A Systematic Review on the Pharmacological Prospectives of Vitex negundo in Ayurveda Drug Research

In Ayurveda, there are many formulations containing Vitex negundo which is indicated in specific pathogenic and non-pathogenic condition. Hence this review attempted to explore the data of research at a glimpse. Peer reviewed and published data from PubMed had been selected for the same. The PubMed database (2009 to 2019) were searched using the keyword ‘Vitex negundo’, ‘Ayurveda’ with Boolean operator ‘AND’. A total of 45 free full text articles were retrieved from 57 articles with specific inclusion criteria. All the 45 studies were categorized into in silico studies, analytical studies, in vitro studies, in vivo studies and clinical studies. Then the data such as the type and design of research, the techniques used, and sample size were categorized into tables and the results were attained through thorough reading and analysis. A descriptive method is adopted for the review and quality aspects of the data were not taken into consideration. Compounds namely, acerosin and thymol were studied in in silico as an inhibitor for mTOR and on skin diseases respectively. Analytical studies explored the presence of compounds such as estriol, angnuside, phydroxybenzoicacid etc. Pharmacological activities such as anti-bacterial, anti-cancerous, anti-tubercular were studied in vitro and in vivo. A clinical study on Nirgundi khanavati in gridrasi (sciatica) is found to be effective in reducing the pain threshold. The phytochemical research of the drug were also proven against carcinoma. There is a high scope for research for more clinical studies and standardization with advanced analytical procedures and marker compounds.