संस्कृत नाम- निर्गुण्डी
Botanical name - Vitex negundo
Description - Large shrubs or small trees; bark thin, grey. Leaves 3 to 5- foliolate; leaflets lanceolate, grey-pubescent beneath. Flowers blue, in grey pubescent paniculate cymes. Drupe globose.
Chemical_Constituents- Plant contains hydroxybenzoic acids, flavonoids, aromatic acids, iridoid. Bark contains vanillic and p- hydroxybenzoic acids. Stem contains flavone glycosides. Leaves contain oil consisting of alpha-pinene, camphene, caryophyllene and citral, 2 alkaloids nishidine and hydrocotylene, acids, amorphous glucoside, iridoid glucoside, phenolic acids, flavonoids casticin, chrysophenol-D, luteolin, iso-orientin, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, sugar. Seeds contain triacontanes, Beta-sitosterol .
Uses - Leaves tonic and vermifuge; smoked for relief in catarrh and headache; their decoction employed in medicinal baths for catarrhal and rheumatic affections. Leaves and roots possess tranquilizing effect and form a constituent of many Ayurvedic preparations. Roots tonic, febrifuge, diuretic, used in rheumatism and dyspepsia and as an anthelmintic; also used as a demulcent in dysentery and piles. Flowers also used in diarrhoea, fever and liver complaints.