Anatomical Study and Phytochemical Screening of Vitex negundo L.

Vitex negundo L. (Lamiaceae), commonly known as Nirgundi, is an aromatic shrub used extensively in the Ayurvedic, Siddha and Unani systems of medicine. The present investigation was carried out to study the anatomy of the leaf, petiole, stem and root and to screen the leaf extract for some major groups of phytoconstituents. Free-hand transverse sections stained with safranin and fast green revealed a dorsiventral leaf with abundant glandular and non-glandular trichomes on the abaxial surface, anomocytic stomata and a nearly circular vascular cylinder in the midrib. The stem showed a wide zone of secondary xylem traversed by rays and a large parenchymatous pith. The petiole showed an arc-shaped vascular bundle with accessory bundles, and the root showed secondary xylem with prominent medullary rays and no pith. In the qualitative tests, Fehling's and Benedict's reagents indicated the presence of reducing sugars, while Mayer's, Dragendorff's and Millon's tests were negative and Wagner's test was doubtful. The anatomical characters recorded in this study may be useful in the identification and standardisation of the crude drug.