Latin Name | Vitex negundo Linn. (Verbenaceae) |
English Name | Five-leaved chaste tree |
Sanskrit Names | Nirgundi, Sephali |
Hindi Name | Sambhalu |
Distribution: Found throughout the greater part of India, ascending to an altitude of 1,500m. in the outer Himalayas. Habit: V.n. is a large, aromatic shrub with quadrangular, densely whitish, tomentose branchlets, or sometimes, a small, slender tree. The bark is thin, grey; the leaves are 3-5-foliolate; leaflets are lanceolate, entire or rarely crenate and the lateral leaflets are smaller than the terminal ones; the flowers are bluish purple, forming large, terminal, often compound, pyramidal panicles; the drupes are globose. Principle constituents: Casticin, isoorientin, chrysophenol D, luteolin, p hydroxybenzoic acid and D-fructose. Indications: The leaves possess discutient properties and are applied to rheumatic swellings of the joints and in sprains. The juice of the leaves is used for the treatment of foetid discharges. They show anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antifungal activity. Product range: Himcolin, Pilex, V-Gel, SportsCare cream, DermaCare AC, DermaCare SN cream a & lotion, JointCare B |