Phytochemistry and biological activity of Vitex rotundifolia L.

Natural products play an important role in the treatment of a variety of diseases. Several medicinal plants were screened to study phytochemistry and biological activity against various diseases. Amongst the coastal medicinal plants, Vitex rotundifolia (beach vitex) possessed potential phytochemical constituents. Chemical constituents of Vitex rotundifolia include phenolics, flavonoids, and terpenoids as major compounds present. Various flavonoids such as Vitexicarpin, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid methyl ester, vanillic acid methyl ester, 4-hydroxy benzaldehyde, luteolin, and artemetin were isolated from the leaves of Vitex rotundifolia. Similarly, different types of terpenoids that have been isolated from Vitex rotundifolia include Eurostoside, Iridolactone, Viteoid I, Viteoid II, Iridoid compounds such as 10-O-vanilloylaucubin, 10-O-p hydroxybenzoylaucubin and aucubin, Vitexifolin A, Vitexifolin B, Viterotulin A, and Viterotulin B have been isolated from Vitex rotundifolia. The pharmacological importance of Vitex rotundifolia is due to various biological activities such as anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-proliferative, anti-bacterial and anti-oxidant activities. Therefore, plant species Vitex rotundifolia, from genus Vitex was selected to discuss the phytochemicals present and its biological activity. However, remarkable anticancer activities of several compounds isolated from Vitex rotundifolia enriches its cancer therapeutics potential and demands for further exploration of mode and mechanism of cell death as part of preclinical trials.