This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
This information is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your healthcare provider before using herbs, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medications, or have a medical condition.
How does Vitex negundo work as an anti-inflammatory?
Vitex negundo contains active compounds including luteolin, iridoid glycosides, vitexin, and flavonoids that exert anti-inflammatory effects. These compounds inhibit pro-inflammatory mediators and cytokines in the body. The flavonoids, particularly luteolin, have demonstrated COX-2 inhibitory activity, while iridoid glycosides contribute analgesic properties. This mechanism supports its traditional use for joint inflammation and respiratory conditions (Evidence Level B).
Can I take Vitex negundo with birth control pills?
Vitex negundo may reduce the effectiveness of hormonal contraceptives due to its hormone-regulating properties. Women taking oral contraceptives, hormone replacement therapy, or other hormonal medications should consult a healthcare provider before using this herb. Additionally, Vitex negundo may interact with medications metabolized by the liver. Always disclose all supplements to your healthcare provider to avoid potential interactions (Evidence Level B).
What is the recommended dosage for Vitex negundo?
The standard adult dosage for Vitex negundo is 3-6 grams of dried leaf prepared as a decoction, taken up to three times daily. Alternatively, standardized extracts of approximately 300mg can be taken three times daily. Dosage may vary based on the specific preparation and condition being treated. Always follow product label instructions or consult a qualified herbalist for personalized dosing (Evidence Level B, Traditional).
Is Vitex negundo safe to take during pregnancy?
Vitex negundo is contraindicated during pregnancy and should be avoided. The herb has hormonal regulatory properties that may stimulate uterine contractions and potentially affect fetal development. Traditional use and available evidence indicate it is unsafe for pregnant women. Women who are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding should not use Vitex negundo without explicit guidance from a qualified healthcare provider (Evidence Level B).
What is Vitex negundo (Lagundi) used for?
Vitex negundo, known as Lagundi in Filipino traditional medicine, is primarily used for respiratory disorders including cough, bronchitis, and asthma. It also serves as an anti-inflammatory agent for joint inflammation and arthritis. Additionally, the herb functions as a uterine tonic for menstrual regulation. Its therapeutic applications stem from anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and bronchodilatory properties recognized in Asian traditional medicine systems (Evidence Level B, Traditional).
What are the side effects of taking Vitex negundo?
Vitex negundo is generally well-tolerated at recommended doses. Reported side effects are typically mild and may include gastrointestinal disturbances such as nausea, stomach discomfort, or diarrhea. Some individuals may experience headaches. These effects are usually transient and resolve with continued use or dose adjustment. Discontinue use if adverse reactions persist or worsen, and consult a healthcare provider (Evidence Level B).
PubMed-compiled information sheet
This sheet was compiled from PubMed (NIH) abstracts using AI assistance. Every factual claim is cited to a real PubMed article (see the source list). It has not yet been human-reviewed — confirm with a healthcare provider before use.
Compiled from 30 PubMed articles · model: gemma4:31b
Summary
Vitex negundo (VN), also known as the chaste tree or lagundi, is an ethnobotanically significant plant used in traditional medicine for its anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidant properties [PMID:30311123, PMID:25641408].
Background
Vitex negundo is a member of the Verbenaceae (or Lamiaceae) family, characterized as a small tree or shrub with pale gray bark [PMID:41523769, PMID:35172042]. It is found in various regions including India, China, the Philippines, Malaysia, Madagascar, and East Africa [PMID:37279951].
Traditional uses
In the Vedic context, it is known as Nirgundi and used for analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and wound-healing purposes, as well as treating skin conditions [PMID:37851484]. In the Philippines, it is recognized by the Department of Health as an effective alternative medicine for cough, sore throat, asthma, and fever [PMID:26982211].
Active compounds
Bioactive constituents include flavonoids, lignans, terpenoids (including labdanes, megastigmanes, and ursane-type triterpenoids), steroids, iridoids, phenols, and chromones [PMID:30311123, PMID:25641408, PMID:31302252, PMID:38554895, PMID:29343985]. Specific identified antioxidant components include isoorientin and chlorogenic acid [PMID:38999085].
Mechanism of action
VN modulates cellular events such as apoptosis and the cell cycle [PMID:30311123]. It perturbs cancer-signaling pathways including p-p38, p-ERK1/2, p-JNK, COX-1, MAPK, and NF-κB [PMID:30311123]. Certain terpenoids and flavonoids inhibit iNOS and COX-2 and suppress the NF-κB pathway [PMID:31302252]. Flavonoid extracts may inhibit autophagy by targeting the PI3K/AKT/mTOR/p70S6K/ULK signaling cascade in cancerous cells [PMID:41523769].
Clinical evidence
Evidence BSciatica (Gridhrasi)
Nirgundi Ghan Vati (dried water extract) was studied for the management of pain, weakness, and numbness associated with sciatica [PMID:22048539]
Evidence BCOVID-19
Clinical trials have been funded in the Philippines to establish its potential as an adjunctive treatment for mild cases of COVID-19 based on its efficacy against respiratory disorders [PMID:37037462, PMID:34148541]
Evidence DSARS-CoV-2 (In vitro)
Dichloromethane (DCM) extracts significantly inhibited SARS-CoV-2 Wuhan strain growth and various variants (Alpha, Beta, Delta, Omicron) in Vero E6 cells [PMID:40872330]
Evidence DPolycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)
Aqueous and hydroalcoholic extracts were evaluated in letrozole-induced PCOS rat models to measure effects on estrous cycle and hormonal levels [PMID:31453130]
Evidence summary
The evidence consists primarily of in vitro studies, animal models, and review articles (Level C and D), with limited clinical trial data (Level B) regarding sciatica and respiratory conditions.
