Vitex

A methanol extract of chaste-tree berry (Vitex agnus-castus L.) was tested for its ability to displace radiolabeled estradiol from the binding site of estrogen receptors alpha (ERα) and beta (ERβ). The extract at 46 ± 3 μg/ml displaced 50% of estradiol from ERα and 64 ± 4 μg/ml from ERβ. Treatment of the ER+ hormone-dependent T47D:A18 breast cancer cell line with the extract induced up-regulation of ERβ mRNA. Progesterone receptor (PR) mRNA was upregulated in the Ishikawa endometrial cancer cell line. However, chaste-tree berry extract did not induce estrogen-dependent alkaline phosphatase (AP) activity in Ishikawa cells. Bioassay-guided isolation, utilizing ER binding as a monitor, resulted in the isolation of linoleic acid as one possible estrogenic component of the extract. The use of pulsed ultrafiltration liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, which is an affinity-based screening technique, also identified linoleic acid as an ER ligand based on its selective affinity, molecular weight, and retention time. Linoleic acid also stimulated mRNA ERβ expression in T47D:A18 cells, PR expression in Ishikawa cells, but not AP activity in Ishikawa cells. These data suggest that linoleic acid from the fruits of Vitex agnus-castus can bind to estrogen receptors and induce certain estrogen inducible genes.

Objective. — To study the composition, the antioxidant activity and the in vitro antifungal
action anti-Candida species of essential oils extracted from seeds of Vite xagnus-castus L.
Materials and method. — The essential oils were extracted using Clevenger-type apparatus and
analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The antioxidant activity was
analyzed using the DPPH free radical-scavenging method. Susceptibility tests for
Candida albicans (12), C. dubliniensis (1), C. glabrata (3), C. krusei (3), C. parapsilosis (6),
C. lusitaniae (1), C. famata (1) and C. tropicalis (3) were expressed as inhibition zone by the discdiffusion
method and as minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimal fungicidal concentration
(MFC) by the broth macrodilution method, compared to amphotricin B and fluconazol as
standard drugs.
Results. — Major components were: 1,8-cineole (19.61%), sabinene (14.57%), a-pinene (9.76%),
b-farnesene (6.04%), b-caryophyllene oxide (5.83%) and b-caryophyllene (5.02%). A low antioxidant
activity was found (IC50 = 1.072 mg/ml), but it can be exploited. V. agnus-castus seeds
essential oils disosed a 35-58 mm zone of inhibition (mean: 49 mm) against all 30 isolates tested.
In broth macrodilution method, all the tested Candida species were susceptible to the essential
oils and this activity was concentration-dependent. MIC values varied from 0.13 to 2.13 mg/ml
V. agnus-castus seeds essential oils.
Conclusion. — Results of this study indicated that the oils of plant origin could be used as potential
anti-Candida species causative agents of nosocomial infections. These oils exhibited a noticeable
antifungal activity against the selected fungi. The natural antifungal substances are inexpensive
and have fewer side effects, they may represent alternative therapies for candidiasis.

The leaves of Vitex negundo have been reported to contain various bioactive constituents including iridoids and flavonoids. This is the first report on the simultaneous determination of iridoids and flavonoids by HPLC in three different samples of V. negundo leaves collected from three regions of India. Separation of iridoids and flavonoids was accomplished by HPLC and further elaborated for their quantification in V. negundo leaves using a C-18 column with detection at 254 and 330 nm, respectively. The developed HPLC method showed good linearity (r2 > or = 0.999), high precision (RSD < 5%) and a good recovery (99.3-103.0%) of the compounds. All the validation parameters of the developed HPLC were found to be within the permissible limits according to the ICH guidelines. The developed method was robust, accurate and reliable for the quality control of V. negundo leaves.

In the present study, methanolic extracts of roots of Vitex negundo L. and extracts of leaves of Vitex negundo L., Ricinus communis L. and Aegle marmelos Corr. were explored for possible antifilarial effect against Brugia malayi microfilariae. It was observed that among the herbal extracts, root extract of Vitex negundo L. and leaves extract of Aegle marmelos Corr. at 100 ng/ml concentration showed complete loss of motility of microfilariae after 48 hr of incubation. Thin layer chromatography of the extracts revealed the presence of alkaloids, saponin and flavonoids in the roots of Vitex negundo L. and coumarin in the leaves of Aegle marmelos Corr.

Casticin (1), a flavonoid isolated from the aerial parts of Vitex agnus-castus, was found to be a potent immunomodulatory and cytotoxic compound. The activity was tested in vitro for chemiluminescence, chemotaxis, T-cell proliferation and cytotoxicity. Casticin (1) exhibited a significant inhibitory effect on monocyte oxidative burst in a dose dependent manner. It was found to have a significant suppressive effect on the chemotaxic action at higher concentrations on fMLP (10−8m) stimulated neutrophils. It also showed a potent suppressive effect on PHA stimulated T-cell (PMBC). Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Vitex doniana Sweet est une espèce à usages multiples d’une grande importance socio-économique et commune en Afrique tropicale. Malgré sa forte utilisation en mi- lieu rural, elle est encore présente à l’état sauvage. Il existe peu de données sur sa domestication. La propagation de cet arbre par bouturage de segments de racine consti- tue une alternative à sa difficile régénéra- tion sexuée. L’objectif de notre travail était d’évaluer deux des facteurs clés (substrat d’enracinement, diamètre des boutures)  qui influencent l’aptitude des boutures de segments de racine (BSR) à néoformer des pousses feuillées et des racines. Le système racinaire de 23 arbres a été partiellement excavé sur une profondeur de 20 cm. Des BSR de 15 cm de long ont été disposées hori- zontalement dans des polypropagateurs sur cinq substrats différents, arrosés matin et soir. Le dispositif était un split-plot à trois ré- pétitions. Le traitement principal recouvrait cinq substrats : terre noire (Tn), sable fin...

