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Difference between revisions of "Vitex agnus-castus - Chaste tree"

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[[File:Vitex agnus-castus 1.JPG|thumb|right|''Nirgundi'', ''Vitex agnus-castus'']]
 
[[File:Vitex agnus-castus 1.JPG|thumb|right|''Nirgundi'', ''Vitex agnus-castus'']]
  
'''Nirgundi''', also called Vitex agnus-castus, vitex, chaste tree, chasteberry, Abraham's balm, lilac chastetree, or monk's pepper, is a native of the Mediterranean region. It is one of the few temperate-zone species of Vitex, which is on the whole a genus of tropical and sub-tropical flowering plants.
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'''Nirgundi''' is a native of the Mediterranean region. It is one of the few temperate-zone species of Vitex, which is on the whole a genus of tropical and sub-tropical flowering plants. It is widely used in folk medicine, particularly in South and Southeast Asia.
  
'''Indrani''' or '''Vitex negundo''', commonly known as the Chinese chastetree, five-leaved chaste tree, or horseshoe vitex, is a large aromatic shrub with quadrangular, densely whitish, tomentose branchlets. It is widely used in folk medicine, particularly in South and Southeast Asia.
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==Uses==
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{{Uses|Wounds}}, {{Uses|Cuts}}, {{Uses|Snakebites}}, {{Uses|Curing liver disorders}}, {{Uses|Skin eruptions}}, {{Uses|Blotches}}, {{Uses|Pimples}}, {{Uses|Diarrhea}}, {{Uses|Sore throats}}
  
== Description ==
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==Parts Used==
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{{Parts Used|Roots}}, {{Parts Used|flowers}}, {{Parts Used|leaves}}, {{Parts Used|bark}}.
  
Vitex negundo is an erect shrub or small tree growing from 2 to 8 m (6.6 to 26.2 ft) in height. The bark is reddish-brown. Its leaves are digitate, with five lanceolate leaflets, sometimes three. Each leaflet is around 4 to 10 cm (1.6 to 3.9 in) in length, with the central leaflet being the largest and possessing a stalk. The leaf edges are toothed or serrated and the bottom surface is covered in hair. The numerous flowers are borne in panicles 10 to 20 cm (3.9 to 7.9 in) in length. Each is around 6 to 7 cm (2.4 to 2.8 in) long and are white to blue in color. The petals are of different lengths, with the middle lower lobe being the longest. Both the corolla and calyx are covered in dense hairs. The fruit is a succulent drupe, 4 mm (0.16 in) in diameter, rounded to egg-shaped. It is black or purple when ripe.
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==Chemical Composition==
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Contains volatile oils, flavonoids, apigenin, luteolin, quercetin, kaempferol, tiliroside, triterpene glycosides including euscapic acid and tormentic acid, phenolic acids, and 3%–21% tannins<ref name="chemical composition"/>
  
== Uses ==
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==Common names==
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{{Common names|kn=Bile-Nekki|ml=Indrani|sa=|ta=Nirkunnchi, Nallanochi|te=Nallavalli, Vavilli|hi=Samhalu, Saubhalu|en=Five-Leaved Chaste Tree}}
  
*In alternative medicine, it is believed the berries are a tonic herb for both the male and female reproductive systems. The leaves are believed to have the same effect but to a lesser degree.
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==Properties==
*It is believed that some of the compounds found in the plant work on the pituitary gland which would explain its effects on hormonal levels.
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Reference: Dravya - Substance, Rasa - Taste, Guna - Qualities, Veerya - Potency, Vipaka - Post-digesion effect, Karma - Pharmacological activity, Prabhava - Therepeutics.
*Used in supplements for male bodybuilders as a secondary component because of its effects on testosterone levels.
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===Dravya===
*Five-Leaved Chaste Tree relieves muscle aches and joint pains.
 
  
==Common name==
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===Rasa===
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Tikta (Bitter), Kashaya (Astringent)
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===Guna===
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Laghu (Light), Ruksha (Dry), Tikshna (Sharp)
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===Veerya===
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Ushna (Hot)
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===Vipaka===
 +
Katu (Pungent)
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===Karma===
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Kapha, Vata
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===Prabhava===
  
* '''English''' - Five-leaved chaste tree
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==Habit==
* '''Kannada''' - ಬಿಲೆ ನೆಕ್ಕಿ
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{{Habit|Shrub}}
* '''Hindi''' - निर्गुंडी
 
  
== External Links ==
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==Identification==
 +
===Leaf===
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{{Leaf|Simple||The leaves are Palmately compound petiole 2:5: 3.8 cm long; mostly trifoliate, occasionally pentafoliate}}<ref name="Leaf"/>
  
