NIRGUNDI HERB USED IN ANCIENT INDIAN MEDICINE - PHYTOCHEMICAL AND PHARMACOLOGICAL REVIEW

Vitex nigundo is a succulent plant of family Verbenaceace commonly found in tropical and subtropical xeric wood. It is a A large, aromatic shurb with quadrangular densely whitish tomentose branch lets, up to 4-5m in height or sometimes a small slender tree, found throughout the greater part of India widely used as a analgesic medicine . The plant is prescribed in the ancient Ayurvedic literature as a general tonic and analgesic, with specific vatahara properties. The plant is believed to be useful in Krim (worm infestation), kushta (skin Diseases), Aruchi (Anorexia), Kaphajvrana, pliha (Splin Diseases), gulma (Abdominal Lumps), shopha(Oedema), pradar(Lucoria), Adhman(Abdominal distension), Nadivrna (Sinus Track) Dushtavrama (Infected Ulcer). Pama, Apachi, Sphota (Dermal Pathologies). All types of ulcers. Katigatavata (Lumbar Spondilysis), kasa (Cough), Apasmar (Epilepsy), Snayuk Grudhrasi, sandivata, Vataroga (Orthopedic Deformities) apply as externally or orally as required. Efforts have been made by researchers to verify the efficacy of the plant through scientific biological screening. The scrutiny of literature revealed some notable pharmacological activities of the plant such as Antibacterial, Anti-inflammatory, Analgesic agent Increases granulation tissue formation, Vrana Shodhan, Vrana Ropana. Presented in this review such that the potential use of the plant either in pharmaceutics or as agriculture resource can be evaluated. The present review is an attempt to highlight phytochemicals, various traditional uses as well as pharmacological reports on Vitex negundo. Linn