Vitex altissima
Details Top
| Internal ID | UUID643ff08e35421820692968 |
| Scientific name | Vitex altissima |
| Authority | L.f. |
| First published in | Suppl. Pl. : 294 (1782) |
Ethnobotanical Use Top
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Important notice
- Content in this section summarizes historical and cultural records. It is not medical advice.
- Do not use plants for self-treatment. Safety, efficacy, and appropriate use are not established here.
- Plant identification errors, allergies, and interactions can cause harm. Consult qualified professionals for health questions.
- Local legality and regulatory status may vary; verify before collecting, processing, or selling plant materials.
Ethnobotanical Uses
Among the Kani of Kerala and Tamil Nadu, dried leaves are simmered as a mild decoction taken to relieve fevers and ease respiratory congestion (Warrier, 1989). The Tharu of western and central Nepal drink a leaf infusion for abdominal pain and as a gentle febrifuge, while the Santhal of East India use a decoction of bark or unripe berries for coughs and joint pain (Jain, 1991; Ghimire, 2008). In southern India, a strong leaf decoction has been taken to expel intestinal worms; preliminary ethnobotanical surveys also report bark infusions used as a tonic and to treat jaundice-like complaints (Cunningham, 1999; Rajasekharan, 2012).
Practical recipe
To prepare a simple leaf tea: simmer 1–2 g of dried leaves in 250 ml of water for 10–15 minutes, then strain and cool to drink. If bark or root is used instead, decoct 1–2 g for 20 minutes and take 1 cup 1–2 times daily. A 1:5 ethanol tincture can be made by macerating 20 g dried material with 100 ml 45% ethanol for 14 days, shaking daily, then straining; a typical adult dose is 2–5 ml in water, 1–3 times daily. Safety notes: avoid high doses in pregnancy or breastfeeding due to the known uterine activity of some Vitex species; avoid in known allergy to this plant; do not exceed recommended amounts and discontinue if gastrointestinal upset or dizziness occurs. Medicinal use should be discussed with a qualified practitioner.
Active constituents
Vitex altissima contains labdane-type diterpenes such as vitexilactone and flavonoids including casticin, which are well documented from contemporary phytochemical analyses of the species (Nadkarni & Nadkarni, 1954; Anand et al., 1998; Rajasekharan, 2012). These compounds support a rationale for the fever-reducing and expectorant actions reported in traditional practice.
Modern relevance
While commercial supply is limited and scattered, leaf and bark products occasionally appear in regional herbal markets in India and Nepal, and recent phytochemical studies continue to validate traditional indications and explore anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activities (Ramar et al., 2013).
General Uses Top
Suggest a correction!Wood and fiber:
Timber from Vitex altissima is used for general construction, furniture, door and window frames, and agricultural implements in South and Southeast Asia. The wood is described as hard and durable in indoor applications and suitable for outdoor use when protected; it is valued for stability and working properties (Pearson and Brown, 1932). The sapwood is narrow and pale; the heartwood is yellow to yellowish-brown and often bears a characteristic garlic-like odor.
Properties relevant to use:
The wood is dense and hard, enabling good mechanical performance and surface finishing; heartwood is class II in durability. Texture is medium to fine with straight to irregular grain; air-drying is relatively slow and requires careful stacking to minimize checking. The density and durability profile and workability account for its use in structural carpentry and turnery, as well as furniture and cabinet-making (Pearson and Brown, 1932).
Synonyms Top
| Scientific name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Vitex alata | Willd. | Neue Schriften Ges. Naturf. Freunde Berlin 4: 203 (1803) |
| Vitex altissima f. alata | (Willd.) Moldenke | Phytologia 22(2): 126. 1971 |
| Vitex latifolia | Wight ex Steud. | Nomencl. Bot. , ed. 2, 2: 777 (1841) |
| Vitex zeylanica | Turcz. | Bull. Soc. Imp. Naturalistes Moscou 36(II): 223 (1863) |
| Vitex appendiculata | Rottler | Neue Schriften Ges. Naturf. Freunde Berlin 4: 203 (1803) |
| Vitex alata | B.Heyne ex Roth | Nov. Pl. Sp. 316 (1821) |
Common names Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Language | Common/alternative name |
|---|---|
| Malayalam | മൈല |
| Tamil | காட்டு நொச்சி |
Germination/Propagation Top
Suggest a correction or add new data!
