Abstract

PHYTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS AND POWDER MICROSCOPY OF FLOWERS OF VITEX NEGUNDO L – VERBENACEAE

Vandana Bharthi*, B. M. Meghashree, Shantha T. R., Rama Rao V., Shiddamallayya N. and Sulochana Bhat

ABSTRACT

Vitex negundo Linn. is a plant of medicinal uses. It is commonly known as the five leaved chaste tree and in Sanskrit it is Nirgundi which is used in the indigenous system of medicine since a long time. The drug has been described in Ayurvedic texts as astringent, acrid, bitter, hot and is useful in treating colic, oedema, dyspepsia, cough, asthma and eye diseases. One of the ancient uses of V. negundo leaves documented in Ayurveda is to provide mental peace. The tribal people of Northern India have been using various parts of this plant as anti flatulent. The present work highlights the phytochemical evaluation, microscopic studies, thin Layer chromatography (TLC) of the flower since less literature is documentated on V. negundo L flowers. The present study is an attempt to highlight the beneficial effect of the flower, further study in this area is needed.

Keywords: Nirgundi, Medicinal uses, Hepatoprotective, Ayurvedic treatment.