A Comparative Study of the Quality Assessment of Vitex negundo Linn Leaves Collected from Three Different Geographical Locations

Vitex negundo Linn (Five-leaved chaste tree), Hindi-Nirgundi, Sanskrit-Sindhuvara, Tamil and Malyalam-Vennochi, Telugu-Nalla vavili and Punjabi-Marwan (Family: Verbenaceae), is an important medicinal plant found throughout India. All parts of this plant especially the leaf and root extracts are being used in various formulations in Ayurveda and Unani systems of medicine. Vitex negundo Linn is pungent, bitter and astringent in taste and according to Ayurveda, it alleviates vata and kapha doshas, but aggravates pitta dosha. It possesses light and dry attributes. Its leaves and seeds are widely used externally for rheumatism and inflammations of joints and also reported to have insecticidal properties. Internally, decoction of its leaves is taken as diuretic, expectorant, vermifuge, tonic and febrifuge. The chemical components of the essential oil of leaf isolated from the plant are used to treat colds and coughing spells. Vitex negundo Linn is used in Classical Ayurvedic Preparations like Nirgundi kalka, Nirgundi ghrta, Nirgundi kvatha, Vranasodhana taila, Visagarbha taila etc. The evaluation studies of Pharmacopoeial standards, phytochemical parameters suggested that the observed physiochemical parameters are of great value in quality control and formulation development of Vitex negundo Linn. Physicochemical parameters like preliminary characteristics, toxic heavy metals, and aflatoxin analysis were carried out. The study revealed that the results on different parameters of the crude drug will be useful in identification and control of adulterations.