Nirgundi (five-leaved chaste tree)
Vitex negundo
Photo credit: Alex Abair
Safety information
Safety information
Toxicity: Low at studied doses; topically generally well tolerated.
Contraindications: Pregnancy (Vitex genus affects hormones/prolactin — caution); on hormone therapy/dopaminergics (genus prolactin effect).
Interactions: Possible additive with anti-inflammatories; hormone/dopamine-active drugs (chaste-tree genus effect); sedatives.
Pregnancy & breastfeeding: Pregnancy: Vitex-genus hormone/prolactin effect — caution.
Evidence level
Supported by clinical trials in humans.
Preparations
poultice/fomentation · leaf
Part used: leaf
decoction · leaf
Part used: leaf
powder · leaf
Part used: leaf
medicated oil (Nirgundi taila) · leaf
Part used: leaf
Traditional use: joint pain, swelling, headache, arthritis, wounds
Proposed mechanism: flavonoids (casticin, vitexin), iridoid glycosides (agnuside), essential oil — anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antihistaminic, bronchoprotective
Associated conditions
Nutritional notes
Not a food source.
Healing traditions
Sources (2)
- Dharmasiri 2003, J Ethnopharmacol (PMID 12860308)
- Patle 2021, J Ethnopharmacol (PMID 33516930)