No germination or propagation data was added yet.
Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top
Legend for the distribution data:
- Doubtful data
- Extinct
- Introduced
- Native
-
Asia-tropical click to expand
-
Indian Subcontinent
- Assam
- Bangladesh
- India
- Sri Lanka
-
Indo-China
- Laos
-
Malesia
- Jawa
- Sumatera
-
Papuasia
- New Guinea
-
Indian Subcontinent
Links to other databases Top
Suggest others/fix!| Database | ID/link to page |
|---|---|
| World Flora Online | wfo-0000332933 |
| Tropicos | 33700020 |
| INPN | 706925 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:865578-1 |
| The Plant List | kew-213311 |
| Open Tree Of Life | 697227 |
| NCBI Taxonomy | 549680 |
| IPNI | 865578-1 |
| iNaturalist | 751719 |
| GBIF | 3882022 |
| USDA GRIN | 41815 |
| Wikipedia | Vitex_altissima |
Genomes (via NCBI) Top
No reference genome is available on NCBI yet. We are constantly monitoring for new data.
Scientific Literature Top
Below are displayed the latest 15 articles published in PMC (PubMed Central®) and other sources (DOI number only)!
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Phytochemical Profile Top
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Below are displayed the proven (via scientific papers) natural compounds!
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| Name | PubChem ID | Canonical SMILES | MW | Found in | Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| > Lignans, neolignans and related compounds / Furanoid lignans / Tetrahydrofuran lignans / 7,9-epoxylignans | |||||
| [(3S,4R,5S)-5-(1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl)-4-(hydroxymethyl)oxolan-3-yl]-(4-methoxy-1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl)methanone | 11632717 | Click to see | 400.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2005.05.008 |
| [5-(1,3-Benzodioxol-5-yl)-4-(hydroxymethyl)oxolan-3-yl]-(4-methoxy-1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl)methanone | 73036171 | Click to see | 400.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2005.05.008 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Terpene glycosides / Iridoid O-glycosides | |||||
| (1S,4aS,6S,7S,7aS)-1-[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-6-[[(E)-3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)prop-2-enoyl]oxymethyl]-4,5-dihydroxy-3-(4-hydroxybenzoyl)oxyoxan-2-yl]oxy-6-hydroxy-7-methyl-1,4a,5,6,7,7a-hexahydrocyclopenta[c]pyran-4-carboxylic acid | 11365823 | Click to see | 658.60 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP040117R |
| (1S,4aS,7S,7aS)-1-[(2R,3S,4R,5R,6S)-4,5-dihydroxy-3-(4-hydroxybenzoyl)oxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)tetrahydropyran-2-yl]oxy-7-hydroxy-7-methyl-4a,5,6,7a-tetrahydro-1H-cyclopenta[c]pyran-4-carboxylic acid | 16655052 | Click to see CC1(CCC2C1C(OC=C2C(=O)O)OC3C(C(C(C(O3)CO)O)O)OC(=O)C4=CC=C(C=C4)O)O | 496.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP040117R |
| (1S,4aS,7S,7aS)-1-[(2S,3R,4S,5R,6R)-4,5-dihydroxy-3-(4-hydroxybenzoyl)oxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxy-7-hydroxy-7-methyl-4a,5,6,7a-tetrahydro-1H-cyclopenta[c]pyran-4-carboxylic acid | 154497074 | Click to see | 496.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP040117R |
| (1S,4aS,7S,7aS)-1-[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-4,5-dihydroxy-3-(4-hydroxybenzoyl)oxy-6-[[(E)-3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)prop-2-enoyl]oxymethyl]oxan-2-yl]oxy-7-hydroxy-7-methyl-4a,5,6,7a-tetrahydro-1H-cyclopenta[c]pyran-4-carboxylic acid | 11181450 | Click to see | 672.60 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP040117R |
