Antioxidant and Antiinflammatory Activity of Vitex negundo

Reactive oxygen species are implicated in various inflammatory disorders. Vitex negundo is mentioned in Ayurveda as useful in treating arthritic disorders. The present work was undertaken to evaluate the antioxidant potential and anti-inflammatory activity of the plant. The total methanol extract of the plant was standardized in terms of total polyphenols. The standardized extract in a dose of 100 mg/kg caused a comparable reduction in edema with that of diclofenac sodium (25 mg/kg) when evaluated for antiinflammatory activity by carrageenan-induced rat paw edema method. The extract also exhibited a strong free radical scavenging activity by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl method and caused a significant reduction in the formation of thiobarbituric acid reacting substances when evaluated for its lipid peroxidation inhibitory activity. The results strongly suggest that radical quenching may be one of the mechanisms responsible for its antiinflammatory activity.