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starting the pg w/ refs

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{{Short description|Species of flowering plant}}
{{Italic title}}
{{Speciesbox
|name = Five-leaved chaste tree
|image = Vitex negundo 415167855.jpg
|genus = Vitex
|species = negundo
|authority = [[Carl Linnaeus|L.]]<ref name="GRIN"/>
|synonyms=
*''Vitex cannabifolia'' Siebold & Zucc.
*''Vitex incisa'' Lam.
*''Vitex incisa'' var. ''heterophylla'' Franch.
*''Vitex negundo'' var. ''heterophylla'' (Franch.) Rehder
}}
[[File:Vitex negundo heterophylla 306091219.jpg|thumb|Close-up on flowers]]
[[File:Vitex negundo flowering inside the test tube.jpg|thumb|''In vitro'' flowering in ''Vitex negundo'']]
[[File:Vitex negundo NP.JPG|thumb|Inflorescence of ''Vitex negundo'' in [[Panchkhal]] valley in Nepal]]

'''''Vitex negundo''''', commonly known as the '''Chinese chaste tree''',<ref>{{PLANTS|id=VINE2|taxon=Vitex negundo|access-date=6 August 2015}}</ref> '''five-leaved chaste tree''', or '''horseshoe vitex''', or '''nisinda ''' is a large [[Essential oil|aromatic]] [[shrub]] with [[wikt:quadrangular|quadrangular]], densely whitish, [[tomentose]] branchlets. It is widely used in [[folk medicine]], particularly in [[South Asia|South]] and [[Southeast Asia]].

''Vitex negundo'' is an erect [[shrub]] or small tree growing from {{convert|2|to|8|m|ft|abbr=on}} in height. The bark is reddish brown. Its leaves are digitate, with five [[lanceolate]] [[leaflet (botany)|leaflets]], sometimes three. Each leaflet is around {{convert|4|to|10|cm|in|abbr=on}} 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.<ref name="bpi">{{cite book|title =''Vitex negundo'' Linn. Fact Sheet|publisher =Bureau of Plant Industry, Department of Agriculture, Republic of the Philippines|url =http://www.bpi.da.gov.ph/Publications/mp/pdf/l/lagundi.pdf}}</ref>
The numerous flowers are borne in [[panicle]]s {{convert|10|to|20|cm|in|abbr=on}} in length. Each is around {{convert|6|to|7|cm|in|abbr=on}} long and are white to blue in color. The [[petal]]s are of different lengths, with the middle lower lobe being the longest. Both the [[Corolla (flower)|corolla]] and [[Calyx (botany)|calyx]] are covered in dense hairs.<ref name="bpi"/>

The fruit is a succulent [[drupe]], {{convert|4|mm|in|abbr=on}} in diameter, rounded to egg-shaped. It is black or purple when ripe.<ref name="bpi"/>

==Distribution and habitat==
''Vitex negundo'' is native to tropical [[Eastern Africa|Eastern]] and [[Southern Africa]] and [[Asia]]. It is widely cultivated and naturalized elsewhere.<ref name="GRIN">{{GRIN | name =''Vitex negundo'' L.| id =41831 | access-date = September 7, 2011}}</ref>

Countries it is indigenous to include [[Afghanistan]], [[Bangladesh]], [[Bhutan]], [[Cambodia]], [[China]], [[India]], [[Indonesia]], [[Japan]], [[Korea]], [[Kenya]], [[Madagascar]], [[Malaysia]], [[Mozambique]], [[Myanmar]], [[Nepal]], [[Pakistan]], the [[Philippines]], [[Sri Lanka]], [[Taiwan]], [[Tanzania]], [[Thailand]], and [[Vietnam]].<ref name="GRIN"/>

''Vitex negundo'' are commonly found near bodies of water, recently disturbed land, grasslands, and mixed open forests.<ref name="prosea"/>