Currently, herbal preparations are clinically used as functional food, food supplements or as add on therapy, which affects the bioavailability and also the net therapeutic potential of co-administered allopathic drugs. Therefore, it is important to assess the interaction among these two classes of drugs. Here we studied the interaction between orally-administered ethanolic extract of leaves of Vitex negundo Linn. (Verbenaceae) (VN extract) and paracetamol in albino rats. Solvent free dried extract of VN leaves was orally given to experimental rats in different doses (62.5-1000 mg/kg/b.wt.), daily for six consecutive days. On days 3 and 6, paracetamol (100 mg/kg/b.wt.) was orally administered to these extract treated rats and control rats (drug vector). At various time intervals (5 min-120 min), blood was collected from each animal and paracetamol concentration was determined in plasma by using HPLC with UV detector at 249 nm. Various pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated by no...

The effects of crude extracts, fractions and isolated compounds from Vitex polygama Cham. and Siphoneugena densiflora Berg were evaluated on the development of Spodoptera frugiperda JE Smith, a destructive insect pest of corn and several other crops. The extracts and fractions were incorporated into an artificial diet at 1 mg g−1 and offered to the insect during its larval stage. Length and viability of larval and pupal stages as well as pupal weight were assessed. Isolated compounds were tested through superficial contamination of the diet at 0.1 mg g−1. Weight and viability of ten-day-old larvae were determined. Methanolic and hydroalcoholic S. densiflora extracts caused 100% larval mortality, while leaf and fruit hydroalcoholic extracts from V. polygama were the most active. Among the isolated compounds, flavonoids presented the best insecticidal results, and tannins the best larval growth inhibition. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry

The aim of this study was to assess the hypoglycemic and antihyperglycemic activities of nine plants used as antidiabetic treatments in Lubumbashi and its surroundings. Those are Albizia adianthifolia, Azanza garckeana, Cassia occidentalis, Cassia sieberiana, Erythrina abyssinica, Gladiolus klattianus, Rauvolfia caffra, Strychnos spinosa, and Vitex madiensis. Aqueous extracts, obtained by decoction and maceration, were administered (500 mg/kg) per os to guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus), both in glucose baseline conditions and in oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) conditions (glucose, 2 g/kg; follow-up over 210 min). For OGTT experiments, area under the curve of blood glucose levels, maximum glucose concentration (Cmax), and time to reach Cmax (Tmax) were used to compare test groups with the control conditions (glucose group). In hypoglycemic tests, only three species induced significant (p < 0.001) lowering of normal glycemia: A. adianthifolia (33% reduction), C. occidentalis (32%),...

Medicinal plants represent an important opportunity to rural communities in Africa, as a source of affordable medicine and as a source of income. Increased patient awareness about safe usage is important as well as more training with regards to traditional medicine. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ethnomedicinal prowess of some indigenous South African plants commonly used in Eastern Cape Province of South Africa for the treatment of skin and respiratory tract infections, HIV and their toxicity potential. Cassine transvaalensis, Vangueria infausta, Croton gratissimus and Vitex ferruginea were tested for antibacterial activities against Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis using Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion and minimum inhibition concentration (MIC). Cytotoxic and anti-HIV-1 activities of plants were tested using MTT Assay (3- (Dimethylthiozole-2-yl-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide)) and anti- HIV-1iib assay. In search of bioactive lead compounds, Cassine trans...

Vitex negundo Linn. (Verbenaceae) is used in traditional medical system for respiratory disorders. This study was carried out to investigate its cough-relieving potential. The antitussive effect of the butanolic extract of V. negundo (Vn) on sulphur dioxide (SO2)-induced cough was examined in mice. Safety profile of Vn was carried out by observing acute neurotoxicity, median lethal dose (LD50) and behavioural signs. Vn dose-dependently (250–1000 mg kg−1) inhibited the cough provoked by SO2 gas in mice and exhibited maximum protection after 60 min of administration. At 1000 mg kg−1, Vn caused maximum cough-suppressive effects i.e. cough inhibition at 60 min was 67.4%, as compared to codeine (10 mg kg−1), dextromethorphan (10 mg kg−1) and saline having cough-inhibitory potential 75.7%, 74.7% and 0%, respectively. LD50 value of V. negundo was found to be greater than 5000 mg kg−1. In toxicity tests, no signs of neural impairment and acute behavioural toxicity were observed at antitussive doses and extract has been well tolerated at higher doses. These results indicate that V. negundo exhibits antitussive effect and it was found devoid of toxicity.