in phytochemicals, the plant is attributed to possess a number of therapeutic uses; antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, astringent, bronchodilator, CNS-depressant, detoxicant, diuretic, emmenagogue, anticancer and hepatoprotective etc. It is also used as repellent, insecticide and larvicidal. Leaf extract is employed as nervine tonic, tranquilizer and vermifuge. This review aims at presenting a comprehensive information on phytochemical constituents and therapeutic uses which can be helpful in development of modern medicine.