Phytochemical and Pharmacological Investigation on Vitex negundo Linn.

In the Ayurvedic system of medicine, Vitex Negundo Linn. is widely used for the treatment of skin diseases, arthritis and inflammation. To corroborate the traditional claims, study was carried out for antiarthritic activity as well as phytochemical analysis by HPTLC for vitexin and negundoside. Methanol extracts from the leaves was used. In HPTLC, the solvent system used was Toluene: Ethyl acetate: Formic acid: Water (2: 7: 0.8: 0.3 v/v) [1]. In carrageenan rat paw edema, after 1hr the extract was administered orally 100mg/kg and 200mg/kg body weight. The paw volume was noted from 0 hr –1 hr –2 hr –3 hr –4 hr – and 24 hr. In Complete Freinds Adjuvant animals were given the extract 100mg/kg and 200mg/kg body weight after the 13^th day of CFA [2].

Vitexin and negundoside were resolved at R_f 0.29 and 0.21 respectively. Percentage recovery was in the range 97.88–100.56%. The vitexin and negundoside content found was 0.181±0.03% and 0.506±0.02%. Extract at 200mg/kg showed significant result with p<0.001 after 24 hours. The% inhibition at 100 and 200mg/kg after 24 hours was 58.33 and 72.57%. Similarly the % inhibition for standard was calculated. In Complete Freinds Adjuvant method the standard drug and the extract showed significant result in all the doses with p<0.001. The study lasted for 21 days. A reduction was seen in paw edema in all the doses. Acknowlegment: Thanks to the Association of Commonwealth Universities for Split site Ph.D scholarship. References: [1] Prakash, P, Gupta N (2005)J Physiol Pharmacol 49: 125–131. [2] Liu M, et al. (2008) Int Immunopharmacol 8: 1561–1566.