Talk:Nirgundi
| Section/Chapter | Herb database/Nirgundi |
|---|---|
| Botanical name(s) | Vitex negundo L. |
| Family | Verbenaceae |
| Availability | Available |
| Contributors | Team Dravyaguna |
| Year of publication | 2026 |
| Publisher | Charak Samhita Research, Training and Skill Development Centre |
| DOI | Awaited |
Vitex negundo L., popularly known as Nirgundi (Five-leaved Chaste Tree), is a large aromatic shrub or small tree belonging to the family Verbenaceae. It is widely recognized in Ayurveda for its potent anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and muscle-relaxant properties, especially in managing musculoskeletal and neurological disorders (*Vatavyadhi*).
English name
Five-leaved chaste tree
Therapeutic Uses
Sula (pain), Sopha (edema), Vatavyadhi (diseases of nervous system), Amavata (rheumatoid arthritis), Kustha (skin diseases), Kandu (itching), Kasa (cough), Pradara (excessive vaginal discharge), Adhmana (flatulence), Pliha roga (splenic disorders), Gulma (abdominal lumps), Aruchi (anorexia), Krumi (worms), Vrana (wounds), Karnasula (earache), Sutika (postnatal care), Jwara (fever)[1]
Synonyms in Charak Samhita
Samhalu, Shefali, Nilapishpi, Suvaha, Sindhuvarika, Harenu (Nirgundi beeja)
Synonyms in Bhavaprakasha Nighantu
Swetapushpa, Sinduka[2]
Varieties
Bhavaprakasha Nighantu
Mentioned 2 types[2]
- Swetapushpa nirgundi
- Nilapushpa nirgundi
Raja Nighantu
Mentioned 3 types[3]
- Sinduvara
- Nila nirgundi
- Sephali
Botanical Profile & Traditional Context
In traditional Ayurveda, Nirgundi is classified primarily as *Vatashamaka* (pacifying Vata dosha) and *Vedanahara* (analgesic). Its leaves, roots, and seeds are utilized extensively in decoctions, oils, and pastes to treat chronic joint pain, swelling, and inflammatory conditions.
Ayurvedic pharmacological properties
| Sr.no. | Pharmacological criteria | Properties |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Taste (rasa) | Pungent (katu), Bitter (tikta) |
| 2 | Potency (veerya) | Hot (ushna) |
| 3 | Post digestion effect (vipaka) | Pungent (katu) |
| 4 | Qualities (guna) | Light (laghu), Rough (ruksha) |
| 5 | Actions (karma) | Pacify Vata and Kapha |
Reference in Charak Samhita and its actions
| Sr.no. | Reference in Charak Samhita | Activity |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cha.Sa.Sutra Sthana 3/5 | Siddhatama churna pradeha (external application) |
| 2 | Cha.Sa.Sutra Sthana 4/9(15) | Krimighna mahakashaya (anti-helminthics) |
| 3 | Cha.Sa.Sutra Sthana 5/20 | Dhuma varti dravya |
| 4 | Cha.Sa.Vimana Sthana 6/21 | Abhyantara krimi chikitsa |
| 5 | Cha.Sa.Sutra Sthana 27/28 | Shamidhanya Varga (The class of pulses) |
| 6 | Cha.Sa.Vimana Sthana 8/135 | Vamana dravyani (medicines used in therapeutic emesis) |
| 7 | Cha.Sa.Sharira Sthana 8/56 | Kshira vishodhana dravya |
| 8 | Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 4/47 | In Yavagu prayoga (medicated gruels) |
| 9 | Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 8/84 | Ingredient in Lepa |
| 10 | Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 15/165 | As an ingredient of Madhavarishta |
| 11 | Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 23/56 | As an ingredient of Mrita sanjivani agada |
| 12 | Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 23/79 | As an ingredient of Maha-Gandha hasti agada |
| 13 | Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 23/195 | Used in the treatment of Darvikara sarpa damsha (snake bite) |
| 14 | Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 23/200 | Used in the treatment of Luta visha (spider poison) |
| 15 | Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 28/134 | As an ingredient of Nirgundi taila |
| 16 | Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 30/271 | Used in treatment of vaivarnya stanya dosha (vitiated breast milk), as an ingredient of Jivakadya lepa |
Dose
- Fresh Juice (Swarasa): 10–20 ml[1]
Useful Part
- Leaf[1]
Important Formulations
As per A.P.I.[1]
- Vatagajankusa rasa
- Mahavata vidhvansana rasa
- Yakrutapliha loha
- Dasamula taila
- Trivikrama rasa
- Nirgundi taila
- Tribhuvankirti rasa
- Visatinduka taila
Current availability
Available
- In India – Widely distributed throughout the country, found near water courses, waste lands, and mixed deciduous forests.
