Planta Med 2016; 82 - PC54
DOI: 10.1055/s-0036-1578756

A Review Of Phytochemicals Of The Genus Vitex

BM Oluwasesan 1, 2, 3, AA Zaki 3, 6, A Sinmisola 5, JY Bae 3, PS Fasinu 3, Z Ali 3, IA Khan 3, 4, UL Ajao 2, OS Olubunmi 2
  • 1Dept. of Applied Chemistry, Federal University Dutsin-Ma, Katsina State, Nigeria
  • 2Dept. of Chemistry, University of Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria
  • 3National Center for Natural Products Research
  • 4Division of Pharmacognosy, Department of BioMolecular Sciences, School of Pharmacy, The University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677, USA
  • 5Dept of Pharmaceutics & Pharmaceutical Technology, School of Pharmacy, University of Lagos, Nigeria
  • 6Pharmacognosy Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516, Egypt

The genus Vitex belongs to the Verbenaceae family with approximately 750 species [1]. Several Vitex species are used as medicinal plants in Africa, Asia and South America [2]. Almost every part of the plant including the leaves, fruits, stembarks and roots have been used in traditional medicine for the management of an array of ailments while some species have nutritional uses [3]. This study presents an overview of ethnopharmacologically useful species of Vitex genus, and can be considered as the first detailed compilation. The overview endeavors to provide a comprehensive and up-to-date compilation of documented ethnopharmacological information in relation to the ethnomedicinal, phytochemistry and biological activities of medicinal plants in Vitex genus.

Reference: [1] Tropicos.org. (2015) Missouri Botanical Garden http://www.tropicos.org [2] Ono M et al (2008) Chem. Pharm. Bull. 56:1621 – 4 [3] Argueta A. et al (1994) Atlas de las Plantas Med. Tra. 537 – 5378