LAGUNDI

Common Name: Five-leaved Chase Tree [5], Indian Privet, Dabtan [3]

Scientific Name: Vitex negundo L.  [4]     

Description of the Plant and its Parts:

Lagundi is an erect, branched tree or shrub, 2 to 5 meters high. Leaves are usually 5-foliate, rarely with 3 leaflets only, and palmately arranged. It has a single thick, woody stem like a trunk and is usually seen in swamps of the Philippines.   Leaflets are lanceolate, entire, 4 to 10 centimeters long, slightly hairy beneath, and pointed at both ends, the middle leaflets being larger than the others, and distinctly stalked. Flowers are numerous, blue to lavender, 6 to 7 millimeters long, borne in terminal inflorescences (panicles) 10 to 20 centimeters long. Calyx is hairy, and 5-toothed. Corolla is densely hairy in the throat, and the middle lobe of the lower lip is longest. Fruit is a succulent drupe, globose, black when ripe, about 4 millimeters in diameter. 

The use of Lagundi for medicinal purposes has a long history in the Philippines. Today, pharmaceutical companies sell it in capsule form at drug stores. [7]

Picture of the Plant and Important Parts: [10]

Active Constituents: [6]

• Volatile oil; resin; alkaloid; lichen acids; glucoside.

• Constituents of oil: sabinene, linalool, terpinen-4-ol, b-caryophyllene, a-guaine and globulol.

• Study on essential oils showed B-caryophyllene common to leaves, flowers and dried fruits.

• Leaves yield a colorless essential oil and a resin; the fruit yields an acid resin, an astringent organic acid, mallic acid, and coloring matter.

• Leaves contain an alkaloid nishindine, flavones, luteolin-7-glucoside, casticin, iridoid glycosides.

• Phytochemical screening of ethanol leaf extract yielded alkaloids, iridoids, phenolic acids, flavonols and flavonoids.

• Seeds contain hydrocarbons, B-sitosterol, benzoic acid and phthalic acid, antiinflammatory diterpene, flavonoids and triterpenoids.

• Essential oil of seeds yielded forty-two components representing 91.36% of the oil. Major constituents were n-Hexadecanoic acid (17.68%), eudesm-4(14)-en-11-ol (12.39%) and caryophyllene oxide (10.79%) were found to be the major constituents.

Traditional Use:

People have always been interested in plants for their medicinal properties. Since ancient times, people practiced herbal medicine as a magical or religious healing art. Throughout the ages people have turned for healing to herbal medicine. All cultures have folk medicinal traditions that include the use of plants and plant products. Tribes are using their traditional knowledge system to cure different diseases. They use plant as a source of drug through trial and error method and the process is experienced over hundreds of years. [2]

-Relief of asthma & pharyngitis

-Recommended relief of rheumatism, dyspepsia, boils, diarrhea

-Treatment of cough, colds, fever and flu and other bronchopulmonary disorders

-Alleviate symptoms of Chicken Pox-Removal of worms, and boils [3]

-Decoction of leaves used externally for cleaning ulcers and internally for flatulence. Also used as a lactagogue and emmenagogue.

- Decoction of bark, tops and leaves used as antigastralgic.

- Vapor bath prepared with the plant used for treatment of febrile, catarrhal, and rheumatic affections.

- Decoction of leaves used as warm bath by women suffering with after-pains in the puerperal period. Also used as baths for new born children.

- Seeds are boiled in water and eaten or the water drunk to prevent the spread of toxin from bites of poisonous animals.

- Infusion of seeds used for disinfecting wounds and ulcers.

- Pounded leaves applies on the forehead and temples for headaches.

- Leaf decoction for fever, headache, toothache, cough, asthma.

- Root used as tonic, febrifuge and expectorant.- Flowers are used for diarrhea, cholera, fever, and diseases of the liver; and also as cardiac tonic.- Powdered flowers and stalks are used for bleeding from the stomach and bowels.

- Fruit used for headaches and watery eyes. Dried fruits are used as vermifuge.

- Seeds are prepared as cooling medicine for skin diseases, leprosy, and inflammation of the mouth.

- Oil prepared with the juice used for sinuses and scrofulous sores. Oil also used as a rubbing application to glandular or tubercular swelling of the neck. Oil also used for treatment of sloughing wounds and ulcers.

- Decoction of leaves and long pepper used for catarrhal fever associated with head congestion and dullness of hearing.- Juice of leaves used to remove fetid discharges and worms from ulcers.[6]

-Dysentery, colds and pain in any part of the body as influenza -Skin Diseases (dermatitis, scabies, ulcer, eczema) and wounds
-Rheumatism, sprain, contusion insect bites-Aromatic bath for sick patients [9]

-Dysentery,colds and pain

Pharmacologic Activity: [1]

Internal

Analgesic activity

Intraperitoneal administration of some leaf and root extracts using different solvents showed analgesic activity. Ethanol and cold aqueous leaf extract showed only weak effect in acetic acid writhing test. Whereas, chloroform and toluene leaf extracts raised the threshold of tail-flick response. The chloroform extract showed moderate, butanol and cold aqueous root extract produced marked effects in acetic acid induced writhing method. In another study, the methanolic leaf extract when given by I.P route has been found to possess analgesic properties.

Anti-inflammatory activity

The experimental studies using various animal models have demonstrated that different parts of the plant especially leaves, fruits, roots and seeds possess anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic activity. However, possible mechanism of anti-inflammatory activity was indicated as an inhibitory action on prostaglandin biosynthesis. Leaves have anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties mediated via PG synthesis inhibition, antihistamine, membrane stabilizing and antioxidant activities.