==Nomenclature==
[[Common name]]s of ''Vitex negunda'' in different languages include:<ref>Vitex negunda in Dr. K. M. Madkarni's Indian Materia Medica; Edited by A. K. Nadkarni, Popular Prakashan, Bombay, 1976, pp: 1278-80.</ref>
{{div col}}
*[[Assamese language|Assamese]]: ''Posotiya'' (পচতীয়া)
*[[Bengali language|Bengali]]: ''Nirgundi''; ''Nishinda''; ''Samalu''
*[[Bontok language|Bontok]]: ''Liñgei''
*[[Chinese language|Chinese]]: {{lang|zh-Latn|Huáng jīng}} ({{lang|zh-Hans|黄荆}})
*[[English language|English]]: ''Five-leaved chaste tree''; ''Horseshoe vitex''; ''Chinese chaste tree''
*[[Filipino language|Filipino]]: ''Lagundî''<ref name="prosea">{{cite web|url=http://hrdc.pcarrd.dost.gov.ph/prosea/proseaherbal/lagundi_doc.htm|archive-url=https://archive.today/20121221063833/http://hrdc.pcarrd.dost.gov.ph/prosea/proseaherbal/lagundi_doc.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 21, 2012|title=''Vitex negundo'' L. - Lagundi|publisher=Prosea Herbal Techno-Catalog|access-date=September 7, 2011}}</ref>
*[[Gujarati language|Gujarati]]: ''Nagoda''; ''Shamalic''
*[[Hindi language|Hindi]]: ''Mewri''; ''Nirgundi''; ''Nisinda''; ''Sambhalu''; ''Sawbhalu'' (निर्गुंडी)
*[[Ifugao language|Ifugao]]: ''Dabtan''
*[[Ilokano language|Ilokano]]: ''Dangla''<ref name="prosea"/>
*[[Kannada language|Kannada]]: {{lang|kn-Latn|Biḷi nekki}} ({{lang|kn|ಬಿಳಿ ನೆಕ್ಕಿ}})
*[[Korea language|Korean]]: {{lang|ko-Latn|jommokhyeong}} ({{lang|ko|좀목형}})
*[[Malayalam language|Malayalam]]: ''Karinochi'' (കരിനൊച്ചി)
*[[Marathi language|Marathi]]: ''Nirgudi'' (निरगुडी)
*[[Nepali language|Nepali]]: 'सिमली' 'Simali' 'Nirgundi'
*[[Punjabi language|Punjabi]]: ''Banna''; ''Marwan''; ''Maura''; ''Mawa''; ''Swanjan Torbanna''
*[[Sanskrit language|Sanskrit]]: ''Nirgundi''; ''Sephalika''; ''Sindhuvara''; ''Svetasurasa''; ''Vrikshaha'' (सिन्धुवार)
*[[Sinhala language|Sinhala]]: ''Nika'' (නික)
*[[Konkani language|Konkani]]: ''Lingad''
*[[Tamil language|Tamil]]: ''Chinduvaram''; ''Nirnochchi''; ''Nochchi''; ''Notchi''; ''Vellai-nochchi'' (நொச்சி / கரு நொச்சி)
*[[Telugu language|Telugu]]: ''Sindhuvara''; ''Vavili''; ''Nalla-vavili''; ''Tella-vavili'' (వావిలి / సింధువార) lekkali
{{div col end}}
*[[Urdu language|Urdu]]: ''Sumbaloo''
*[[Odia language|Odia]]: ''Begunia''

==Chemistry==
The principal constituents of the leaf juice are [[casticin]], [[isoorientin]], [[chrysophenol D]], [[luteolin]], [[p–hydroxybenzoic acid]] and D-[[fructose]].{{Citation needed|date=October 2008}} The main constituents of the oil are [[sabinene]], [[linalool]], [[terpinen-4-ol]], [[β-caryophyllene]], α-[[guaiene]] and [[globulol]] constituting 61.8% of the oil.{{Citation needed|date=October 2008}}

==Uses==
Purified extracts are believed to have medicinal properties.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Zheng|first1=Cheng-Jian|last2=Li|first2=Hua-Qiang|last3=Ren|first3=Shan-Cheng|last4=Xu|first4=Chuan-Liang|last5=Rahman|first5=Khalid|last6=Qin|first6=Lu-Ping|last7=Sun|first7=Ying-Hao|date=2015-01-30|title=Phytochemical and Pharmacological Profile of Vitex negundo|url=|journal=Phytotherapy Research|volume=29|issue=5|pages=633–647|doi=10.1002/ptr.5303|pmid=25641408 |s2cid=10868342 |issn=0951-418X}}</ref>

''Vitex negundo'' is used for treating stored [[garlic]] against [[pest (organism)|pest]]s. It is also listed as one of the ten herbal medicine approved by the [[Department of Health (Philippines)|Department of Health]] as a cough remedy in the [[Philippines]], and sold under the trade names Ascof, Plemex, and Lagundex.<ref>{{cite web |title=Directory of Herbs {{!}} PITAHC |url=https://pitahc.gov.ph/directory-of-herbs/ |website=Philippine Institute of Traditional and Alternative Health Care |access-date=12 September 2024}}</ref><ref name="pest">{{cite web|url=http://pcarrd.dost.gov.ph/phil-organic/Technologies/lagundi%20against%20garlic%20pests.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070715001825/http://www.pcarrd.dost.gov.ph/phil-organic/Technologies/lagundi%20against%20garlic%20pests.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 15, 2007|title=Lagundi leaves as effective control against storage pests of garlic|publisher=Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD), Department of Science and Technology, Republic of the Philippines|access-date=September 7, 2011}}</ref> In Malaysia, it is used in traditional herbal medicine for women's health, including treatments for regulating the menstrual cycle, fibrocystic breast disease and post-partum remedies.<ref>{{cite book | first=W.E. | last=Wan Hassan | date=2010 | title=Ulam: Salad Herbs of Malaysia | pages=106–107 | publisher=Masbe Sdn. Bhd. | isbn=9789834466404 }}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
*{{cite book |last=Caldecott |first=Todd |year=2006 |title=Ayurveda: The Divine Science of Life |publisher=Elsevier/Mosby |isbn=0-7234-3410-7 }} Contains a detailed monograph on ''Vitex negundo'' (Nirgundi) as well as a discussion of health benefits and usage in clinical practice. Available online at https://web.archive.org/web/20110403032108/http://www.toddcaldecott.com/index.php/herbs/learning-herbs/315-nirgundi

{{Taxonbar|from=Q14807863}}

[[Category:Vitex|negundo]]
[[Category:Flora of the Philippines]]
[[Category:Plants described in 1753]]
[[Category:Botanical taxa named by Carl Linnaeus]]
[[kn:ಲಕ್ಕಿ ಗಿಡ]]
[[ml:കരിനൊച്ചി]]
[[ne:सिमाली]]
[[sa:निर्गुण्डिसस्यम्]]

Vitex negundo - Revision history

CatharineJorgens: starting the pg w/ refs