*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitex_agnus-castus "Vitex agnus-castus"]
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===Flower===
*[http://www.himalayawellness.com/herbfinder/vitex-negundo.htm "Five-Leaved Chaste Tree-Himalaya herb finder"]
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{{Flower|Unisexual|2-4cm long|Bluish-purpleYellow|5-20|Flowers Season is June - August and small, in peduncled cymes}}
*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitex_negundo Vitex negundo-Wikipedia]
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===Fruit===
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{{Fruit|rounded drupe|1 to 3 mm in diameter|calyx cup may show one or two vertical splits|fruit colour light brown to black|2}}
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===Other features===
 +
 
 +
==List of Ayurvedic medicine in which the herb is used==
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* [[Vishatinduka Taila]] as ''root juice extract''
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 +
==Where to get the saplings==
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==Mode of Propagation==
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{{Propagation|Seeds}}, {{Propagation|Cuttings}}.
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 +
==How to plant/cultivate==
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It prefers a light well-drained loamy soil.[3] It is widely planted as a hedge plant in between the fields and usually not browsed by the cattle.<ref name="How to plant/cultivate"/>
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==Commonly seen growing in areas==
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{{Commonly seen|Tropical region}}, {{Commonly seen|Sub-tropical region}}.
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==Photo Gallery==
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<gallery class="left" caption="" widths="140px" heights="140px">
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File:Nirgundi (Marathi- निर्गुंडी) (5928827061).jpg
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File:Nirgundi (Marathi- निर्गुंडी) (465854159).jpg
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File:Vitex trifolia L. (5928822953).jpg
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</gallery>
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==References==
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 +
<references>
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<ref name="chemical composition">[http://www.himalayawellness.com/herbfinder/vitex-negundo.htm "chemical constituents"]</ref>
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 +
<ref name="Leaf">[https://www.bimbima.com/ayurveda/medicinal-use-of-nirgundi-vitex-negundo/1452/ "plant description"]</ref>
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<ref name="How to plant/cultivate">[http://www.jipbs.com/VolumeArticles/FullTextPDF/80_JIPBSV2I205.pdf "cultivation details"]</ref>
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</references>
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==External Links==
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* [http://www.planetayurveda.com/nirgundipowder.htm]
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* [http://www.usefulplants.org/index.php/medicinal-plants/nirgundi-chaste-tree]
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* [http://www.usefulplants.org/index.php/medicinal-plants/nirgundi-chaste-tree]
  
 
[[Category:Herbs]]
 
[[Category:Herbs]]

Revision as of 18:24, 14 June 2018

Nirgundi, Vitex agnus-castus

Nirgundi is a native of the Mediterranean region. It is one of the few temperate-zone species of Vitex, which is on the whole a genus of tropical and sub-tropical flowering plants. It is widely used in folk medicine, particularly in South and Southeast Asia.

Uses

Wounds, Cuts, Snakebites, Curing liver disorders, Skin eruptions, Blotches, Pimples, Diarrhea, Sore throats

Parts Used

Roots, flowers, leaves, bark.

Chemical Composition

Contains volatile oils, flavonoids, apigenin, luteolin, quercetin, kaempferol, tiliroside, triterpene glycosides including euscapic acid and tormentic acid, phenolic acids, and 3%–21% tannins[1]

Common names

Language Common name
Kannada Bile-Nekki
Hindi Samhalu, Saubhalu
Malayalam Indrani
Tamil Nirkunnchi, Nallanochi
Telugu Nallavalli, Vavilli
Marathi NA
Gujarathi NA
Punjabi NA
Kashmiri NA
Sanskrit
English Five-Leaved Chaste Tree


Properties

Reference: Dravya - Substance, Rasa - Taste, Guna - Qualities, Veerya - Potency, Vipaka - Post-digesion effect, Karma - Pharmacological activity, Prabhava - Therepeutics.

Dravya

Rasa

Tikta (Bitter), Kashaya (Astringent)

Guna

Laghu (Light), Ruksha (Dry), Tikshna (Sharp)

Veerya

Ushna (Hot)

Vipaka

Katu (Pungent)

Karma

Kapha, Vata

Prabhava

Habit

Shrub

Identification

Leaf

Kind Shape Feature
Simple The leaves are Palmately compound petiole 2:5: 3.8 cm long; mostly trifoliate, occasionally pentafoliate

[2]

Flower

Type Size Color and composition Stamen More information
Unisexual 2-4cm long Bluish-purpleYellow 5-20 Flowers Season is June - August and small, in peduncled cymes

Fruit

Type Size Mass Appearance Seeds More information
rounded drupe 1 to 3 mm in diameter calyx cup may show one or two vertical splits fruit colour light brown to black 2 {{{6}}}

Other features

List of Ayurvedic medicine in which the herb is used

Where to get the saplings

Mode of Propagation

Seeds, Cuttings.

How to plant/cultivate

It prefers a light well-drained loamy soil.[3] It is widely planted as a hedge plant in between the fields and usually not browsed by the cattle.[3]

Commonly seen growing in areas

Tropical region, Sub-tropical region.

Photo Gallery

References

External Links