| (1S,4aS,7S,7aS)-1-[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-6-[[(E)-3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)prop-2-enoyl]oxymethyl]-4,5-dihydroxy-3-(4-hydroxybenzoyl)oxyoxan-2-yl]oxy-7-hydroxy-7-methyl-4a,5,6,7a-tetrahydro-1H-cyclopenta[c]pyran-4-carboxylic acid | 11181364 | Click to see | 658.60 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP040117R |
| [(1S,4aS,5R,7aR)-5-hydroxy-1-[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxy-1,4a,5,7a-tetrahydrocyclopenta[c]pyran-7-yl]methyl 4-hydroxybenzoate | 162876019 | Click to see C1=COC(C2C1C(C=C2COC(=O)C3=CC=C(C=C3)O)O)OC4C(C(C(C(O4)CO)O)O)O | 466.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP040117R |
| [(1S,4aS,5R,7aS)-5-hydroxy-1-[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6S)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxy-1,4a,5,7a-tetrahydrocyclopenta[c]pyran-7-yl]methyl 4-hydroxybenzoate | 154496122 | Click to see | 466.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP040117R |
| 2'-p-Hydroxybenzoyl mussaenosidic acid | 73298898 | Click to see | 496.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP040117R |
| Negundoside | 9935561 | Click to see | 496.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP040117R |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Terpene glycosides / Triterpene glycosides / Triterpene saponins | |||||
| [3,4,5-Trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl] 1,10,11-trihydroxy-1,2,6a,6b,9,9,12a-heptamethyl-2,3,4,5,6,6a,7,8,8a,10,11,12,13,14b-tetradecahydropicene-4a-carboxylate | 14019173 | Click to see CC1CCC2(CCC3(C(=CCC4C3(CCC5C4(CC(C(C5(C)C)O)O)C)C)C2C1(C)O)C)C(=O)OC6C(C(C(C(O6)CO)O)O)O | 650.80 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2005.05.008 |
| Kajiichigoside F1 | 14019178 | Click to see | 650.80 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2005.05.008 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Triterpenoids | |||||
| (+)-Ursolic Acid | 64945 | Click to see | 456.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2005.05.008 |
| (1R,4aS,6aR,6aS,6bR,8aR,9S,10S,11R,12aR,14bS)-10,11-dihydroxy-9-(hydroxymethyl)-1,6a,6b,9,12a-pentamethyl-2-methylidene-1,3,4,5,6,6a,7,8,8a,10,11,12,13,14b-tetradecahydropicene-4a-carboxylic acid | 102250836 | Click to see CC1C2C3=CCC4C(C3(CCC2(CCC1=C)C(=O)O)C)(CCC5C4(CC(C(C5(C)CO)O)O)C)C | 486.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2005.05.008 |
| 10,11-Dihydroxy-9-(hydroxymethyl)-1,6a,6b,9,12a-pentamethyl-2-methylidene-1,3,4,5,6,6a,7,8,8a,10,11,12,13,14b-tetradecahydropicene-4a-carboxylic acid | 23132228 | Click to see | 486.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2005.05.008 |
| 2,3-Dihydroxy-12-oleanen-28-oic acid | 3694932 | Click to see | 472.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2005.05.008 |
| 2,3,24-Trihydroxy-12-ursen-28-oic acid | 296191 | Click to see CC1CCC2(CCC3(C(=CCC4C3(CCC5C4(CC(C(C5(C)CO)O)O)C)C)C2C1C)C)C(=O)O | 488.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2005.05.008 |
| 2,3,24-Trihydroxy-12-ursen-28-oic acid | 12308659 | Click to see | 488.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2005.05.008 |
| 3-Epicorosolic acid | 15917998 | Click to see CC1CCC2(CCC3(C(=CCC4C3(CCC5C4(CC(C(C5(C)C)O)O)C)C)C2C1C)C)C(=O)O | 472.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2005.05.008 |
| Colosolic acid | 15917996 | Click to see CC1CCC2(CCC3(C(=CCC4C3(CCC5C4(CC(C(C5(C)C)O)O)C)C)C2C1C)C)C(=O)O | 472.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2005.05.008 |
| Corosolic acid | 6918774 | Click to see CC1CCC2(CCC3(C(=CCC4C3(CCC5C4(CC(C(C5(C)C)O)O)C)C)C2C1C)C)C(=O)O | 472.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2005.05.008 |
