Abstract

INVESTIGATION OF PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTIONS OF VITEX NEGUNDO - NOCHI

Jeyavel Pandian R.,*, P. Selvam and Vivek

ABSTRACT

Phytochemicals are ecologically derived plant secondary metabolites that plants make to protect themselves against environmental stress and pathogenic microbial invasion. These phytochemicals have been shown to have both positive and pharmacological effects in the treatment of human illnesses. It is well known that the active principles found in medicinal plants work together to alleviate the primary and secondary complications of a variety of diseases. For the treatment of Covid-19, Vitex negundo L. (Verbenaceae) is frequently utilized as a medicinal agent as well as a dietary supplement. In this study, the ability of the methanolic extract VN to scavenge free radicals was assessed using DPPH assays, and VN Me was investigated for in vitro anticancer activity against breast, lung, and skin cancer cells, as well as cytotoxicity against normal Vero cells for anticancer activity assessment. The antibacterial activity in the evaluation of plant extracts performed against Streptococcus pneumonia MTCC 655 and Klebsiella pneumoniae MTCC 39 by disc diffusion methods. The results obtained evidenced that the methanolic extract (VN Me) possesses significant antioxidant, antibacterial and anti-cancer activity the data presented provide scientific evidence for the antioxidant and anticancer therapeutic efficacy of the medicinal plant, which in turn may be due to the presence of biologically active molecules present in the herbal.

Keywords: Vitex negundo, In vitro antioxidant assays, Anti-inflammatory, Anti-bacterial, antidiabetic.