PubMed sources
1.PMID: 30311123 (2018) — Vitex negundo and its medicinal value. · Molecular biology reports
2.PMID: 37279951 (2023) — Cardioprotective Effects of Vitex negundo: A Review of Bioactive Extracts and Compounds. · Journal of evidence-based integrative medicine
4.PMID: 25641408 (2015) — Phytochemical and Pharmacological Profile of Vitex negundo. · Phytotherapy research : PTR
5.PMID: 37851484 (2023) — Chemical Diversity and Medicinal Potential of Vitex negundo L.: From Traditional Knowledge to Modern Clinical Trials. · Chemistry & biodiversity
Government sources
No direct government monograph is available for this herb. The content below is AI-generated and has not been verified against an authoritative government source. Use the search links to check official sources before relying on this information.
PMID: 40872330 (2025) — Antiviral Activity of Medicinal Plant Extracts Vitex negundo and Macaranga tanarius Against SARS-CoV-2. · Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland)
7.PMID: 37037462 (2023) — A network pharmacology and molecular docking approach in the exploratory investigation of the biological mechanisms of lagundi (Vitex negundo L.) compounds against COVID-19. · Genomics & informatics
8.PMID: 38337934 (2024) — Vitex Genus as a Source of Antimicrobial Agents. · Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
9.PMID: 26982211 (2016) — Establishment of a standard reference material (SRM) herbal DNA barcode library of Vitex negundo L. (lagundi) for quality control measures. · Food additives & contaminants. Part A, Chemistry, analysis, control, exposure & risk assessment
10.PMID: 35172042 (2022) — Traditional uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacology of genus Vitex (Lamiaceae). · Phytotherapy research : PTR
11.PMID: 34148541 (2022) — Discovery of a "Cocktail" of Potential SARS-COV-2 Main Protease Inhibitors through Virtual Screening of Known Chemical Components of Vitex negundo L. ("Lagundi"). · Medicinal chemistry (Shariqah (United Arab Emirates))
12.PMID: 36129755 (2022) — Phenolic Glucosides from the Leaves of Vitex negundo var. cannabifolia. · Chemistry & biodiversity
13.PMID: 36714696 (2022) — Ecological function of key volatiles in Vitex negundo infested by Aphis gossypii. · Frontiers in plant science
14.PMID: 41523769 (2025) — Flavonoids extract from Vitex negundo inhibit autophagy by targeting PI3K/AKT/mTOR/p70S6K/ULK signaling cascade in cancerous cells. · World journal of experimental medicine
15.PMID: 38999085 (2024) — Analysis of Antioxidant Compounds in Vitex negundo Leaves Using Offline 2D-LC-ECD and LC-MS/MS. · Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
16.PMID: 38554895 (2024) — Triterpenoids and triterpenoid saponins from Vitex negundo and their anti-inflammatory activities. · Phytochemistry
17.PMID: 40549017 (2025) — Effects of Chaste tree (Vitex negundo) leaves as an antibiotic growth promoter alternative on growth performance, digestibility, carcass traits, immunity and antioxidant status of broiler birds. · Tropical animal health and production
18.PMID: 22048539 (2010) — A clinical study of Nirgundi Ghana Vati and Matra Basti in the management of Gridhrasi with special reference to sciatica. · Ayu
19.PMID: 36355335 (2023) — Anti-bacterial Effect and Characteristics of Gold Nanoparticles (AuNps) Formed with Vitex negundo Plant Extract. · Applied biochemistry and biotechnology
20.PMID: 31302252 (2019) — Labdanes and megastigmanes from Vitex negundo var. heterophylla. · Fitoterapia
21.PMID: 41564885 (2026) — Chemical Characterization and In Vitro Bioactivities of Vitex negundo Leaf Extracts. · Biomedical chromatography : BMC
22.PMID: 35345319 (2022) — Vitex negundo L. derived specialized molecules unveil the multi-targeted therapeutic avenues against COPD: a systems pharmacology approach. · Frontiers in bioscience (Landmark edition)
23.PMID: 29343985 (2018) — Bioactive chromone constituents from Vitex negundo alleviate pain and inflammation. · Journal of pain research
24.PMID: 31453130 (2019) — Effect of Vitex negundo L. seeds in letrozole induced polycystic ovarian syndrome. · Journal of traditional and complementary medicine
25.PMID: 35106389 (2022) — In silico to In vivo development of a polyherbal against Haemonchus contortus. · Heliyon
26.PMID: 34869894 (2021) — The chloroplast genome sequence and characteristic analysis of Vitex negundo var. heterophylla (Franch.) Rehder. · Mitochondrial DNA. Part B, Resources
27.PMID: 31448638 (2021) — Vitexnegheteroin M, a new phenolic glycoside from Vitex negundo var. heterophylla. · Natural product research
28.PMID: 24702809 (2014) — A new triterpenoid glycoside from Vitex negundo. · Chinese journal of natural medicines
29.PMID: 30693155 (2019) — Development and characterization of EST-SSR markers for Vitex negundo var. heterophylla (Lamiaceae). · Applications in plant sciences
30.PMID: 37293748 (2023) — New Halogenated Flavonoids from Adenosma bracteosum and Vitex negundo and Their α-Glucosidase Inhibition. · Chemistry & biodiversity