Pharmacognostic Studies of Vitex agnuscastus Linn.– Fruit
Rajat Rashmi
Hippocratic Journal of Unani Medicine
Hippocratic Journal of Unani Medicine, April - June 2014, Vol. 9 No. 2, Pages 67-74
Abstract
Fruits of Vitex agnus-castus Linn. (Verbaenace) is used in Homoeopathy and Indian system of medicine. Pharmacognostic studies of fruit / berry has been carried out to lay down the standards for genuine drug. Characteristic microscopical features are loculicidal drup with exalbuminous seeds; mesocarp consists of thick walled cells; endocarp stony; lignified testa cells show conspicuous scalariform folds or thickenings. It can be characterized by the presence of flavon, sterol, alkaloid, glycoside, volatile oil, sugar, tannin and starch. Other parameters also studied include TLC, UV spectrophotometry, fluorescence behavior, ash values, extractive values etc. Based on these characters, the study will help in the correct identification of this important drug.