Phytochemical Composition
The major classes of bioactive secondary metabolites reported from Vitex negundo are flavonoids, iridoid glycosides, triterpenoids and volatile oil constituents.
- Flavonoids: Vitexicarpin (casticin) has been isolated from the leaves; it showed broad cytotoxicity against a panel of human cancer cell lines.[4]
- Iridoid glycosides: Negundoside (2′-p-hydroxybenzoyl mussaenosidic acid) and agnuside are the characteristic iridoids of the leaves.[5]
- Triterpenoids: Betulinic acid and ursolic acid have been isolated and characterised from the plant.[6]
- Volatile essential oils: The leaf oil contains δ-guaiene and caryophyllene epoxide as main constituents; the flower oil contains α-selinene and germacren-4-ol; the fruit oil contains β-selinene and germacrene D.[7]
Pharmacological Activities & Therapeutic Efficacy
Anti-Inflammatory Effect (Sopha, Amavata, Vatavyadhi)
Nirgundi is traditionally used for painful and swollen joints, and experimental work supports its anti-inflammatory use.
- Evidence: Oral ethanolic leaf extract (100, 250 and 500 mg/kg) showed dose-dependent activity in carrageenin-induced paw oedema and cotton pellet granuloma models in rats.
- Mechanism: The activity was attributed to prostaglandin inhibition in acute inflammation and reduction of oxidative stress in sub-acute inflammation.[8]
Adjuvant to Anti-inflammatory Drugs
A sub-effective dose of the ethanolic leaf extract potentiated the anti-inflammatory action of phenylbutazone and ibuprofen in rats, suggesting a possible adjuvant role alongside standard anti-inflammatory therapy.[9]
Analgesic Effect (Sula)
Ethanolic leaf extract (100, 250 and 500 mg/kg, oral) showed antinociceptive activity in the tail-flick test in rats and the acetic acid-induced writhing test in mice, and potentiated the analgesic action of meperidine and aspirin.[10]
Antihistaminic and Anti-pruritic Effect (Kandu)
An oral aqueous extract of mature fresh leaves showed antihistamine activity in rats, which the authors proposed as a basis for the anti-itching use claimed in Ayurveda.[11]
Central Nervous System Activity (Vatavyadhi)
The methanolic leaf extract potentiated pentobarbitone-, diazepam- and chlorpromazine-induced sleeping time in mice, potentiated morphine and pethidine analgesia, and protected against strychnine- and leptazole-induced convulsions, indicating a dose-dependent CNS depressant action.[12]
Hepatoprotective Effect (Pliha roga)
Leaf extract of Vitex negundo has been shown to protect against liver injury caused by anti-tubercular drugs in an experimental model, which is relevant to the traditional use in hepatic and splenic disorders.[13]
Wound Healing (Vrana)
The ethanolic leaf extract and its major iridoid agnuside were studied in incision and excision wound models in Wistar rats. A 25% agnuside-enriched fraction gave rapid wound healing, comparable to the standard drug Soframycin.[14]
Antibacterial Activity
Essential oils from leaves, flowers and fruits, and successive leaf extracts, were tested against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The ethyl acetate and ethanol extracts showed prominent activity against all the strains tested.[7]
Antioxidant Activity
Polar fractions of the plant trapped free radicals, inhibited lipid peroxidation and chelated iron in vitro, which may contribute to its anti-inflammatory action.[15]
Safety and Dosage
- Precautions: Use under professional guidance during pregnancy or lactation.