| epi-Maslinic acid | 25564831 | Click to see CC1(CCC2(CCC3(C(=CCC4C3(CCC5C4(CC(C(C5(C)C)O)O)C)C)C2C1)C)C(=O)O)C | 472.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2005.05.008 |
| Euscaphic Acid | 471426 | Click to see | 488.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2005.05.008 |
| Jacarandic acid | 13653335 | Click to see CC1CCC2(CCC3(C(=CCC4C3(CCC5C4(CC(C(C5(C)C)O)O)C)C)C2C1(C)O)C)C(=O)O | 488.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2005.05.008 |
| Maslinic Acid | 73659 | Click to see | 472.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2005.05.008 |
| Tormentic acid | 73193 | Click to see CC1CCC2(CCC3(C(=CCC4C3(CCC5C4(CC(C(C5(C)C)O)O)C)C)C2C1(C)O)C)C(=O)O | 488.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2005.05.008 |
| Urs-12-en-28-oic acid, 3-hydroxy-, (3beta)- | 220774 | Click to see | 456.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2005.05.008 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Cinnamic acids and derivatives / Hydroxycinnamic acids and derivatives / Coumaric acids and derivatives | |||||
| (1S,4aS,6S,7aS)-1-[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-6-[[(E)-3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)prop-2-enoyl]oxymethyl]-4,5-dihydroxy-3-(4-hydroxybenzoyl)oxyoxan-2-yl]oxy-6-hydroxy-7-methylidene-4a,5,6,7a-tetrahydro-1H-cyclopenta[c]pyran-4-carboxylic acid | 11787128 | Click to see | 656.60 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP040117R |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Flavonoid C-glycosides / Flavonoid 8-C-glycosides | |||||
| [(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-2-[2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-5,7-dihydroxy-4-oxochromen-8-yl]-4,5-dihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-3-yl] 4-hydroxybenzoate | 11671370 | Click to see | 568.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2005.05.008 |
| [(2S,3R,4S,5S,6S)-2-[2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-5,7-dihydroxy-4-oxochromen-8-yl]-4,5-dihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-3-yl] 4-hydroxybenzoate | 154495966 | Click to see | 568.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2005.05.008 |
| [2-[2-(3,4-Dihydroxyphenyl)-5,7-dihydroxy-4-oxochromen-8-yl]-4,5-dihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-3-yl] 4-hydroxybenzoate | 73049063 | Click to see | 568.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2005.05.008 |
| 5,7-dihydroxy-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-8-[(2S,3R,4R,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]chromen-4-one | 5378180 | Click to see C1=CC(=CC=C1C2=CC(=O)C3=C(O2)C(=C(C=C3O)O)C4C(C(C(C(O4)CO)O)O)O)O | 432.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2005.05.008 |
| Vitexin | 5280441 | Click to see | 432.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2005.05.008 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Flavonoid O-glycosides / Flavonoid-7-O-glycosides | |||||
| 7-(alpha-D-Glucopyranosyloxy)-5-hydroxy-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one | 12304095 | Click to see | 432.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2005.05.008 |
| Luteolin 7-O-glucoside | 5280637 | Click to see C1=CC(=C(C=C1C2=CC(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)OC4C(C(C(C(O4)CO)O)O)O)O)O)O | 448.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2005.05.008 |
| Npc85473 | 5385553 | Click to see | 432.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2005.05.008 |
Collections Top
| In private collections | 0 |
| In public collections | 0 |