Vitex negundo is a multipurpose, versatile, aromatic shrub. The reference about the medicinal properties of this shrub is mostly found in the literature of the post-vedic period. Interestingly this tree is considered to be ‘sarvaroganivarini’ – the remedy for all diseases amongst traditional Indian circles. Its leaves powder is added to some of the Ayurvedic medicines like ‘Saraswatarishta’ and ‘Manasamitra vatakam’. The main chemical constituents found in nirgundi are phenol, dulcitol, alkaloid- vitricine, B-sitosterol, camphene, orientin, arteemetin, onoterpens, anguside eurostoside and aucubin.