- Standard Therapeutic Dosage:
- Fresh Leaf Juice (Swarasa): 10–20 ml[1].
- External Application (Taila/Lepa): As directed by an Ayurveda practitioner.
Summary of Therapeutic Profile
| Indication | Active Biomolecules / Preparation Studied | Primary Pharmacological Action |
|---|---|---|
| Inflammation, joint pain / Sopha, Amavata | Ethanolic leaf extract | Anti-inflammatory, adjuvant to NSAIDs |
| Pain / Sula | Ethanolic leaf extract | Analgesic |
| Itching / Kandu | Aqueous extract of fresh leaves | Antihistaminic |
| Nervous disorders / Vatavyadhi | Methanolic leaf extract | CNS depressant, anticonvulsant |
| Liver and spleen disorders / Pliha roga | Leaf extract | Hepatoprotective |
| Wounds / Vrana | Ethanolic extract, agnuside | Wound healing, antibacterial |
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Anonymous. The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India. Department of Ayush, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of India, New Delhi, Part I. 1986; Volume 3: 64.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Shri Bhavamishra, Bhavaprakash Nighantu, Guduchyadi Varga, Verse no. 113, Edited by Padmashree Pro. Krushnachandra Chunekar, Reprint Edition, Chaukhambha Bharati Academy, 2020;
- ↑ Dr. Indradev Tripathi, Raja Nighantu of Pandit Narahari, ed. 2016, Chaukhambha Krishnadas Academy, Varanasi, Shatavhadi Varga, verse no. 152, 154, 156.
- ↑ Díaz F, Chávez D, Lee D, Mi Q, Chai HB, Tan GT, et al. Cytotoxic flavone analogues of vitexicarpin, a constituent of the leaves of Vitex negundo. J Nat Prod. 2003;66(6):865–867.
- ↑ Sehgal CK, Taneja SC, Dhar KL, Atal CK. 2′-p-Hydroxybenzoyl mussaenosidic acid, a new iridoid glycoside from Vitex negundo. Phytochemistry. 1982;21(2):363–366.
- ↑ Chandramu C, Manohar RD, Krupadanam DG, Dashavantha RV. Isolation, characterization and biological activity of betulinic acid and ursolic acid from Vitex negundo L. Phytother Res. 2003;17(2):129–134.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Khokra SL, Prakash O, Jain S, Aneja KR, Dhingra Y. Essential oil composition and antibacterial studies of Vitex negundo Linn. extracts. Indian J Pharm Sci. 2008;70(4):522–526.
- ↑ Tandon VR, Gupta RK. Anti-inflammatory activity and mechanism of action of Vitex negundo Linn. Int J Pharmacol. 2006;2(3):303–308.
- ↑ Tandon VR, Gupta RK. Vitex negundo Linn (VN) leaf extract as an adjuvant therapy to standard anti-inflammatory drugs. Indian J Med Res. 2006;124(4):447–450.
- ↑ Gupta RK, Tandon VR. Antinociceptive activity of Vitex-negundo Linn leaf extract. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol. 2005;49(2):163–170.
- ↑ Dharmasiri MG, Jayakody JRAC, Galhena G, Liyanage SSP, Ratnasooriya WD. Anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities of mature fresh leaves of Vitex negundo. J Ethnopharmacol. 2003;87(2–3):199–206.
- ↑ Gupta M, Mazumder UK, Bhawal SR. CNS activity of Vitex negundo Linn. in mice. Indian J Exp Biol. 1999;37(2):143–146.
- ↑ Tandon VR, Khajuria V, Kapoor B, Kour D, Gupta S. Hepatoprotective activity of Vitex negundo leaf extract against anti-tubercular drugs induced hepatotoxicity. Fitoterapia. 2008;79(7–8):533–538.
- ↑ Muhamad Ibrahim A, Nagarajan A, Majeed M. Wound healing activity of the ethanolic extract and agnuside isolated from Vitex negundo L. leaves. J Pharmacogn Phytochem. 2018;7(5):1823–1832.
- ↑ Tiwari OP, Tripathi YB. Antioxidant properties of different fractions of Vitex negundo Linn. Food Chem. 2007;100(3):1170–1176.