Anticonvulsant activity

The plant has been studied for its anticonvulsant activity. The petroleum and butanol leaf extracts have shown protection, whereas, none of root extract has shown protection against maximum electro shock (MES) seizures. Petroleum root extract could only provide protection against Leptazole induced convulsion. Leaf extract of this plant potentiate the effects of standard anticonvulsants, which may help to reduce dose and dose-related side effects of standard anticonvulsants.

Antioxidant activity

The antioxidant properties of the plant was studied using free radical scavenging activity effect on hydroxyl radical mediated damage to deoxyribose and in vivo lipid peroxidation assay but did not show any significant effects. However, observed reduction in MDA (Malondialdehyde) levels after 14 days treatment in only higher dose (500 mg/kg/po). Although non-significant marginal rise of SOD (superoxide dismutase) in this dose was observed. In ethanol induced oxidative stress model, however, it significantly reduced only MDA levels in both moderate and higher doses and the effect on SOD were non-significant.

Other activities

Ethanolic leaf extract has been found to possess anti-histaminic/ mast cells stabilizing activity and bronchial smooth muscle relaxing activity. Similarly, various parts especially leaf and root extracts have shown activity against rheumatism and poliomylities. It has been found to be hepatoprotective, diuretic, antifilarial, antibacterial, antimalarial and antiandrogenic/ antifertility agent.

External

Insecticidal and Pesticidal activities

The plant products of V. negundo are variously reported to possess insecticidal activity against stored product pest, mosquito larvae, houseflies and tobacco leaf eating larvae. Leaf oil of the plant is shown to have repellent actions against stored product pests.

Bioassay of Vitex negundo L (LAGUNDI) Aqueous Extract

The bioassay procedure was adopted by the Cotabato Herbal Pharmaceuticals Bioassay and Manufacturing Plant (CHPBMP) for Vitex negundo L (LAGUNDI) powders and tablets.The ability of Lagundi to inhibit contraction of rat isolated intestine was used as an index of pharmacologic activity. Duplicate random samples of Lagundi tablets and powders were ran simultaneously at the Department of Pharmacology, University of the Philippines, College of Medicine (which served as a control) in the CHPBMP. Results show that the bioassay done at the Department of Pharmacology, U.P. College of Medicine, as indicated by similar dose response curve. Based on a series of comparative experimental runs, the bioassay procedure utilizing inhibition of contraction of the isolated rat intestine has been adopted as the standard bioassay procedure for quality control of Vitex negundo L (LAGUNDI) products. [8]

Toxicity with Clinical Bases:

Preliminary acute toxicity study of ethanolic leaf extract in albino rats by oral route indicated to be primarily nontoxic, as its LD50 dose recorded was 7.58 g/kg/wt. The stomach showed no histomorphological changes in any of the doses of the extract studied. However, dose dependant histomorphological changes were observed in the specimens of the heart, liver and lung. The specimens of the heart showed vascular dilatation and haemorrhage. Liver showed nonspecific portal dilatation and lung showed edema and congestion microscopically. Dyspnoea noticed mostly after 12 hours of the administration of the extract likely to have been caused by cardiac toxicity in the form of vascular dilatation and haemorrhage appears to be major cause of mortality in the study.Almost all its parts like leaves, roots, bark, fruit, flowers and seeds are employed for medicinal purpose and can be used medicinally in the form of powder, decoction, juice, oil, tincture, sugar/water/ honey paste, dry extract. Doses recommended, an adults are: juice, 10-20 ml; decoction, 50-100ml leaves powder, 1.5-3g, dry leaves extract, 300-600 mg. Intake of such a very high doses for this standard measurements can cause toxicity. [1]

References:

1. Vishal R Tandon, Volume 4 (3) May-June 2005, Medicinal Uses and Biological Activites of Vitex negundo,

http://nopr.niscair.res.in/bitstream/123456789/8085/1/NPR%204(3)%20162-165.pdf

2. Lady Jane G. Morilla, Nanette Hope N. Sumaya, Henry I. Rivero and Ma. Reina Suzette B. Madamba,

Jan. 28-29, 2014, Medicinal Plants of the Subanens in Dumingag, Zamboanga del Sur, Philippines

http://iicbe.org/siteadmin/upload/4970C0114577.pdf

3. Copyright © 2011, Medical Health Guide (USA, UK, Canada, Australia, India, Philippines, Singapore)

http://www.medicalhealthguide.com/articles/lagundi.htm

4. Copyright © 2004-2014, Filipino Herbs Healing Wonders http://www.filipinoherbshealingwonders.filipinovegetarianrecipe.com/lagundi.htm

5. This page was last modified on 31 July 2013, at 23:20, Herbal Remedies and Medicinal Cures for Diseases, Ailments, Sicknesses that afflict Humans and Animals

http://www.zamboanga.com/z/index.php?title=Five-leaved_Chaste_Tree

6. Last Update February 2014, Philippine Medicinal Plants

http://www.stuartxchange.com/Lagundi.html

7. JC Kurian, PH. D., D.SC. , Copyright 2010 vol. 1, Amazing Healing Plants

8. Imelda D.  Soriano, M.D, Copyright 2010-2011, Bioassay of Vitex negundo L. (LAGUNDI) Aqueous Extract

http://www.globinmed.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=62518:bioassay-of-vitex-negundo-l-lagundi-aqueous-extract&catid=212

9. Cuevas, Francis Public Health Nursing in the Philippines. 10th Edition 2007, Herbal Medicine (Lagundi)

http://www.rnpedia.com/home/notes/community-health-nursing-notes/herbal-medicine-lagundi

10. Jaime Z. Galvez Tan, Ma. Rebecca Mara Galvez Tan, Copyright 2008, Medicinal Fruits and Vegetables

Compiled by : Geneveive L. Candelario